Description
Delight in these decadent heart-shaped brownies featuring a luscious cheesecake layer and a vibrant raspberry swirl, perfect for Valentine’s Day or any special occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Raspberry Sauce
- 1 cup raspberries (fresh or thawed frozen)
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Cheesecake Layer
- 8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Brownie Batter
- 1 cup all-purpose flour (or gluten-free blend)
- ¾ cup Dutch-process cocoa powder, sifted
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¾ + 2 tbsp cup refined coconut oil or neutral oil
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 3 large eggs, room temperature
Instructions
- Make Raspberry Sauce: Simmer raspberries, sugar, and vanilla extract over medium heat for 8 minutes until thickened. Strain through a fine sieve to remove seeds, then set aside to cool.
- Prepare Cheesecake Mixture: Beat cream cheese and sugar together until smooth. Add egg and vanilla extract, then mix until creamy and well combined.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, Dutch-process cocoa powder, and salt.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In another bowl, mix coconut or neutral oil, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract. Add eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition.
- Combine Mixtures: Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture just until blended to avoid overmixing.
- Assemble Brownies: Spread the brownie batter evenly into a lined baking pan. Pour the cheesecake mixture over the batter. Spoon the raspberry sauce on top and use a skewer to gently swirl the layers for a marbled effect.
- Bake: Place the pan in a preheated oven at 350°F and bake for 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the brownie portion comes out with moist crumbs.
- Cool and Chill: Allow the brownies to cool completely at room temperature, then refrigerate for 2 hours to set properly.
- Cut and Serve: Use a heart-shaped cutter to cut the brownies into 9 heart shapes. Serve chilled for best texture and flavor.
Notes
- Use room-temperature cream cheese and eggs to ensure a smooth cheesecake layer without lumps.
- Straining the raspberry sauce removes seeds, giving a smoother texture to the swirl.
- Chill the brownies completely before cutting to retain their shape, especially when using decorative cutters.
- Substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free blend if needed for a gluten-free version.
- Refined coconut oil can be substituted with any neutral oil such as canola or vegetable oil.
