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Halloween Swirl Cream Cheese Brownies have a layer of rich, dark chocolate brownie topped with a layer of orange cheesecake then swirled together for a spooky treat. These are sure to be a perfect dessert treat for everyone at your Halloween party!
Halloween Brownies
It’s the second week of October so it’s appropriate that I’m sharing a Halloween recipe, right? When I pull up my Pinterest feed or step into any store, I’m already seeing all things Christmas. I feel behind and it’s not even November!
Halloween Swirl Cream Cheese Brownies
Confession Time:
To be honest, I did make these cream cheese brownies a couple months ago, but other things came up so I’m just now getting around to posting them. The problem with that is, I don’t know where I wrote down my notes for the recipe.
If I’m too prepared, I mess myself up.
Anyway, I found the recipe so you’re in luck and will have a chance to enjoy these Halloween themed cream cheese brownies for the spooky day!
Halloween Brownies Ingredients
Below is a list of the ingredients you’ll need to gather to make this recipe. Scroll all the way down for the full recipe card.
- Sugar – Granulated sugar.
- Flour – All purpose flour.
- Cocoa Powder – I use Hershey’s Special Dark because you want it to be really dark/black.
- Salt – Helps enhance flavor.
- Baking Powder – For rise.
- Eggs – Large eggs.
- Vegetable Oil
- Vanilla Extract – A good quality vanilla extract, even though it’s pricey!
- Cream Cheese – A brick (8oz) at room temperature.
- Orange Food Coloring – This kit lets you easily make custom colors.
Tips for making these brownies:
- Line your baking pan with parchment paper to make it easy to remove after baking
- Use a skewer instead of a spatula for more intricate swirls in your cream cheese brownies
- Use this same recipe for multiple holidays, simply change out the food coloring to match the holiday (like these Christmas Brownies)!
I like that the swirls in these cream cheese brownies have a creepy, spidery effect. You could leave out the food coloring and just make these “regular” and they’d still be really pretty.
Tools to help you make Cream Cheese Swirl Brownies
- Food Coloring Kit – this is the food coloring I use. I didn’t tell you exactly how much orange to use because it will depend on which kit you’re using. If you’re using the Wilton Color Right Performance Food Coloring Set I link here, it comes with a color formula chart that shows you exactly how many drops you need of each color to make bright colors, pastels, etc. It’s a really good kit. I have fun with it.
- 8 x 8 baking dish – love that this has a lid for easy storing.
- Brownie spatula – because you have to get them out of the pan!
FAQs
How to store them
Store leftovers covered in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Can I freeze them?
Yes, they should freeze well. I’d wrap them individually, then put them in a freezer bag for up to 3 months.
Can I double the recipe?
If you’d like more than the 8×8 pan, you can double the recipe and use a 9×13 pan.
Can I use a brownie mix?
Yes. If you’re in a pinch & want to use a mix instead of making the brownies from scratch, you can, just make sure you pick up a smaller pouch/box of brownie mix instead of the “family size” since this recipe is for an 8×8 pan.
Need more Halloween baking ideas? Try these:
- THIRTY Halloween Desserts – I compiled a great bunch of recipes in this list!
- Halloween Chocolate Tunnel Cake – the colors on this one are so fun!
- Brownie Bottom Halloween Cupcakes – brownie + cake = a whole lotta delicious.
- Black Cat Pudding Cups – these require no cooking and would be fun to send in as a class treat
- Jack-O-Lantern Brownie Bite – the kids will like to help decorate these.
- Best Halloween Party Food Ideas – not just baked goods, all kinds of ideas for your Halloween party.
This Halloween, have fun making our favorite Cream Cheese Brownies for a fun and spooky treat that everyone loves. This grown up dessert is a perfect treat everyone will love on the Halloween party buffet table this year!
Halloween Cream Cheese Swirl Brownies
Ingredients
For the Brownie Layer:
- 1 cup granulated white sugar
- ½ cup all purpose white flour
- ½ cup Hershey’s Special Dark cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- 2 large eggs
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Cream Cheese Layer:
- 8 oz cream cheese at room temp
- ¼ cup granulated white sugar
- 1 large egg
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- orange food coloring
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8 x 8 baking dish with parchment paper or foil and spray with non-stick spray. Set aside.
For the Brownie Layer
- In a medium bowl, add the sugar, flour, cocoa powder, salt, and baking powder.1 cup granulated white sugar, ½ cup all purpose white flour, ½ cup Hershey’s Special Dark cocoa powder, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- In a small bowl, add the eggs, oil, and vanilla. Mix with a fork until well combined.2 large eggs, ⅓ cup vegetable oil, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix with a spatula until just combined.
- Reserve 1/4 cup of the batter for the swirls then pour the remaining batter into the prepared baking dish.
For the Cream Cheese Layer
- In a medium bowl, add the cream cheese, sugar, egg, & vanilla. Blend until smooth.8 oz cream cheese, ¼ cup granulated white sugar, 1 large egg, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Add in the orange food coloring and stir to combine.orange food coloring
- Gently spread the cream cheese layer on top of the brownie batter.
- Drop tablespoons of the remaining brownie batter on top and gently swirl with a knife or skewer.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes or until set. Remove and let cool completely before slicing.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Taste is amazing! However 30-35 mins isn’t cutting it for me. I’m not sure what the deal is! I make it exactly as described and after 35 mins the bottom brownie layer is still batter. Ugh!
Would I be able to substitute the all purpose flour with almond flour or coconut flour? If so, what would you recommend for the binding agent?
I haven’t tested that.
3:1 almond flour to coconut flour is the perfect substitute for regular flour. So for 1 cup of flour, instead use 3/4 cup almond and 1/4 cup coconut flour. I use this cheat for baking all the time and it works well
Thanks for chiming in!
I enjoy this recipe, however I want to make it for a group where someone has an egg allergy. I have a plan for substituting in the brownies themselves but do you have suggestions on how to substitute the egg in the cream cheese layer?
I haven’t tested but found this that might be helpful –> egg replacements in cheesecake
I actually made these for a Tennessee tailgate. Colors were great and everyone loves a brownie. Followed the recipe and they turned out great! I’ll wish I had doubled the recipe when the teens see them.
ha, happy to hear that! 🙂
Easy to make and tasted delicious. Cooked perfectly just as recipe said. Will definitely make again.
I’m so glad you liked them!
These have been a big hit for several years and I’m always asked to make them for other holidays (I just omit or swap the food coloring accordingly). One issue I run into is that the batter is extremely think, almost paste like, so when it comes time to add drops to the cream cheese, it’s more like thick clumps. I make do but wonder if I’m doing something wrong. They’re delicious regardless, but I’d like to perfect the recipe. I follow the recipe exactly, so maybe you have some pointers. Thanks!