Here’s a delicious recipe for Lemon Cream Cheese Brownie Bars—a perfect combination of rich chocolate and tangy lemon swirl.
Lemon Cream Cheese Brownie Bars
Ingredients
For the Brownie Layer:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
For the Lemon Cream Cheese Layer:
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
Instructions
- Preheat Oven
- Preheat to 350°F (175°C).
- Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
- Prepare Brownie Layer
- In a large bowl, mix melted butter and sugar until smooth.
- Add eggs and vanilla, mixing well.
- Stir in flour, cocoa powder, and salt until just combined.
- Spread the brownie batter evenly into the prepared pan.
- Prepare Lemon Cream Cheese Layer
- In a separate bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth.
- Add sugar, egg, lemon juice, and lemon zest; mix until creamy.
- Combine Layers
- Drop spoonfuls of the lemon cream cheese mixture over the brownie batter.
- Use a knife or skewer to gently swirl the two batters together for a marbled effect.
- Bake
- Bake for 35–40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the brownie layer comes out with a few moist crumbs.
- Let cool completely in the pan before slicing.
- Serve
- Cut into bars and enjoy! Optional: dust with powdered sugar before serving.
Tips
- For extra tang: Add 1 teaspoon of lemon extract to the cream cheese layer.
- For a richer chocolate flavor: Use dark cocoa powder or add ½ cup chocolate chips to the brownie layer.
- Storage: Keep covered in the fridge for up to 4–5 days; they also freeze well.
If you like, I can also give a no-bake version of Lemon Cream Cheese Bars that’s even quicker but just as creamy and delicious.