These raspberry cheesecake swirl brownies are a slightly healthier version of the famous brownies from Baked!
Right after Christmas, Betsy from Java Cupcake came up to Berlin and of course, we had to bake! As you can imagine, the opportunity to bake with another American food blogger in Germany doesn’t come up very often. ;)
We thought it’d be fun to make two versions of the same recipe. I went with 100% whole wheat and a little less sugar and Betsy went with the traditional, all-purpose flour way. It took a while, but we finally decided on the Baked brownie! Or rather, a raspberry cheesecake brownie based off the ones from Baked!
The Baked brownies, which were featured as one of Oprah’s favorite things, were all the rage in the blogging world a few years ago but I made them and wasn’t all that impressed. They were good but I preferred an adaption of these brownies from Allrecipes. Adding the raspberry cheesecake topping to the Baked brownies made a world of difference! And these were so much more fudgy. I’m guessing I might have taken the brownies out of the oven a little too early (whoops ;)) but they were absolutely perfect the way they were.
When I adapt a recipe from somewhere, other than using 100% whole wheat (or making it grain-free), I normally change the butter to coconut oil and reduce the sugar by a ton and use coconut sugar. But because I had a special guest and limited time to bake, I didn’t want to risk the chance of having these turn out cakey! So I didn’t bother with coconut oil and I didn’t reduce the sugar all that much. You could definitely reduce the sugar a little more, if you like. Just don’t go wild (unless cakey brownies are something you enjoy). And I’m assuming coconut oil would work but I’m not guaranteeing anything. :) So these aren’t exactly healthy cheesecake brownies but they are healthier!
We made several changes to the recipe, like leaving out the tiny bit of cocoa powder, using an 8″x8″ instead of a 9″x13″ and adding a little more egg yolk (just because we didn’t want to mess with half an egg!) One change I’d make next time is to leave out the espresso powder. Normally you add espresso powder to chocolate brownies or cake to enhance the chocolate flavor, but on the second day, I could definitely taste the espresso powder in these. In my opinion, raspberry and espresso aren’t the best fit so I’ve left it out of the recipe.
And if the cheesecake topping is too fussy for you, just skip it and bake the brownies for 20 – 25 minutes.
For the more traditional version, check out Betsy’s post: Raspberry Cheesecake Brownies
And by the way, nobody could tell a difference between the all-purpose and 100% whole wheat version in these healthier raspberry cheesecake brownies! If you’ve never baked with whole grains before, here’s the perfect recipe to start with. :)
Raspberry Cheesecake Swirl Brownies (whole grain option)
- Prep Time:
- Cook Time:
- Ready in:
- Yield: 16 brownies
Ingredients
- 6 ounces (170 grams) semi-sweet or dark chocolate
- 1/2 cup (113 grams) butter
- 3/4 cup (112 grams) coconut sugar or granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup + 1 tablespoon (70 grams) whole wheat flour, whole spelt flour or all-purpose flour
- 8 ounces (225 grams) cream cheese
- 1/3 cup (66 grams) granulated or raw sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup frozen raspberries, defrosted + 1 tablespoon sugar
For the brownies:
For the cheesecake topping:
Directions
- First, prepare the cheesecake filling. In a medium bowl, beat together the cream cheese, sugar, egg and vanilla.
- In a small bowl, mash the defrosted berries with the sugar. It should be fairly fluid and not lumpy. You could also use an immersion blender here. Set the two bowls aside.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (176°C). Line an 8"x8" pan with parchment paper.
- In a small pot over low heat, melt the chocolate and butter. Stir occasionally.
- Remove the pan from the heat and mix in the sugar. Let it sit for a few minutes or until room temperature.
- One by one, whisk in the eggs and egg yolk. Stir just until combined! Add in the vanilla and salt.
- Fold the flour into the chocolate mixture, just until no streaks of flour remain. Do not over mix or your brownies will be cakey!
- Pour the batter into the pan and spoon the cheesecake batter on top of the brownie batter.
- Dollop tablespoons of the mashed raspberries on top of the cheesecake batter and using a toothpick or a knife, swirl the raspberries into the cheesecake batter.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out mostly clean (it shouldn't be totally wet).
- Cool the brownies in the pan and then lift them out using the parchment paper.
- Cut the brownies and place in an airtight container.
- Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Adapted from Baked: New Frontiers in Baking, as seen on The Baked Brownie by Browned Eyed Baker
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179 comments on “Healthier Raspberry Cheesecake Brownies” — Add one!
This brownie looks so good. Started to wait season of raspberries!
Thank you! And I’m with you. I need berry season to get started! :)
I moved to Brandenburg a couple of years ago – but with two mini children at home, I hardly ever get to Berlin. From my spare visits, I recall Hackesche Höfe the most.
And if I had the free choice – I would travel to Hamburg, no better live there again!
Liebgruß, Claudia
Brandenburg?! Interesting! Are you German? And Hackesche Höfe is nice. They have excellent ice cream there. :)
I have never been to Germany.I would love to visit Frankfurt.
No, never but growing up I had several friends from Germany because I grew up in a military town with a strong German military presence. I’d love to visit the entire country!
I hope you get a chance to visit! Maybe visit some old German friends. :)
yummy
I have never been to Germany…. I guess I would want to go to Frankfurt Germany
I have never been but would love to see Berlin.
I have never been to Germany I don’t know where I would go
I would like to visit, Neuschwanstein Castle in Schengau, Germany.
I haven’t been to Berlin, but I have lived in Germany years ago for three years when my Dad was in the military, I loved it there
Never been in Berlin, will love to visit there!!!
I have been to munich germany and loved loved loved it I hope some day to explore more of germany
These German treats look so fun! I have been to Germany several times, and loved Berlin! My favorite part might have been the delicious German breakfasts we would have. And of course, I stocked up on delicious chocolate treats to bring home. As a child, my cousin used to always bring me back the kinder surprise eggs!
The Berlin centric cookie cutters are adorable! I have an Ammpelman bottle opener and bag, but a cookie cutter is way cuter!!
Love your posts and recipes!
Hi, Cassie! Thanks for your kind comment. So happy that you like the recipes! I don’t think I’ve ever had a special German breakfast. My German only eats loads of bread for breakfast so I’m not really sure what a German breakfast actually consists of. ;) And getting Kinder eggs from Germany as a child must have been amazing! Lucky girl, you were. :)
I have never been to either but I would love to go!
I hope you’ll get the chance to visit! It’s a beautiful place. :)
I have not been to Germany, I would love to see Berlin.
I have never been to Berlin. I would love to travel all over Germany and especially go to where my family is from Schleswig-Holstein
I’ve never been to Berlin. I’d love to get a breathtaking view of the mountains!
I have been to Berlin! Only briefly, but they had these great bear statues that artists had adapted, and I loved finding them throughout the city. That and currywurst.
Bavaria – isn’t that where Bavarian cream was born!? ;)
Never been, but I would love to go anywhere in Germany.
I have never been to Germany. I do so want to go as I hear it is gorgeous not to mention the great food! No particular city really.
I never been to Germany, but would love to see Berlin
I’ve been to Germany, but I was young so I remember very little of it! I’d love to go to Berlin.
I’ve never been to berlin, but I have been to Munich!
i have never been to berlin
I have never been to berlin but I have been to meinz and weisbaden for a year! I saw marksburg castle and the rhine river it was gorgeous!
That sounds amazing! I want to visit a castle, too. :)
I’ve never been to Germany, but would love to see Munich in the spring. Thanks!
Yes I have, years and years ago, and my favorite part was the Berliners a jam filled donut like thing lol.
Hahaha. Try calling that a donut in Germany and they’ll tell you, “No! It’s not a donut! Donuts have holes in them!” Lol. :D
I have never been to Germany, but I would love to see Berlin.
Thanks for the fun giveaway! My daughter will study abroad in Belgium and travel to Germany this fall. She would be so excited if we win.
I have not been to Berlin but I would like to go to Germany to visit the exchange student that was here last semester.
Never been to Berlin, but I’ve been to Belgium.
i haven’t ever been to berlin but i would love to go. i am part german. i am tony l smoaks on rafflecopter.