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!
I’ve never been to Germany, but I’d love to! I don’t know much about it, but Berlin sounds like an interesting place to travel!
This sounds perfect! Thank you for sharing :)
I’ve never been to Germany – but I would love to visit. It is on our bucket list.
no i havent been but id love to see it all
No I have never been. In fact I haven’t traveled too far from my home state of Va. At one time in my life I dreamed of backpacking through southern Germany. But life has a way of shifting our dreams to a different route. For me,my dear husband and four children.
Now, in all honesty, I am not sure if I would be comfortable leaving the states. But, I still enjoy hearing about and seeing pictures of my friends and family’s travels. ;D
If you’re worried about safety in Germany, you don’t need to be. It’s safer here than in the US. :D But it’s great that you still find joy in seeing friends’ pictures. :)
How delicious! Hard to believe a cheesecake AND brownie combination dessert that’s healthy ;)
I’ve never been to Berlin, but would love to visit!
I haven’t been to Berlin but I have been to Bavaria and the Bodensee area and I LOVED IT!
I would go back to any part of Germany in a heartbeat :+)
I’ve been to neither. Boo! I would love to go. :)
i was actually born in germany but moved away when i was about 6 years old. i believe that i have been to berlin many times, but too young to remember. I do plan on going back, hopefully this year!
Really?! I didn’t know you were German. :) I hope you’ll enjoy your backpacking trip!
I have never been to Germany (other than switching planes in the airport in Frankfurt). I would love to visit Berlin!
I have not been to Berlin, we lived in Germany for 3 years but close to Frankfurt and just sadly never made the trip.
No I have never been to Berlin, but would love to go!
I have never been to germany for a holiday, I only drive through it a when I go to Italy, that’s like two or three times a year
I have never been to Germany. I would probably try to find out where my Grandfather was stationed after WWII and start from there, to see some of the places he told his stories about.
Love how rich and fudgy the brownie layer looks! These look perfectly decadent!
What a fun experience. You two are adorable. I’m loving these ruby red swirled brownies. Pinned.
I’ve never been but it’s on our bucket list. My husband and I are now empty nesters and are going to start traveling more. We were thinking the Rhine River Cruise would be amazing.
My parents did that cruise! They loved it. I hope you get a chance to go!
I´ve been to a lot of cities in Germany but never to Berlin. Would love to go there.
Thank you so much for offering such a lovely and generous giveaway. I have never been to Berlin, but I would love to! There are so many places I want to visit – Neuschwanstein Castle, the Black Forest, Heidelberg Castle and historical old quarter, Rothenburg ob der Tauber… the list goes on. :)
You’re welcome, Cindy! :) And I want to visit a lot of those places, too. I definitely need to do some more travelling here!
I have never been to Germany but would love to go to Munich.
I was there years ago and traveled to East Berlin when you still had to go through a checkpoint. A little scary, but interesting.
Ooh. That does sound kind of scary! What a crazy time that was.
This is one recipe that I must try. Hubby and I love raspberry cheesecake and anything with brownies has to be good.
Years ago I lived in Hong Kong and had several European friends – we shared our home countries’ chocolates – my Fannie May and believe it or not, Viba, as well as lots of Lindt and Toblerone. I’d love to have some Viba again! :)
I hope you’ll get a chance to try the brownies, Paula! :) And haha. I love that you and your friends shared Fannie May and Viba. Funny! Good luck on winning the Viba. :D
Looks so good! Thank you for sharing the recipe.
Thanks! And you’re welcome. I’m more than happy to share. :D
I have not been to Berlin. I would love to go to Germany, perhaps a cruise up the Rhine to take in many sights.
I haven’t ever been out of the US, let alone to Germany. But I think that it would be soo cool to tour Germany, see all those historic spots, touch the Berlin wall!
There are tons of historical spots all over Germany! They’re kind of everywhere you turn. ;) I hope you get a chance to visit Berlin (or Europe in general). :)
I’ve never been to Germany but I would love to see Berlin!
No, I’d love to see where Reagan gave his Berlin wall speech.
I’ve never been, but my aunt has been to Berlin multiple times because her husband is from there. She has nothing but good things to say about the city!
I’ve never been to Berline but I would love to go cause my aunt lives there!
i am drooling right now looking at those…
i have actually been to berlin! :) it’s a great city full of trees and a great, youthful energy.
I have never been to Berlin but I would love to go.
How fun you got to bake together! Those brownies look delectable. I have one of those amplemann cutter. Love it.
I have never been to Berlin. Since I probably would be traveling with my children we would for sure stop at Legoland and SeaLife Park.
I’ve never been to Berlin – but would obviously have to see the location of the famous wall :) These brownies look amazing – hard to believe they’re whole grain!
I have never been to Berlin, but I would like to visit Heidelberg.
These brownies look great. I can imagine that sweet brownie, cream cheese layer and sour raspberries taste great together..
I’ve never been to Germany, but I’d love to go someday. I would like to go to Stuttgart or Munich.
i loooove international food! I’ve been to France twice and Turkey as well. Germany is on the list! My goal in life is to eat the world :)
That’s an awesome goal! :D
Oh my, these brownies look incredible! Cannot wait for raspberry season again(please feel free to remind me that when we’re actually there, haha) Also, this contest sounds yummyy! I have a lot of catching up to do, sorry I haven’t visited you in so long!
Oh, and I forgot to mention I’ve never been to Germany, but I’d love to visit any part of it! :)
Psh. You have so much better stuff to do, Heidi! Don’t worry about it. :)
I have not been to Germany but would love to see the black forest.
Go in the fall! Very pretty then. :)
I would like to visit Neuschwanstein, I have not been to berlin.
I want to visit there, too! Or really, any castle would be cool. I don’t think I’ve ever been to a castle in Germany. How lame is that?! I need to get out of Berlin. ;)
I’ve never been and would love to travel to any part of it.
Me too! I’d love to get away from Berlin. :D
Hi there! I’ve never been to Berlin, but would be nice to go there and to Austria with our family! :)
Hi, Emi! :) Austria is really nice. I also went there with my family and they seemed to love it so much that they try to go every summer. I guess it’s a nice break from the Texas heat. ;)
Erin,you are really lucky to live in Germany and travel all the nice places :). I grew up in Hungary, Budapest and currently living in Seattle WA (not liking the weather here), I hope someday we can move back home or Germany! Made your delicious brownies…sooo good, I love to bake also healthy desserts! Have you ever tried Hungarian food and desserts?
Hi, Emi! I’d love to trade places with you as I’d love to live in Seattle! ;) I’m so happy that you liked the brownies. Thanks for the feedback and the rating! :) I think the only Hungarian food I’ve tried is Kürtőskalács. They are super yummy! I had them last year in Prague and we were lucky to find a Hungarian baker here in Berlin during Christmas time that sold them. Do you have any dessert recommendations? :)
Wow! These look yummy! I’m always looking for ways to use whole wheat instead of white flour, and this may be the only brownie recipe like this that I’ve seen!
Thanks, Katie! And hey, I have a ton more whole wheat brownies recipes. Here you go: brownies. Enjoy! :D
i have not been to Berlin but I would love to travel there.
It’s a great city for tourists! :)
I’ve never been to Germany (asside from the Munich airport) but my boyfriend has and wants to go back more than anything. I don’t have as much of a desire because I grew up in a Bavarian themed town. He’s still trying to convince me the real thing is much better ;-)
Lol. Really. Thank you for telling me about your hometown over on Twitter. It really made me so happy to read about. :D
I haven’t been but would like to visit Cologne :)
Cologne is nice! I’ve been there a few times. And the people are friendlier than in Berlin. ;)
Gorgeous brownies, love the raspberry swirl!
Thanks, Laura! :)
I’ve never been to berlin but i’ve been to munich!
would love to see frankfurt too
I want to visit Munich! Never been there or to Bavaria. Booo!
Thanks for letting me come over to get your kitchen dirty!! I had a lot of fun! Can’t wait for your visit this spring!
Haha. Seriously. You left with it pretty clean. ;) And can’t wait for my visit, either!
Southern Germany! Schwarzwald!
I’ve been there (around Freiburg) in the fall and it was SO pretty! Like New England in the fall pretty. :)