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Chocolate brownie cheesecake – the ultimate cheesecake for chocolate lovers! It has a fudgy brownie bottom topped with a rich and creamy chocolate cheesecake, chocolate ganache, and whipped cream.
Chocoholics rejoice! These are the recipes for you! If you’re wanting more rich and decadent chocolate desserts, you’ve got to try chocolate lava cake, German chocolate pie, or these classic chocolate cupcakes! They’re all so irresistible, you won’t be able to get enough!
Rich and Fudgy Chocolate Brownie Cheesecake Recipe
Chocolate lovers get ready! Today I’m sharing an ultra-chocolatey dessert for when that sweet craving hits! This decadent chocolate brownie cheesecake is sure to impress at your next family gathering or holiday party. It has a fudgy brownie “crust” topped with layers of creamy chocolate cheesecake, chocolate ganache, and whipped cream. It’s so silky-smooth! And let’s be honest, you really can’t go wrong with a brownie crust. It’s love at first bite!
Cheesecake and brownies are two of my favorite desserts. This is the best combination of both! Everyone always loves it. It’s one of my new favorite desserts to make because it’s a hit wherever it goes. With how indulgent it is, how could you not want to snag a piece? Not only is it delicious, but it’s gorgeous, too! It’s the perfect holiday centerpiece. The chocolate ganache, swirls of whipped cream, and shaved chocolate really take it to the next level. (Trying not to drool here!) It looks like something you’d get from a bakery! Let’s get cooking because you need a slice of this in your life. It’s too good to pass up. To keep your sweet tooth happy, find my full list of chocolate desserts here.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Now, I know this chocolate brownie cheesecake has a pretty lengthy ingredient list, but hear me out! A lot of them are standard baking ingredients. It’s great because you probably already have them on hand! Check out the recipe card below for measurements.
Brownie Crust
- Unsalted Butter: Adds rich flavor and moisture.
- Chocolate Chips: I used semi-sweet chocolate chips, but feel free to use milk or dark chocolate chips!
- Sugar: I use both granulated and light brown sugar here for the perfect sweetness.
- Cocoa Powder: Use high-quality cocoa powder for the best flavor!
- Vanilla Extract: If you don’t already have it, I recommend getting some pure vanilla extract. It will make all of your baked goods taste better!
- Eggs: I used large eggs at room temperature so that they mix into the brownie batter smoothly.
- Baking Powder: You want to add baking powder so your crust isn’t too dense.
- Salt: Just a pinch is all you need to enhance the flavor!
- Flour: All-purpose flour works great here. It has a low protein content which means your brownie bottom will turn out soft and fudgy.
Cheesecake Layer
- Cream Cheese: The main ingredient for your cheesecake layer. You’ll want this to be softened so it mixes together with the other ingredients easily.
- Granulated Sugar: Makes the filling nice and sweet!
- Chocolate Chunks or Chips: I used semi-sweet!
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder: For more chocolate goodness.
- Flour: Helps the filling set.
- Vanilla Extract: I love adding vanilla because it makes everything taste better! Use pure vanilla extract if you can.
- Large Eggs: Add structure to the filling.
- Sour Cream: Adds a hint of tang and creamy texture!
Chocolate Ganache
- Chocolate Chunks or Chips: Feel free to use milk or dark chocolate if you prefer.
- Heavy Whipped Cream: Makes the ganache creamy and smooth.
Garnish (Optional)
- Chocolate Shavings: These are the perfect finishing touch! (I love them because they’re delicious, too!)
- Whipped Cream: You’ve got to have some whipped cream on top! It adds a little extra creaminess and makes it look picture-perfect.
How to Make Chocolate Brownie Cheesecake
Don’t let all of the steps fool you. Chocolate brownie cheesecake is a dessert that anyone can make! Psst- if you want to speed up prep, feel free to use boxed brownie mix for the crust! You can also use the recipe from these simple 3-ingredient brownies.
- Preheat Oven, Prep Pan: Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan with parchment paper and grease the sides. Wrap the outer layer of the pan with 3-4 layers of 18-inch heavy-duty aluminum foil to prevent leaking.
Brownie Bottom:
- Combine Ingredients: To make the brownie crust, combine the melted butter and melted chocolate in a large bowl until smooth. Whisk in both sugars until combined.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Whisk in the vanilla and then the eggs, one by one – mixing until incorporated.
- Mix in Dry Ingredients: Add baking powder, salt, and slowly mix in the flour until smooth and just combined.
- Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly. Bake in preheated oven for 22-24 minutes. (Brownie may not be fully baked which is okay since you will bake it with the cheesecake.)
Cheesecake Layer:
- Adjust Temperature: Remove the pan from the oven and set aside. Reduce the oven temperature to 300°F.
- Mix Cream Cheese and Sugar: While the brownie is baking, make the cheesecake layer. Using a stand mixer (or hand mixer) on low speed, beat the cream cheese and sugar until smooth and combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and beat slowly, until just smooth.
- Add Eggs: Next, add eggs one at a time, scraping down after each addition.
- Add Chocolate, Flour, and Vanilla: Add melted chocolate, cocoa powder, flour, and vanilla together until smooth.
- Mix in Sour Cream: Add the sour cream and beat on low speed until smooth and combined.
- Pour Into Pan: Slowly pour cheesecake batter over brownie layer and spread evenly. The pan will be very full.
- Water Bath: Place springform pan inside a large roasting pan. Fill outside pan with enough warm water to go about almost halfway up the sides of the springform pan.
- Bake: Bake at 300°F for 1 hour and 30 minutes. The center will be slightly jiggly.
- Cool in the Oven: Turn off the oven, and allow the cheesecake to cool in the oven with the door closed for 20 minutes.
- Chill: Crack open the door and leave the cheesecake in the oven for 30 minutes or until set. Remove the cheesecake from the oven and discard aluminum foil wrapping. Cover and refrigerate until firm, 5-6 hours, or overnight.
- Transfer to Serving Plate: Once the cheesecake is completely cool, remove springform pan sides from cheesecake and place cheesecake on a serving plate.
Chocolate Ganache:
- Add to Bowl: Place the chocolate chips in a heat-safe bowl.
- Heat and Mix: Using a double-boiler or the microwave, heat the heavy whipping cream until it just begins to boil, then pour over the chocolate chips. Allow the mixture to sit undisturbed for 1-3 minutes, then whisk until smooth.
- Add to Cheesecake: Spread the ganache onto the cheesecake into an even layer. Garnish with shaved chocolate and whipped cream, if desired. Voila! You have a delicious chocolate brownie cheesecake ready to go!
Tips for Making the Best Cheesecake
Here are a few extra tips to get your cheesecake to taste perfect every time! Everyone’s going to go crazy over your chocolate brownie cheesecake. It’s the best addition to any holiday party. Expect your guests to want a second (or third) piece!
- Don’t Skip the Water Bath: Because we want our cheesecake to be light and delicate, a water bath is a must! Don’t skip it! A water bath ensures that the cheesecake bakes up perfectly soft and creamy.
- Use Room Temperature Ingredients: Since cheesecake is supposed to be soft and smooth, the last thing you want is for it to be lumpy. You can avoid this by making sure your wet ingredients (eggs and dairy) are at room temperature before you mix them together.
- Use Full-Fat Ingredients: As much as I wish it were, this chocolate brownie cheesecake isn’t the most diet-friendly dessert around. If you really want to make it as creamy and delicious as possible, stay away from low-fat cream cheese and sour cream.
- Don’t Overmix: When you mix up your cheesecake filling, be sure to use a gentle hand. Overmixing can cause the cheesecake to deflate and crack.
- Chill: Be sure you let your cheesecake chill for as long as possible! (I recommend overnight!) This will help it set.
Storing Leftovers
If you have leftovers of this chocolate brownie cheesecake, keep them! You’ll thank me later. There’s nothing like having a slice of cheesecake when you get a late-night sweet tooth. It’s heavenly!
- In the Refrigerator: Cover cheesecake with plastic wrap or store in an airtight container. It will stay good for up to 4 days.
More Chocolate Desserts
You can never have too much chocolate! I have so many favorite chocolate dessert recipes, it’s hard to narrow it down! These are just a few of the greats that will leave your taste buds and stomach happy. Find my full list of chocolate desserts here.
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Chocolate Brownie Cheesecake
Ingredients
Brownie Bottom (OR use your favorite brownie mix)
- 1 cup unsalted butter melted
- 1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips melted
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar packed
- 2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 4 large eggs room temperature
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup all purpose flour
Cheesecake Layer
- 24 ounces cream cheese room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chunks or chips, melted
- 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 1/2 tablespoons flour
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 4 large eggs room temperature
- 1 cup sour cream room temperature
Chocolate Ganache
- 3/4 cups semi-sweet chocolate chunks or chips
- 1/3 cup heavy whipping cream
Garnish (Optional)
- shaved chocolate
- whipped cream
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan with parchment paper and grease the sides. Wrap the outer layer of the pan with 3-4 layers of 18-inch heavy-duty aluminum foil to prevent leaking.
Brownie
- To make the brownie, combine the melted butter and melted chocolate in a large bowl until smooth. Whisk in both sugars until combined.
- Whisk in the vanilla and then the eggs, one by one – mixing until incorporated.
- Add baking powder, salt and slowly mix in the flour until smooth and just combined.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly. Bake in preheated oven for 22-24 minutes. (Brownie may not be fully baked which is okay since you will bake it with the cheesecake)
Cheesecake
- Remove the pan from the oven and set aside. Reduce the oven temperature to 300°F.
- While the brownie is baking, make the cheesecake layer. Using a stand mixer (or hand mixer) on low speed, beat the cream cheese and sugar until smooth and combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and beat slowly, until just smooth.
- Add eggs, one at a time, scraping down after each addition.
- Add melted chocolate, cocoa powder, flour and vanilla together until smooth.
- Add the sour cream and beat on low speed until smooth and combined.
- Slowly pour cheesecake batter over brownie layer and spread evenly. The pan will be very full. (you may have extra batter which you can bake in silicone muffin cups or ramekins)
- Place springform pan inside a large roasting pan. Fill outside pan with enough warm water to go about almost half-way up the sides of the springform pan.
- Bake at 300°F for 1 hour and 30 minutes. The center will be slightly jiggly.
- Turn off the oven, and allow the cheesecake to cool in the oven with the door closed for 20 minutes.
- Crack open the door and leave the cheesecake in the oven for 30 minutes or until set. Remove the cheesecake from the oven and discard aluminum foil wrapping. Cover and refrigerate until firm, 5-6 hours or overnight.
- Once the cheesecake is completely cool, remove springform pan sides from cheesecake and place cheesecake on a serving plate.
Chocolate Ganache
- Place the chocolate chips in a heat-safe bowl.
- Using a double-boiler or the microwave, heat the heavy whipping cream until it just begins to boil, then pour over the chocolate chips. Allow the mixture to sit undisturbed for 1-3 minutes, then whisk until smooth.
- Spread the ganache onto the cheesecake into an even layer. Garnish with shaved chocolate and whipped cream, if desired.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Can someone clarify how much cocoa powder goes in the brownie and how much goes in the cheesecake filling?
2/3 cups in brownie and 3 tablespoons in the cheesecake filling?
That is correct!
Chocolate brownie cheesecake looks lovely but it would be good to have ingredients metric please
Hi! I recently made two of these cakes! Its the day after and I was wondering if you had any tips for softening the brownie since its been in the refrigerator. Thanks!
What is your best tip to slide the cheesecake off the bottom pan? I have done this in the past and was unsuccessful because the cheesecake was too heavy to slide off.
Thanks 🙂
Run a knife dipped in hot water along the edge of the cheesecake to loosen it from the sides of the pan. Continue to re-dip the knife to prevent the knife from dragging in the cheesecake. After loosening the cake, pop open the latch on the pan and lift away the sides.
Can the ganache icing be put on the cake and then put back into the frig? I want to be able to take it out of frig a little while before serving and add the whipped cream but did not want to have to make the icing while my guests are here and put on the cake.
just so i am clear on instructions; NO cocoa powder in the brownie bottom? only 2 tbs in cheesecake layer.
Yes, there is unsweetened cocoa powder in the brownie bottom.
Hi. It seems there is a lot of confusion around the cocoa powder. I’d love to try this recipe, so can you clarify how much cocoa powder is supposed to be added to the cheesecake layer? Just the 2 tablespoons? the 3/4 cup? Both?
thanks!
There are sections of each layer and the cocoa powder is in a couple places. For the cheesecake layer you will only use 2 tablespoons. XOXO
the brownie calls for 3/4 cup coco powder and the cheesecake calls for 2 TBS. When do you add the 3/4 cup coco powder in the brownie mix?
The cocoa powder is actually in the cheesecake mix. It would seem like it needs to be in the brownie mix but it is not. Hope that helps! XOXO
OK. So you add the 3/4 cup + 2 TBS. cocoa powder to the cheesecake layer?
The cocoa powder was not included in the brownie cooking steps, though it is listed in the ingredients!
It is used in the cheesecake cooking steps. It is used with the melted butter. Hope that helps! Let me know if you need anything else! XOXO
Can you please correct the instructions and the ingredients! This is so very, very confusing. You have cocoa powder in the brownie part , then again in the cheesecake part, yet then say it’s all in the cheesecake only. Thanks.
With the brownie bottom, you call for in the ingredient list cocoa powder, however no where in the instructions do you address where to add the cocoa powder is to be added in the process. Please help those of us who live by the instructions.
It is used in the cheesecake layer. Hope that is better!
This brownie cheesecake looks delicious!! Two of my favorites. I was trying to find a new chocolate recipe to try for Thanksgiving & I just came across this. I was wondering if you could help me. I really don’t want to have to cook more than one pie, because we have about 18 – 20 people. I was wondering if I could make this in a 9×13 baking pan & also use boxed brownie mix. I’m not going to be putting the ganache or cream on top. Would you be able to help me with the amounts of each ingredient to use & the cooking time and temperature? I would appreciate any help. Thanks