Irresistible Chocolate Fudge Cream Cheese Brownies for Any Chocolate Lover

Make these irresistible chocolate fudge cream cheese brownies 🍫 for a dessert everyone will love. With a gooey fudge layer and a tangy cream cheese swirl, they’re perfect for sharing at parties or just treating yourself. Bake a batch and let the smell of chocolate fill your kitchen. Get ready for the best brownies ever!

Two slices of chocolate fudge cream cheese brownies with a rich chocolate layer and a swirled cream cheese filling on top.

Chocolate fudge cream cheese brownies are so much more than your typical dessert. There is a time and a place for a box of brownie mix. How many times have I whipped up a batch to take to a last-minute gathering? 20 times? 30 times? I’m not gonna lie, Betty Crocker is pretty good at what she does and she’s an awesome pinch hitter for when I’m off my game.

But Betty and I can have no ties on Valentine’s Day. Valentine’s Day calls for something really special… something my husband will swoon over and talk about until Valentine’s Day next year. That’s why I decided to pull out all the stops last week and make my hubby a batch of these chocolate fudge cream cheese brownies.

Everything about them is decadent. They’re crunchy around the edges, gooey in the middle, and marbled with a tangy cream cheese swirl. They are a chocolate lover’s dream come true… and, thus, a direct route to my husband’s heart. 🙂

How to Make Chocolate Fudge Cream Cheese Brownies

Making chocolate fudge cream cheese brownies from scratch is easier than you might think! With just a few simple steps, you’ll create a dessert that’s rich, gooey, and absolutely irresistible. Let’s get started!

Step 1: Prepare the Cream Cheese Mixture

Start by heating your oven to 350 degrees and greasing a 13×9 glass pan. Then, beat together an 8 oz package of cream cheese, 1 egg, and 1/4 cup of sugar. Use an electric hand mixer to beat the mixture for about 2 minutes or until it is nice and smooth.

A mixing bowl with cream cheese, sugar, and an egg, ready to be blended for the cream cheese layer in chocolate fudge cream cheese brownies.

Now add in a cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips. Set this bowl aside while you make the fudge.

A large mixing bowl filled with creamy batter topped with a generous amount of semi-sweet chocolate chips, ready to be stirred in.

Step 2: Melt the Chocolate for the Fudge

In another glass bowl, pour in another cup of chocolate chips and 1/4 cup of butter cut into small pieces.

A mixing bowl filled with semi-sweet chocolate chips and cubed butter, ready to be melted for the chocolate fudge layer.

Bring 4 cups of water to a rolling boil in a saucepan and then put the bowl of chocolate chips on top. The steam from the water will begin to melt the chocolate and butter. Stir it continuously until there are no more chunks.

A glass bowl of smooth, melted chocolate being stirred with a spatula, ready for mixing into the batter for chocolate fudge cream cheese brownies.

Step 3: Combine Ingredients for the Chocolate Fudge Cream Cheese Brownies Mixture

Remove the fudge from the heat. Stir in another 1/2 cup of sugar, 2 eggs, 2/3 cup of flour, 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder, and 1/4 teaspoon of Kosher salt.

A pink spatula stirring dry ingredients into the melted chocolate batter, preparing the base for chocolate fudge cream cheese brownies.

When it is well combined, you should have a smooth brownie mixture that slowly falls from the spatula.

Thick chocolate fudge brownie batter dripping from a spatula into a mixing bowl, ready to be poured into a pan.

Step 4: Assemble the Layers

Pour half of the brownie mixture into the bottom of the glass pan. You can use a regular 13 x 9 pan for classic-sized cream cheese brownies, or use an 8 x 8 pan for a thicker version.

Chocolate fudge brownie batter spread evenly in a 13x9 glass pan, ready for layering with cream cheese filling.

Spread the cream cheese mixture over the chocolate.

Cream cheese mixture with chocolate chips spread evenly over brownie batter in a glass pan, ready to be swirled.

Step 5: Create the Swirl

Now spoon the remaining chocolate over the chocolate fudge cream cheese brownies in big blobs. It doesn’t need to look nice because you are going to swirl it all together.

Spoonfuls of chocolate brownie batter layered on top of the cream cheese mixture, ready to be swirled for chocolate fudge cream cheese brownies.

Grab a butter knife and swirl the cream cheese brownies by moving the knife up and down across the pan. You should have a pretty marbled look.

A knife swirling the top of the brownie pan, mixing the cream cheese and chocolate for a marbled effect.

Step 6: Bake to Perfection

Bake the brownies at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes. If you are using an 8 x 8 pan, expect to add another 5-10 minutes for the chocolate fudge cream cheese brownies to be fully baked. You will know they are done when the edges start to crinkle and pull away from the sides.

A glass baking dish of chocolate fudge cream cheese brownies fresh out of the oven, with a marbled swirl on top.

Let the chocolate fudge cream cheese brownies cool inside the pan for an hour on a wire rack, and then chill them in the fridge for 2 hours. This, of course, is the recommended procedure, but that never happens in my house. I always bake them before Dan gets home (and then hide them) because they’ll be gone before I have a chance to take a bite.

A single piece of chocolate fudge cream cheese brownie with a rich, swirled cream cheese top, cut and ready to enjoy.

Sweet Family Moments

Cute little boys like this one (Caleb, my third) smell the chocolate fudge cream cheese brownies the moment they’re done and then bring me pretty flowers from the garden in hopes of flattering me for a piece. It always works! I mean, really, look at that face. How can I deny such a sweet (and conniving!) little rascal? What can I say? I love all my boys!

A smiling young boy holding a chocolate fudge cream cheese brownie, ready to enjoy this sweet treat.

Imagine the looks on your friend’s faces when you bring a tray of these to the next party. You’ll have friends for life! And ya know, Easter is not that far off. These chocolate fudge cream cheese brownies would be perfect to set out on a tray or put in the bottom of a brownie sundae.

For more delectable dessert ideas, try my 3-step crockpot peach cobbler or my pistachio coconut pudding cake. For even more inspiration, follow my boards on Pinterest. Happy cooking, y’all!

Slices of chocolate fudge cream cheese brownies with a creamy marbled swirl on top, placed on a wooden board.
Heidi Davison

Head Baker & Owner

Hi, I'm Heidi, Head Baker and Owner of Heidi's Bakery in Knoxville, TN.

What began as a blog to share family recipes has become a thriving bakery, thanks to community support.
Many recipes here are from my family’s cookbook. Give them a try and leave a comment below!

Heidi Davison the Owner of Heidis Bakery

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