These peanut butter cheesecake brownies combine the best of three worlds with rich chocolate, cheesecake, AND peanut butter. You won’t be able to have just one!
Let’s discuss your new brownie addiction! It involves chocolate, peanut butter, and cheesecake, so some would say we’re absolutely winning today.
Yes, we’re combining all that into one glorious pan of brownies that you will undoubtedly find yourself eating way too many of.
I mean…with those beautiful swirls how could you say no??
We’re using my tried-and-true brownie base recipe for these little gems today and then taking things up a level with a luscious peanut butter cheesecake swirl.
They’re also scary-easy to make, yet look like they came out of a fancy bakery.
These Brownies feature…
- A rich and fudgy texture
- Swirls of creamy peanut butter cheesecake
- Minutes to make and the best of both brownie and cheesecake worlds
Making the Brownies
(scroll down to the bottom of the post for the full recipe)
Ingredients You Will Need
- Unsalted butter
- Bittersweet chocolate chips
- Eggs
- Granulated sugar
- Vanilla extract
- All-purpose flour
- Unsweetened cocoa powder
- Salt
- Cream cheese
- Peanut butter
- 2% or skim milk
Tips for Perfect Brownies
- Melt butter and chocolate together – you can do this on the stovetop or in the microwave, stirring occasionally.
- Allow chocolate to cool before adding eggs – letting the chocolate mixture cool first will prevent the eggs from potentially scrambling.
- Gently fold batter – overmixing will lead to dry and tough brownies so use a gentle hand when folding batter.
- Layer brownie batter and cheesecake filling – this will help the cheesecake filling get evenly dispersed throughout the brownies.
- Use a toothpick to swirl – we found a toothpick is the perfect size for getting small beautiful swirls.
- Don’t overbake brownies – bake brownies until a toothpick comes out with moist crumbs sticking to it.
- Allow brownies to cool and chill before slicing – this will make for neat cuts.
Recipe Variations
Try these ideas for a different twist on these brownies.
- Skip the peanut butter – feel free to try other flavors in the cheesecake filling such as a fruit jam, maple syrup, or caramel sauce.
- Add chocolate chips – for an extra chocolate-y kick, top brownies with 1/3 cup mini chocolate chips before baking.
- Add nuts – fold in 1/2 cup toasted and chopped peanuts, pecans or walnuts for an extra nutty addition to brownies.
Storing and Freezing Brownies
Due to the fact that these brownies have a cream cheese swirl, we recommend storing in the refrigerator. Store brownies in an air-tight container in refrigerator up to 6 days.
These brownies also freeze very well up to 2 months. Thaw brownies completely in refrigerator, then slice and serve.
The fudgy brownie texture combined with the rich peanut butter cheesecake swirls is a thing of absolute insanity in these brownies! Suffice to say, you won’t just be having one.
Enjoy your new brownie addiction!
Save this recipe using the ‘save to recipe box’ button below. If you make it, please let us know! Leave a comment + star rating below, or take a photo and tag it on Instagram with #wholeandheavenlyoven.
More brownies to dig into next!
Peanut Butter Cheesecake Brownies
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Ingredients
Brownie Batter
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup bittersweet chocolate chips
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Peanut Butter Cheesecake Swirl
- 4 oz cream cheese
- 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
Brownie Batter
- Preheat oven to 350F. Line a 9-inch square baking pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt butter and chocolate until smooth. Remove from heat and set aside to cool (alternatively, melt in the microwave 1-2 minutes)
- In a large bowl, whisk eggs, sugar, and vanilla together until smooth. Whisk in melted chocolate mixture until smooth. Gently fold in flour, cocoa, and salt until batter is just combined. Set batter aside.
Peanut Butter Cheesecake Swirl
- In a medium bowl, beat softened cream cheese, peanut butter, sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth and creamy.
- Scrape half of brownie batter into prepared pan. Spoon dollops of half of cheesecake mixture on top. Use a toothpick to swirl into into the brownie batter. Repeat layers with remaining brownie batter and cheesecake mixture.
- Bake brownies at 350F 25-30 minutes until a toothpick comes out with moist crumbs sticking to it. Cool brownies completely in pan on a wire cooling rack then chill completely before slicing into squares. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
This post was updated with new recipe adjustments and photos on 8/31/23.
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
Your sister sounds adorable! I would probably burst out laughing, too! And these brownies look AMAZING! Cheesecake and peanut butter? Best combo ever, Sarah! Totally trying these out. Pinned!
Sarah says
Thanks for pinning, Gayle! I hope you’ll let me know if you make these brownies!
Joanne says
So these are going to be new favorite recipe. I can feel it. PB and chocolate FOR LIFE!
Sarah says
For life for sure. 😀 Thanks Joanne!
Rachael | Spache the Spatula says
Okay, I love cheesecake brownies, I love peanut butter brownies, but peanut butter cheesecake brownies!?! GIMMEE!
LOVE that your little sister is so in love with chocolate already 😛 That’s hilarious!
Sarah says
I love how both of our recipes today were centered around cheesecake, Rachael. Total foodie twins we are! 😀
Danae @ Recipe Runner says
These brownies looks so gooey and peanut buttery! My mouth started to salivate while I was looking at the pictures, beautiful!
Sarah says
SO gooey and fudgy, you’ll be in brownie heaven! You might need a napkin or two, but it’s worth it. 😀 Thanks Danae!
Sherri@The Well Floured Kitchen says
Oh my these look amazing, those gigantic peanut butter swirls are calling my name! Your little sister is cute, sounds just like something my kids would have done (or at least I don’t think the 12 year old still talks to chocolate…)
Sarah says
Haha I have a 12-year old little sister, and I’m preeeetty sure she still doesn’t talk to the chocolate. At least I hope. LOL!
Danielle says
Sounds like her love for chocolate has already started at a young age. I can’t blame her! These look delicious it’s like the best of all three worlds. Yum!
Sarah says
It definitely started at a young age. She’s loved chocolate ever since she was old enough to have sweets! Haha. And yes, TOTALLY the best of 3 worlds. Thanks Danielle! 😀
Karen @ Lushious Eats says
Mmmm, how about I eat a salad for breakfast and these brownies all day, lol they look Ah-Mazing! What’s better than peanut butter, chocolate and cheesecake?!?! Nothing. 🙂
Sarah says
Hahaha! That sounds like an even better plan! Love it. 😀 Thanks so much, Karen!
Natalie @ Tastes Lovely says
Haha, your little story about Rachel made me laugh out loud! She sounds like a girl after my own heart, because I just love chocolate too. Enough to give it a kiss and a hug!
Sarah. These brownies. Sound. DELICIOUS! It’s like my 3 favorite things all rolled into one amazing dessert. Want these right now!
Sarah says
I had to laugh too because it was just too hilarious. 😉 And you should just make these brownies RIGHT now then! 😉 Thanks Nat!
Kelly says
Hahaha love that chocolate loving story – too too cute 🙂 These brownies look like all kinds of amazing! Peanut butter, cheesecake and chocolate? Yup, totally sinful but so so worth it 🙂
Sarah says
Definitely worth the extra calories. And that’s what treadmills are for. LOL. Thank you Kelly!
Isadora @ she likes food says
That would be amazing if you just baked batches and batches of brownies all day long! I would totally still keep reading 🙂 These brownies sound 100 times better than regular brownies! I love brownies, peanut butter, and cheesecake, so will you please send me over a few dozen?! Thanks!
Sarah says
Oh, you have nooo idea how awesome that would be. My kitchen would a total disaster and I would probably weigh about 1000 pounds, but it would be so worth it! LOL. Thanks Isadora!
Cindy @ Pick Fresh Foods says
I was so taken by how amazing these brownies look that I almost forgot to read the post. Haha. Your sister is too cute. I can only imagine walking in and seeing her cradling the cooca. 😀 At least she knows a good thing when she tastes it, right?
Sarah says
She definitely knows that chocolate is “the good stuff.” Haha! Thanks girl!
Tina @ Tina's Chic Corner says
I’m obsessed with brownies. I’ve made a couple different kinds lately and I’m holding back from making another so soon…hehe. These look crazy delicious. I can never turn down peanut butter and chocolate. 🙂
Sarah says
Once you start making brownies, it’s kinda hard to stop I’ve noticed! Haha. Thanks Tina! 🙂
Arpita@ TheGastronomicBong says
Gosh.. This looks Ahhhmazingggg… I simply adore peanut butter and chocolate combination.. oh n i love cheesecake.. You managed to bring all the three things together.. Simply Superb… 🙂
Sarah says
It’s a combination made in brownie heaven, for sure! Haha. Thank you Arpita!
Wendy says
I definitely agree that these bars combine the best of THREE worlds! Chewy brownies bursting with flavor are the BEST kind of brownies! These look wonderful!
Sarah says
Thanks, Wendy! 😉