Witches’ Brew Swirl Brownies (Printable)

Fudgy brownies with green cheesecake swirl and festive sprinkles, perfect for a Halloween sweet.

# Components:

→ Brownie Layer

01 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
02 - 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
03 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
04 - 2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
05 - 2 large eggs
06 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
07 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
08 - 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

→ Swirl (Cheesecake) Layer

09 - 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
10 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
11 - 1 large egg
12 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
13 - 1/4 teaspoon green gel food coloring, or as desired

→ Optional Decoration

14 - Candy eyeballs
15 - Halloween sprinkles

# Method:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9x9-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang to assist with removal.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk melted butter and granulated sugar until well combined. Add eggs and vanilla extract, whisking until completely smooth.
03 - Sift flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, salt, and baking powder directly into the wet mixture. Fold together gently, just until integrated to avoid overmixing.
04 - Spread approximately three-quarters of the brownie batter evenly into the prepared pan.
05 - In a separate bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth using an electric mixer or whisk. Add granulated sugar, egg, and vanilla extract, mixing until creamy. Tint the mixture with green gel food coloring to reach a vibrant hue.
06 - Dollop the green cheesecake mixture onto the layered brownie batter. Place the remaining brownie batter in small spoonfuls over the surface.
07 - Use a knife or skewer to gently swirl the cheesecake and brownie batters together, forming a marbled pattern.
08 - Top with candy eyeballs and Halloween sprinkles if desired.
09 - Transfer to oven and bake for 33 to 36 minutes, or until the center is just set and a toothpick inserted shows a few moist crumbs.
10 - Allow brownies to cool completely in the pan. Lift out using the parchment overhang, then slice into squares.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Uses simple ingredients you probably already have
  • Ready to swirl and bake in under an hour
  • Fun and festive with customizable colors and decorations
  • Perfectly chewy brownies with a creamy cheesecake twist
  • Even those who claim not to like cheesecake go back for seconds
02 -
  • Rich in flavor and visually stunning with every slice
  • Great make-ahead treat as the flavors deepen after a day
  • Versatile for other holidays by swapping the swirl color
  • Freezes and defrosts beautifully for later snacking
03 -
  • Never overmix your brownie batter after adding flour to keep the crumb moist and fudgy
  • For a more dramatic swirl drag your knife through only a few times so the colors stay bold
  • If using decorations press them down lightly so they stick through baking but not hard enough to bury them
  • Double the recipe if you want thicker brownies: just add five to ten extra minutes to your total bake time

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