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    Home » Recipes » Cookies/Bars

    Spicy Cream Cheese Brownies

    By Nancy Mock December 18, 2018 Updated February 10, 2022 Leave a Comment

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    Brownies with swirls of cream cheese
    Cream cheese swirled brownies
    Large cream cheese brownie on a plate

    These rich and chocolaty Spicy Cream Cheese Brownies have a fiery swirl. It's a dessert with a little heat and a lot of chocolate!

    Stack of brownies on a plate
    → Jump to Recipe

    If you love chocolate and you love when food has a kick, have I got a brownie for you!

    These Spicy Chocolate Cream Cheese Brownies are rich and sweet, but that's not all: they also have spicy, cream cheese swirls that deliver a little cayenne heat in every bite. My other name for them is Chocolate Brownies EN FUEGO!

    Here's another chocolate treat with heat: Dark Chocolate Bark with Almonds and Currants!

    Brownie on a plate with scattered pepper flakes

    Why you'll love these goodies

    It's all the decadence of rich brownies with a little spice to balance out the sweetness.

    You'll be amazed at how easy it is to make brownies from scratch. Their indulgent flavor is worth experiencing any time of the year.

    Hershey's cocoa powder and eggs

    🔪 How to make Spicy Cream Cheese Brownies

    Step 1: Make the brownie batter

    Brownie batter spread in a pan

    Whisk together the dry ingredients. Then mix together the melted butter, sugars, and eggs. Blend the wet and dry mixtures together.

    Step 2: Make the cream cheese mixture

    Cream cheese mixture in a mixing bowl

    Blend softened cream cheese with an egg, sugar, and pepper.

    Step 3: Assemble the layers

    Brownie and cream cheese batters swirled together

    Spread half the brownie batter in a prepared baking pan. Spread the cream cheese mixture over this, followed by the rest of the brownie batter. Swirl the layers together.

    Step 4: Bake!

    A brownie and pepper flakes on a plate

    Bake the brownies for about 45 minutes. Allow them to cool, then slice and serve!

    Once they're cool, cut yourself a slice, sit back and enjoy the deep chocolate flavor followed by a spicy tingle on your tongue as the cayenne fights its way to your taste buds. EN FUEGO!

    Brownies in a pile on a plate

    Find the recipe for the Spicy Cream Cheese Brownies below, and here are a few other sweet treats to tempt you:

    Chocolate Caramel Pie
    This is one of my FAVORITE holiday pies - or any time of the year pies! A smooth chocolate filling along with caramel and homemade whipped cream. Yum!
    Take me there
    Slice of chocolate cream pie
    Crispy Chewy Chocolate Cookies
    A lightly crisp outside and a chewy inside make these chocolate cookies irresistible! They're delicious on their own, or used to sandwich a frosting or jam filling.
    Take me there
    Six chocolate cookies on a black plate
    Cocoa, Lime & Coconut Napoleon Bars
    Though lime and coconut give a distinctly tropical vibe, these bars will be appreciated at any occasion. Gooey and sweet layer bars!
    Take me there
    Toasty golden coconut, a sweet-tart lime filling, and a chocolaty crust: if you need a sweet fix this will do it!

    💬 Have you made these spicy brownies? Gimme your feedback: click the stars to rate this recipe and leave a comment for me below.

    Brownie on a plate with scattered pepper flakes

    Spicy Cream Cheese Brownies

    Nancy Mock
    These rich and chocolaty Spicy Cream Cheese Brownies have a fiery swirl. It's a dessert with a little heat and a lot of chocolate!
    4.34 from 3 votes
    Print This Recipe Pin This Recipe
    Prep Time 35 mins
    Cook Time 45 mins
    Cooling Time 30 mins
    Total Time 1 hr 50 mins
    Course Brownies/Bars, Chocolate, Christmas, Cinco de Mayo, Dessert
    Servings 24 brownies

    Ingredients
     
     

    For the brownie batter:

    • ¾ cup all-purpose flour, unbleached
    • 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
    • 2 teaspoons instant espresso coffee
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
    • 1 cup granulated sugar
    • 1 cup packed brown sugar
    • 3 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
    • 4 large eggs

    For the cream cheese swirl:

    • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
    • 1 cup confectioner's sugar
    • 1 large egg
    • 1 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

    Instructions
     

    Make the brownie batter:

    • Preheat the oven to 325° F. Spray the bottoms and sides of a 9-inch x 13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray.
    • In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, instant espresso and salt. Set aside.
    • Mix together the melted butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar. Mix in the 3 teaspoons of vanilla extract. Add in the 4 eggs, mixing after each egg is added.
    • With the mixer running on low, slowly add in the dry mixture. Once the dry ingredients are mixed in, increase the speed to medium and beat the mixture for 2 minutes.

    Make the cream cheese layer:

    • Place the softened cream cheese, confectioner's sugar, the 1 egg, cayenne pepper, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla into a separate medium-sized bowl. Beat the ingredients together until they're smooth.

    Assemble the brownies:

    • Pour half of the chocolate batter into the prepared baking pan and spread it to cover the bottom of the pan.
    • Spoon all of the cream cheese mixture over the brownie batter in an even layer.
    • Top this layer with the rest of the chocolate batter. Pull a rubber spatula through the layers to create swirls of cream cheese batter in the chocolate.
    • Place the pan in the oven and bake for 40-45 minutes. It should be baked through with the center just set - a tester inserted into the center should come out with a few crumbs.
    • Place the pan on a cooling rack and let the brownies cool for about 30 minutes before slicing.
    • Slice the brownies and enjoy. They can be stored tightly wrapped for up to three days.
    • Makes 24 brownies.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1brownieCalories: 228kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 3gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 75mgSodium: 100mgPotassium: 107mgFiber: 1gSugar: 23gVitamin A: 462IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 31mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Leave a comment, tell me what you think!

    Originally published in 2014.

    « Son of a Nutcracker! It's Elf Spaghetti!
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