Raspberry Cream Cheese Brownies
39 comments » 
I’m convinced that there are two types of people in the world – those that love the combination of chocolate and fruit flavors, and those who absolutely despise it. I fall somewhere in the middle. (Does that make me half a person? Hmmm.) I adore chocolate-covered strawberries, as well as chocolate paired with banana anything, but that’s usually where my chocolate/fruit fascination ends. I’ve never been over the moon about chocolate with berries or orange or anything like that. As a result, this recipe was sort of a challenge to myself, to see what I thought about the marriage of raspberry and chocolate. It was a good starting point, as the raspberry flavors in this brownie are somewhat subtle, so it was a perfect way to get my feet wet and to see what I thought. Turns out, I rather like the raspberry-infused chocolate flavor. A nice undertone – distinct yet not overpowering, and very complementary. Of course, a little cheesecake filling never hurts anything!
The raspberry flavor is derived by using raspberry jam – a little of which is mixed right into the brownie batter, and a little more is swirled on top of the cream cheese layer in the middle of the brownies. Mixing the raspberry jam into the actual brownies gives them just a hint of reddish hue – so lovely!
I think the best part of this recipe is its ability to be completely adaptable to your preferred tastes. Maybe you love chocolate and strawberry together? By all means, just substitute strawberry jam for the raspberry. I imagine you could use just about any flavor you like, and mix it up for some variety. I’m so happy I gave this recipe a try; I’m sure it will be a gateway drug to more chocolate and fruit experimentation!
How do you feel about chocolate and fruit flavors together? Yay or Nay?
One year ago: Best Buttermilk Pancakes
Two years ago: Creme Brulee
Four years ago: Brown Sugar-Apple Cheesecake
Raspberry Cream Cheese Brownies
Yield: 16 brownies
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 50 to 60 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Ingredients:
8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
1½ cups granulated sugar, divided
1 egg yolk
2¼ teaspoons vanilla extract, divided
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces
4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
½ cup raspberry jam, divided
3 eggsDirections:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with foil, allowing excess to hand over the pan edges. Grease foil; set aside.
2. Process the cream cheese, ¼ cup granulated sugar, egg yolk, and ¾ teaspoon vanilla extract in a food processor until smooth; set aside.
3. Whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl; set aside. Microwave the butter and chocolate in a large bowl, stirring occasionally, until smooth, about 1 minute. Whisk in ¼ cup of the raspberry jam and cool slightly. Add the remaining 1¼ cups sugar, the eggs, and remaining 1½ teaspoons vanilla to the chocolate mixture, stirring until combined. Add the flour mixture and stir until incorporated.
4. Microwave the remaining ¼ cup raspberry jam until warm, about 30 seconds; stir until smooth. Scrape half of the brownie batter into the prepared pan. Dollop the cream cheese filling over the batter and spread into and even layer. Dollop the warm jam evenly over the filling and swirl to partially combine. Spread the remaining brownie batter evenly over the filling. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few crumbs attached, 50 to 60 minutes. Cool completely, about 2 hours. Using the foil overhang, life the brownies from the pan and cut into squares. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
(Recipe adapted from America’s Test Kitchen Holiday Cookies)
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I love brownies and cream cheese and raspberries. GREAT combo!
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Every time I look at one of your posts I am sure you are determined to make me fat.
This looks incredible, as always. Brownies and cream cheese and raspberries? Did I die and go to heaven??
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Yummy – I think this will have to be my ultimate dessert don’t you think?
Thanks for a wonderful recipe!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
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I love the combination of raspberries and chocolate – I never realised that it was so divisive! – so these look right up my street.
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I love cream cheese brownies, but never had fruit mixed it. Sounds refreshing and beautiful
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Mmm I love berries with my brownies!
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It’s a great combo! I mix a teaspoon of dry raspberry JELLO into my cup of hot chocolate for a treat, so I know I’ll love these.
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Chocolate and raspberries are a wonderful combo. Throw in cream cheese and I’m there!
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I’m totally on team fruit + chocolate so this recipe is right up my alley
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I’m experimenting with cherry cream cheese brownies today! Using real fruit instead of jam, we’ll see how it goes. I love chocolate and fruit together, its almost the only way to eat fruit!
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Raspberries & chocolate – marriage made in heavan! Love the frugal raspberry jam filling, fresh raspberries mysteriously disappear here unless I use them straightaway. Delicious recipe, thanks!
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Oh super yum! This looks amazing and so good! One of my favorite combos is chocolate and rapsberries. Drooling….
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Oh wow, they look so delicious!
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Yay! Chocolate and fruit, always a plus. Looks fabulous.
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I am with you. I love chocolate and strawberries and chocolate and bananas (sometimes I dip bananas in cocoa powder for a healthy sweet snack!), but I don’t usually go much farther than that. I made a strawberry cake with chocolate frosting last week that was inspired by chocolate covered strawberries. It was great! Raspberry brownies sounds pretty good too and I might have to try it to broaden my horizons!
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I’m like you. I am not a huge fan of chocolate and fruit paired together. I did experiment with a double chocolate cherry cookie last week and my taste testers loved them.
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Perfect for Valentine’s Day!! Love a good brownie!
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You MUST try Chocolate Raspberry Truffle at Brusters! OMgoodness!!! delish!
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My favorite brownie and fruit combination is the Hummingbird method with a raspberry cream on top of baked cheesecake over gorgeous brownie. It is so beautiful to look at and remarkeably tastes better than it looks. Easy to make too.
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Again you have made me hungry and I have bookmarked another of your great recipes!
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One word…PERFECT. Looks very addictive. Love the photos
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Love the raspberry addition to this – YUM!
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I gotta stop visiting your blog…your killing my diet…these look to die for.
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I love chocolate and fruit together. If you ever have the chance, try the cordial blueberries (chocolate covered blueberries) at Sherm Edwards…yum.
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These look so fudgey and perfect!
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I’m afraid I’m one of those “fruit/chocolate” non-likers! BUT, with the addition of cream cheese, I’m just going to have to get over it and try!
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I love raspberries and chocolate together! It’s one of my favorite combos (second only to peanut butter and chocolate). Can’t wait to try these
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I like but hubby and son don’t like so I rarely make that combination. I would make these but I would end up eating them all. They look amazing.
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These sound delicious! Can’t wait to try them. Might omit the cheesecake; not a huge fan. But raspberries and chocolate; count me in!
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Oh goodness gracious me!! Raspberry & Chocolate comes a close runners up after Chocolate and Hazelnuts. I know it’s not fruit but in my opionion it’s the best flavour combination IN…THE…WORLD!
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Raspberries, chocolate and cream cheese what a great combo!
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As much as I love chocolate, I find that in brownies, I need something to break up the monotony. Our favorite chocolate cake of all time is from a bakery on Long Island. It’s an elaborate creation but includes layers of raspberry jam that adds so much to the flavor! This brownie recipe might give the same result. Saving this one. Thanks.
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Some chocolate and fruit flavors are simply done over and over and over again… one of the reasons we have a special Acolyte to review many of the chocolate and fruit we get — I get bored and then the review wouldn’t be as objective.
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Usually nay…but I think I could go for this! The combo with cream cheese might be just the thing.
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I made these for a friend for Valentine’s Day. I made a “test” batch to see how it would turn out and omg, these are the BEST brownies I have ever tasted! Fudgy with a nice, crackly top and the taste of rasberries permeates the brownie. These may be gone before the end of the night…lol.
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Raspberry and cream cheese filled brownies sound so amazingly good!
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Michelle, did you use seedless raspberry jam in this? Or with seeds?
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Michelle on May 23rd, 2012 at 2:07 pm
I used seedless.
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I made these last night for some company and everyone raved about them! So delicious and easy to make ahead of time and just pull out of the fridge when it is time for dessert. Thanks for this great recipe. Raspberries and chocolate are always a hit with me!
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