These Caramel Cheesecake-Topped Brownies has smooth, creamy, and wonderfully light topping which is perfect contrast to the fudgy brownies underneath. Grab a glass of milk and go to town on these!
Not to get all meta on you, but I really struggled with a name for these bars. (This might sound ridiculous, but I know you fellow food bloggers understand what I’m talking about!)
Names are important. Which would you rather eat: Oreo Truffles, or Smooshed Cookies Mixed With Dairy Product and Mashed Into A Vaguely Spherical Shape? Behold: the power of naming.
So here’s the deal with these “Caramel Cheesecake-Topped Brownies.” They’re brownies, obviously. And the topping contains caramel sauce and cream cheese, so it seems like a good bet to include those elements in the name. But “Caramel Cheesecake” is a bit misleading.
Most cheesecakes are rich and dense, while the topping on these bars is smooth, creamy, and wonderfully light, the perfect contrast to the fudgy brownies underneath. It does have hints of deep caramel flavor, but it also tastes of vanilla and cinnamon, mingling with the crunchy mini chocolate chips and toasted pecans that are mixed in.
Jason, bless his description-challenged heart, described them as “German Chocolate Cake, without the cake…or the pecan-coconut topping,” and no, I don’t know what that means either. This is why he’s the SugarHero taste-tester and not the SugarHero blog-writer. I think he means they share the same flavor mix of chocolate, caramel, dairy, and a somewhat custardy, pudding-y texture…or maybe he’s crazy. Equally possible.
All of this babbling is just to say, don’t expect a dense layer of cheesecake on top of these moist brownies! If you’re a cheesecake fan, I think you’ll still love them, and if you’re not, you will be pleasantly surprised at how well the cream cheese flavor and texture has been transformed.
The bars, finished with a thin layer of shiny smooth chocolate ganache, can be served as finger food, brownie style, or eaten like cake, all dainty-like, on a plate with a fork and a pinkie held high.
Whatever you call them, they’re darn good…and I’m not at a loss for words regarding that! If you like this recipe, you’ll also like my Chocolate Cheesecake, Truffle-Topped Heart Cake and German Chocolate Brownie Ice Cream!
More Brownie Recipes🤎🤎🤎
- Brown Butter Brownies
- Chocolate-Orange Brownies
- Peanut Butter Cup Brownies
- Salted Fudge Brownies
- 2-Ingredient Pumpkin Brownies
- Ultimate Fudgy Chocolate Brownies
- The Best Coconut Brownies
- Campfire Rocky Road Brownies
Deep Fried Cheesecake
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheesecake
Caramel Cheesecake-Topped Brownies
Ingredients
For the Brownies:
- 5.5 oz unsalted butter, (11 tbsp), cubed
- 8 oz semi-sweet chocolate, (1 ⅓ cup), finely chopped
- 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, Dutch-processed (alkalized) cocoa powder
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup pecans, toasted, coarsely chopped (optional)
For the Caramel Cheesecake Layer:
- 8 oz cream cheese, at room temperature
- 2 oz unsalted butter, (4 tbsp), at room temperature
- 1/3 cup powdered sugar
- 1/3 cup vanilla instant pudding mix, (about half of a 5.1 oz package)
- 1/2 cup caramel sauce
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2/3 cup pecans, toasted, coarsely chopped
- 4 oz miniature chocolate chips, (⅔ cup), finely chopped
For the Chocolate Ganache Glaze:
- 4 oz semi-sweet chocolate, (⅔ cup), finely chopped
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 oz unsalted butter, (2 tbsp), at room temperature
Instructions
To Make the Brownies:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a 9×13-inch pan with aluminum foil, and spray the foil with nonstick cooking spray.
- Combine the butter and the chopped chocolate in a large microwave-safe bowl, and microwave in 30-second increments until they’re melted together, stirring after every 30 seconds. Once everything is melted and smooth, add the cocoa powder and whisk it in.
- Whisk in the eggs, one at a time, whisking well after each egg. Finally, add the sugar, vanilla, and flour, and whisk everything together. The texture might be broken and grainy at first, but continue to whisk until it comes together and is smooth, shiny, and satiny. This might take a moment or two. Stir in the chopped pecans.
- Scrape the batter into the prepared pan, and smooth it into an even layer. Bake the brownies at 350 F for 22-25 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs. Let the brownies cool completely before topping them with the cheesecake layer.
To Make the Caramel Cheesecake Layer:
- Combine the room temperature cream cheese and butter in a large mixing bowl, and mix them together using a stand mixer or hand mixer, until light and fluffy.
- Add the powdered sugar, vanilla pudding mix, caramel sauce, vanilla extract, and cinnamon, and mix on medium speed until well-incorporated. Stir in the pecans and chocolate chips, and make sure to scrape down the sides and bottoms of the bowl well. Spread it into an even layer on top of the brownies. It can be made in advance and kept in the refrigerator until ready to spread.
To Make the Ganache:
- Place the semi-sweet chocolate in a medium bowl. Pour the heavy cream into a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring the cream to a simmer, then pour the hot cream over the chopped chocolate. Let the cream sit and soften the chocolate for one minute, then whisk them together. When your mixture is smooth, add the room temperature butter and whisk it in. Pour the ganache over the cheesecake layer while it is still warm, so it flows evenly and creates a smooth finish on top.
- Chill the bars well, until the ganache is set. Lift the brownies from the pan using the foil as handles, and cut them into small squares to serve.
Measuring Tips
Our recipes are developed using weight measurements, and we highly recommend using a kitchen scale for baking whenever possible. However, if you prefer to use cups, volume measurements are provided as well. PLEASE NOTE: the adage “8 oz = 1 cup” is NOT true when speaking about weight, so don’t be concerned if the measurements don’t fit this formula.
Want to learn more about baking measurements and conversion?
Looks delicious!
These look really good. Think I’ll try them… ty
When do I add the caramel sauce.
Thanks for this yummy recipe. I can’t wait to make it.
Hi Bonnie,
The caramel sauce goes in with the powdered sugar, pudding mix, etc. I’ve fixed the recipe above. Sorry for the omission! Hope you enjoy it. 🙂
Thanks, that’s what I thought. I’m excited to make these for the family this week.
when did you put in the caramel sauce?
Hi Kristene,
Sorry for the confusion! The caramel sauce goes in with the powdered sugar, pudding mix, etc. I’ve fixed the recipe now. Thanks!
Ok these are INSANELY good. Especially the day after u make them, and the day after that too. The brownie becomes SO dense, chewy and decadent it is to DIE for. I didn’t have vanilla pudding so I just sub’d in a few tablespoons of coconut oil to help the cheesecake set. OH YUM…will be making these for parties as a finger food this christmas. They slice so nicely into little once inch squares. Thank you for sharing this recipe!
Grace, I’m so glad you liked them! I’m definitely going to be putting them on my Christmas plates as well…if I can refrain from eating them myself…whoops. The coconut oil is a great tip. I think you could even do a coconut version by omitting the caramel sauce and adding finely chopped shredded coconut to the middle layer. Hm, that may be an upcoming blog post!
i want to camp out in your kitchen.
Uaoooo! Looks amazing! It must be so delicious also! This image goes to my sweet Pinterest board! Great job!
Chocolate and caramel together are my favourite things
How much vanilla extract goes into the cheesecake layer? I assumed 1 tsp and it’s delicious! Thanks for the great recipe.
Yes, sorry for the oversight! Glad you enjoyed them despite bad recipe writing. 🙂
I made a panful of these decadent goodies as a
birthday present for a friend. I’m going to have to pre cut them into squares because my husband got a load of them before I spread on the ganache. He whined so I had to cut him one.
Now how about a blondie bar with a white chocolate ganache and a cream cheese strawberry or raspberry sumptin sumptin?
Love that idea! I’ll see what I can do. 🙂