• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
In Fine Taste
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » All Desserts » Brownies with Cream Cheese Frosting

    Brownies with Cream Cheese Frosting

    Published: Feb 28, 2023 by In Fine Taste · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

    These brownies with cream cheese frosting are the perfect sweet treat! They have fudgy brownie base full of rich chocolatey flavor, topped with a creamy, sweet cream cheese frosting that adds the perfect tangy flavor to these decadent brownies.

    brownie square with bite out of it.

    Why You’ll Love this Recipe

    There are so many reasons you’ll love these brownies with cream cheese frosting. First of all, they’re easy to make and you probably already have all the ingredients in your pantry!

    The brownies are perfectly balanced between fudgy and chewy. They use high quality ingredients and two kinds of melted chocolate in these fudge brownies make these divine.

    The cream cheese frosting is simple and adds the perfect finishing touch to this recipe. These brownies are the perfect recipe to bring to a party, potluck, holiday gathering, or just an everyday treat.

    Ingredient Notes

    ingredients for recipe laid out.
    • Butter. Butter gives these brownies amazing flavor and texture. We also use butter in the cream cheese frosting, this helps stabilize it and balance out the tanginess.  You can use salted or unsalted.
    • Unsweetened Chocolate. Unsweetened chocolate makes the brownies rich and ultra-chocolatey.
    • Semisweet Chocolate Chips. Semisweet chocolate chips get melted down with the butter to sweeten and add extra richness to the brownies.
    • Sugar. White, granulated sugar lightens these texture, so they are dense, but not too dense.
    • Dark Brown Sugar. The molasses in the brown sugar adds moisture, a little chewiness, and the smokey flavor of the molasses adds depth.
    • Eggs. Eggs bind this recipe together. Use large eggs.
    • Flour. We use all-purpose flour.
    • Salt. Salt enhances flavors in the brownies and the cream cheese frosting.
    • Vanilla. Vanilla extract gives these a rich bakery taste.
    • Cream Cheese. Cream cheese in the frosting adds a creamy, tangy flavor that balances out the sweetness.
    • Powdered Sugar. Powdered sugar keeps the frosting smooth and sweet.

    How to Make this Recipe

    two images showing how to melt chocolate and butter for brownies.
    1. Melt Butter & Chocolate. In a pot over medium heat, melt the butter, unsweetened chocolate, and chocolate chips. Stir together until smooth.
    4 images showing how to to make and bake brownies.
    1. Add Sugars. Add the white sugar and brown sugar and mix in until dissolved.
    2. Whisk in Eggs. Turn the stove off and check to see your mixture is warm, but not hot. Add each egg one at a time and whisk until smooth. Repeat with each egg. If the mixture looks grainy, keep whisking, it should smooth out.
    3. Add Flour. Add salt, vanilla, and flour and whisk until smooth. Pour into a greased and parchment paper lined 9x9 or 8x8-inch pan.
    4. Bake. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 35-40 minutes. Do not overbake or they’ll be dry. Cool completely before frosting.
    4 images showing to how make cream cheese frosting.
    1. Whip Cream Cheese. Whip cream cheese until light and fluffy. Add in butter cream the two together until smooth.
    2. Add Powdered Sugar. Add salt, vanilla, and half of the powdered sugar. Beat until smooth. Add the remaining powdered sugar and whip until light and fluffy.
    3. Frost. Spread the cream cheese frosting evenly over top of the brownies.

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    What is the difference between cream cheese frosting and cream cheese icing?

    Most people consider frosting to be thicker and stiffer than an icing which has a thinner consistency. To some people, frosting and icing are the same and used interchangeably. It may also depend on the region you grew up in, whether you use one term or another.

    What is the secret of a good brownie?

    A good brownie should have a rich chocolatey flavor; and fudgy and chewy texture. Butter and high quality chocolate melted into the brownie batter will give you the best flavor and texture.

    How you decorate the top of a brownie?

    There are so many ways to decorate the top of brownies. You can top them off with chocolate curls, a drizzle of hot fudge or caramel sauce, sprinkles, mini chocolate chips, or drizzle lines of melted chocolate over the cream cheese icing and then feather it into the icing.

    Can I use a brownie mix?

    Yes! This is a simple way to shortcut this recipe. While I think this is the greatest brownie recipe, I love a good brownie mix. Just make sure you bake it in an 8x8 or 9x9-inch pan so the brownies are thick enough to hold the frosting without making a mess without collapsing in your hand.

    Can I double this recipe?

    Yes, you can double this recipe. For the brownies, double the ingredients and bake it in a 9x13 pan, for a larger pan of extra thick brownies. Start by baking the brownies for 35-40 minutes and add time as needed. Do not over bake!

    For the cream cheese frosting, double the ingredients and follow the instructions the same. Frost brownies when they have cooled completely.

    frosted brownie squares with two off set.

    Expert Tips

    • Use Full Fat Cream Cheese Frosting. You can absolutely use light or even fat free cream cheese in this frosting if you want, but full fat cream cheese will give you the richest cream cheese frosting.
    • Cool Brownies Completely. Cool these brownies completely before frosting and eating. If you try to frost these cream cheese brownies while warm, the cream cheese frosting will melt and slide off. Also, the texture of these brownies are so much better when they have cooled completely.
    • Use Room Temperature Ingredients. Room temperature ingredients will incorporate easier into the brownies and the cream cheese icing. You’ll get a fluffier and smoother cream cheese frosting using room temperature butter and cream cheese.
    • Spoon and Level Flour. Too much flour will make these brownies dry and cakey. Spoon and level the flour, if you’re not familiar with this technique reference our how to measure flour post.
    • Use Parchment Paper. Greasing and lining your pan with parchment paper is the easiest way to get your brownies out of the pan cleanly. I recommend leaving the edges of the parchment paper long enough that you can pull up the entire pan of brownies cleanly out of the pan.

    Cream Cheese Frosting Flavor Variations

    While I love the simplicity of a classic vanilla cream cheese frosting paired with a rich chocolate brownie, it is easy to switch up the flavors in this frosting recipe. Follow the recipe as written, but try one of these tasty variations.

    • Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting. Try adding ¼ cup of cocoa powder in with the powdered sugar.
    • Less Tangy Frosting. If you prefer a less tangy cream cheese frosting you can replace a portion of the cream cheese with an equal amount of butter. 
    • Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting. Add a couple tablespoons of peanut butter when you are beating the cream cheese and butter together.
    • Mint Cream Cheese Frosting. Try adding ⅛-1/4 teaspoon of mint extract with the vanilla.
    • Other flavor Mix-in Ideas. You could add espresso powder, strawberry jam, Nutella, coconut extract, or orange juice or extract.

    The Best Way to Cut Brownies

    Brownies are notoriously messy to cut. The number one thing is to make sure they are cool.

    Cutting warm brownies are a guaranteed to be a mess. Here are three ways to cut brownies cleanly.

    • Freeze. Freeze the frosted brownies and then cut with a large sharp knife in clean cuts.
    • Warm Knife. Use a warm knife (run under hot water and dry completely) to slice the brownies and then clean the knife after each cut.
    • Plastic knife. People on Instagram and TikTok swear that cutting brownies with a plastic knife is the cleanest way to cut brownies.
    close up of brownie topped with cream cheese frosting.

    How to Store this Recipe

    Keep these brownies tightly covered and store at room temperature or in the refrigerator. They are best eaten within 3-4 days.

    Freeze Them. I love freezing leftover brownies with cream cheese frosting. I like to wrap each brownie individually in plastic and then store them in a freezer bag or food storage container. If you choose not to wrap them individually in plastic wrap, I recommend placing parchment paper in between the brownies so they don’t stick together. The  stay good in your freezer for 3 months; just remember to thaw them first.

    signature: "Enjoy! Alyssa".

    You'll Love these Recipes Too

    • stack of mint brownies. featured image
      Chocolate Fudge Mint Brownies
    • red velvet pudding layered in 3 different glass containers.
      Red Velvet Banana Pudding
    • cookie being pulled apart with gooey marshmallow in it.
      Chocolate Chip Marshmallow Cookies
    • smores rice krispie treat sitting on edge of pan with chocolate dripping off edge
      S'mores Rice Krispie Treats

    P.S. If you tried this recipe or any other In Fine Taste recipe take a second and rate it below! We love hearing what you think.  Let’s stay in touch! Sign up for our newsletter or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest for more recipe ideas.

    brownie square with bite out of it.

    Brownies with Cream Cheese Frosting

    These brownies with cream cheese frosting are the perfect sweet treat! They have fudgy brownie base full of rich chocolatey flavor, topped with a creamy, sweet cream cheese frosting that adds the perfect tangy flavor to these decadent brownies.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Brownies & Bars
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 20 minutes
    Cook Time: 35 minutes
    Total Time: 55 minutes
    Servings: 16 brownies
    Author: In Fine Taste--Alyssa

    Ingredients

    Brownies

    • 1 cup butter salted or unsalted
    • 4 ounces unsweetened chocolate (1 full bar is typically 4 ounces), see notes
    • 4 ounces (about ¾ cup) semisweet chocolate chips
    • 1 cup granulated white sugar
    • 1 cup dark brown sugar packed
    • 4 large eggs
    • ¾ teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 1 cup flour (130 grams) spooned and leveled

    Cream Cheese Frosting

    • 4 ounces cream cheese (half a bar or ½ cup) room temperature
    • ¼ cup butter room temperature
    • 2 cups powdered sugar
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • pinch salt
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Note: You can also sub your favorite brownie mix ifyou prefer (see notes).
      Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit, grease and line an8x8 or 9x9 inch pan with parchment paper and set aside.
    • In a medium saucepan, over medium heat, melt your butter and chocolates (both semi-sweet chocolate chips and unsweetened chocolate)together. Keep stirring until they are completely melted and incorporated together. Add in both sugars and stir until combined.
    • Remove saucepan from heat and let cool slightly. Your mixture should be warm, but not hot (you don’t want the eggs to scramble and cook when you add them in). Add in 1 egg at a time and really whisk the mixture so the egg is fully incorporated and glossy before adding in the next egg.Repeat until all the eggs are mixed in.
    • Add in your salt, vanilla, and flour (make sure your flour is spooned, leveled, and measured correctly—too much flour will make these cakey not fudgy). Mix until the flour is just barely incorporated. Do not over mix.
    • Pour batter into your greased and lined 8x8 or 9x9-inch baking dish. Bake for 35-40 minutes. Cool completely before frosting.  
    • Make the cream cheese frosting. With a hand mixer, beat cream cheese until light and fluffy.Add in butter and beat until smooth.
    • Add in half your powdered sugar, vanilla and salt. Mix until smooth. Add in the remaining powdered sugar and whip until light and fluffy. If your frosting is too runny add a little more powdered sugar or if it is too dry add a teaspoon of milk until you reach your desired consistency. Spread evenly on your cooled brownies.

    Video

    Notes

    Unsweetened Chocolate. Using unsweetened chocolate will give you a rich, dark chocolate brownie. If you prefer a milk chocolate flavored brownie, replace the unsweetened chocolate with an additional 4 ounces (¾ cup) semi-sweet chocolate.
    Using a Brownie Mix. You can use a brownie mix instead of the homemade brownie recipe if you prefer. (But I promise these homemade ones are better!) Do not bake the brownies in a 9x13-inch pan, bake them in an 8x8 or 9x9 inch pan so they are thick.
    How to Store this Recipe. Keep these brownies tightly covered and store at room temperature or in the refrigerator. They are best eaten within 3-4 days.
    Freeze Them  I love freezing leftover brownies with cream cheese frosting. I like to wrap each brownie individually in plastic and then store them in a freezer bag or food storage container. If you choose not to wrap them individually in plastic wrap, I recommend placing parchment paper in between the brownies so they don’t stick together. The  stay good in your freezer for 3 months; just remember to thaw them first.
    Use Parchment Paper. Greasing and lining your pan with parchment paper is the easiest way to get your brownies out of the pan cleanly. I recommend leaving the edges of the parchment paper long enough that you can pull up the entire pan of brownies cleanly out of the pan.
    Cream Cheese Frosting. If you prefer a less tangy cream cheese frosting you can replace a portion of the cream cheese with an equal amount of butter. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1brownie
    Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on Twitter
    Tried this recipe? Leave a review below, then take a picture and tag us @InFineTaste on Instagram so we can see!

    View our web story for this post.

    « Buffalo Chicken Dip with Greek Yogurt
    Strawberry Jam Cookies »

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Meet Dianna & Alyssa

    two women, Dianna and Alyssa, standing with their arms around each other.

    We are Dianna & Alyssa, a mother-daughter duo, and food lovers! We are the stomachs behind all the recipes we share here on In Fine Taste.

    Read more about us

    Subscribe to our Newsletter

    'Tis the Season for Cake!

    • slice of lemon cake on white plate with blackberries on side.
      Lemon Blackberry Cake
    • Ho Ho cake with layers of moist chocolate cake, cream filling and dense chocolate frosting
      Ho Ho Cake
    • 3 layer cake with white cake and lemon filling
      Lemon Cheesecake Cake
    • slice of cake on white plate
      Yellow Cake with Chocolate Frosting

    More Cake Recipes

    Popular Posts

    • blue monster cookie with bite out of it stacked.
      Cookie Monster Cookies
    • soup in bowl with basil around and croutons on side.
      Roasted Red Pepper Gouda Soup
    • bowl of tzatziki with cucumbers on top
      Tzatziki (Cucumber Yogurt Sauce)
    • slices of pizza.
      The Best Pizza Dough
    logos displaying where In Fine Taste has been featured.

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • About Us

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Have a question? Or want to work with us? Send us a message!
    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.