This Pioneer Woman Strawberry Cheesecake Brownies Recipe is a fudgy and decadent recipe, which is made with dark chocolate and a rich cream cheese swirl. It’s the ultimate dessert recipe, ready in about 35 minutes, plus cooling time.
Jump to RecipePioneer Woman Strawberry Cheesecake Brownies Ingredients
For the Cheesecake Topping:
- 8 ounces (226g) cream cheese, at room temperature
- ¼ cup (50g) sugar
- 1 egg, at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup (80g) strawberry jam
- ⅛ cup (40g) strawberry jam, for swirling
For the Brownies:
- ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter
- 4 ounces (113g) dark chocolate, chopped
- ½ cup (65g) all-purpose flour
- ½ cup (50g) cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 eggs, at room temperature
- 1 egg yolk, at room temperature
- ¾ cup (150g) sugar
- ½ cup (100g) light brown sugar, packed
- ¼ cup (60ml) vegetable oil
- ¾ teaspoon vanilla extract
How To Make Pioneer Woman Strawberry Cheesecake Brownies
- Prep Oven and Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease an 8×8 inch pan and line it with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides to use as handles for easy removal.
- Make the Cheesecake Topping: In a medium bowl, use a hand mixer or stand mixer to beat the room-temperature cream cheese, egg, sugar, vanilla, and ¼ cup of strawberry jam until completely smooth. Set aside.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a small bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour and kosher salt. Set aside.
- Melt Chocolate and Butter: In a double boiler or a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water, melt the butter and chopped dark chocolate together until smooth. Remove from heat and whisk in the cocoa powder until no lumps remain.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a separate large bowl, whisk together the eggs, egg yolk, both sugars, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract until well combined and slightly pale.
- Combine Mixtures: Pour the sugar and egg mixture into the melted chocolate mixture and whisk until smooth and glossy.
- Finish the Brownie Batter: Gently fold the flour mixture into the chocolate batter using a spatula. Mix only until no dry pockets of flour remain. Do not overmix.
- Assemble the Layers: Pour the finished brownie batter into your prepared pan and spread it into an even layer. Dollop the cheesecake mixture over the top and gently spread it to cover the brownie batter.
- Create the Swirl: Drop small spoonfuls of the remaining ⅛ cup of strawberry jam over the cheesecake layer. Use a knife or a skewer to gently swirl the jam into the cheesecake topping.
- Bake and Cool: Bake for 30-35 minutes. The edges should look set, but the center should still have a slight jiggle. Let the brownies cool completely in the pan before lifting them out and slicing into 9 large or 16 small squares.

Recipe Tips
- Why are room temperature ingredients important? Using room temperature cream cheese, eggs, and butter is crucial for a smooth, lump-free cheesecake topping and a well-emulsified brownie batter. Cold ingredients don’t mix together evenly.
- How do I get clean, perfect slices? For the cleanest cuts, you must let the brownies cool completely. Chilling them in the refrigerator for an hour also helps. Use a large, sharp knife, and wipe the blade clean between each cut.
- How do I know when the brownies are done? The “jiggle test” is key. The center should still be slightly wobbly when you gently shake the pan. This indicates a fudgy center. If a toothpick inserted in the center comes out completely clean, they may be overbaked.
- How do I get the best swirl effect? Less is more. Don’t overdo the swirling. Just a few gentle figure-eight motions with the tip of a knife will create a beautiful marbled pattern without muddying the colors.
What To Serve With Strawberry Cheesecake Brownies
These brownies are incredibly rich on their own, but they pair wonderfully with:
- A cold glass of milk
- A scoop of vanilla bean ice cream
- A simple cup of coffee or espresso
How To Store Strawberry Cheesecake Brownies
- Refrigerate: Due to the cream cheese topping, these brownies must be stored in the refrigerator. Place them in an airtight container, where they will keep for up to 4-5 days. They are delicious served chilled or brought back to room temperature.
Strawberry Cheesecake Brownies Nutrition Facts
- Calories: 430 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Protein: 6g
- Fat: 26g
- Sugar: 32g
Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.
FAQs
Can I use a different flavor of jam?
Absolutely! Raspberry, cherry, or even apricot jam would be delicious substitutes for the strawberry jam.
Do I have to use a double boiler to melt the chocolate?
No. You can also melt the chocolate and butter in the microwave. Place them in a microwave-safe bowl and heat in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until smooth.
Can I bake this in a 9×13 inch pan?
You can, but the layers will be much thinner, and you will need to reduce the baking time significantly. Start checking for doneness after about 20-25 minutes.
Try More Recipes:
Pioneer Woman Strawberry Cheesecake Brownies Recipe
Course: DessertCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy9
servings5
minutes30
minutes430
kcalA decadent, fudgy brownie base topped with a smooth, creamy strawberry cheesecake layer and a beautiful jam swirl.
Ingredients
Cheesecake: 8oz cream cheese, ¼ cup sugar, 1 egg, 1 tsp vanilla, ¼ cup + ⅛ cup strawberry jam.
Brownies: ½ cup butter, 4oz dark chocolate, ½ cup flour, ½ cup cocoa powder, 1 tsp salt, 2 eggs + 1 yolk, ¾ cup sugar, ½ cup brown sugar, ¼ cup oil, ¾ tsp vanilla.
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8 pan.
- Mix all cheesecake topping ingredients (except the ⅛ cup jam) until smooth.
- Melt butter and chocolate. Whisk in cocoa. In a separate bowl, whisk eggs, sugars, oil, and vanilla. Combine the two mixtures.
- Fold in flour and salt until just combined. Pour brownie batter into the pan.
- Spread cheesecake mixture over the top. Dollop with remaining jam and swirl with a knife.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes until the center is almost set.
- Cool completely before slicing.
Notes
- Using room temperature ingredients (especially cream cheese and eggs) is essential for a smooth texture.
- Do not overbake; the center should still jiggle slightly when removed from the oven for the fudgiest result.
- For clean slices, cool the brownies completely and wipe your knife clean between each cut.
- The parchment paper overhang makes it easy to lift the entire block of brownies out of the pan.