This bakery-style brownie with a cheesecake swirl is rich, chewy, and irresistibly good. Perfectly portioned into 16 squares and ready in under an hour!
If you’re craving a brownie that feels just a bit more special—the kind you’d expect from a bakery or dessert bar—these Marble Swirl Brownies will completely steal the show. They start with a dark, fudgy chocolate base and are topped with dollops of sweet vanilla cream cheese that you gently swirl into a marbled masterpiece.
The result? A dessert that’s both rich and creamy, dense and chewy, and totally addictive. These brownies are easy to make, freezer-friendly, and incredibly satisfying. They slice neatly into 16 squares, making them perfect for parties, lunchbox treats, or an elegant dessert platter.
Why We Love These Marble Swirl Brownies
These brownies are all about texture and contrast. The base is everything you want from a brownie—fudgy, chocolaty, and slightly chewy with a glossy crackled top. Then you add the vanilla cream cheese swirl, which bakes into a creamy, tangy ribbon that perfectly balances the chocolate.
They’re also:
- Made in two bowls (no mixer needed!)
- Easy to freeze and reheat
- Gorgeous to look at, with that classic marbled pattern
- A guaranteed crowd-pleaser for kids and adults alike
When to Make Marble Swirl Brownies
These brownies are versatile enough to work in any setting:
- School bake sales (they’re unique but still classic)
- Holiday dessert trays
- Birthday party treats
- Weekend baking projects with kids (they’ll love the swirling part!)
- Meal-prep dessert stash—yes, these freeze amazingly well.
Tips, Substitutions & Equipment
Tips:
- Don’t over-swirl the batters or they’ll mix together—less is more!
- Let brownies cool completely for clean slices.
- Use full-fat cream cheese for the creamiest swirl.
Substitutions:
- Use dark chocolate chunks for a more intense cocoa flavor.
- Swap in almond extract (½ tsp) in the swirl for a unique twist.
- Add ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans for crunch.
Equipment:
- 8×8-inch baking pan
- 2 medium mixing bowls
- Whisk or spatula
- Measuring cups & spoons
- Butter knife or skewer (for swirling)
Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are ‘affiliate links’. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission.
Marble Swirl Brownies Recipe
Servings: 16 brownies
Prep time: 15 minutes
Bake time: 30 minutes
Total time: 45 minutes
Ingredients
Brownie Base:
- ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ⅓ cup (30g) unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ cup (65g) all-purpose flour
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ cup (85g) semi-sweet chocolate chips or chunks
Vanilla Cream Cheese Swirl:
- 4 oz (115g) full-fat cream cheese, softened
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 egg yolk
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8-inch pan with parchment paper or lightly grease.
- Make the brownie batter:
- In a large bowl, whisk together melted butter and sugar.
- Add eggs and vanilla; whisk for 30–60 seconds until glossy.
- Stir in cocoa powder, flour, and salt just until combined.
- Fold in chocolate chips. Pour batter into prepared pan and smooth the top.
- Make the swirl topping:
- In a separate bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, egg yolk, and vanilla until smooth.
- Create the marble effect:
- Drop spoonfuls of the cream cheese mixture over the brownie batter.
- Use a butter knife or skewer to gently swirl in a figure-eight motion.
- Bake for 30–32 minutes, or until edges are set and a toothpick near the center comes out with moist crumbs (not wet batter).
- Cool in pan for 20–30 minutes before slicing into 16 squares.
Storage & Freezing
- Room Temperature: Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Refrigerator: Store up to 5–6 days for a denser texture.
- Freezer: Freeze sliced brownies in a single layer. Once frozen solid, transfer to a freezer-safe bag. Store up to 2 months.
- To Serve from Frozen: Thaw at room temperature for 30–60 minutes or microwave for 10–15 seconds per square.
Notes & Variations
- Want even more chocolate? Add an extra ¼ cup of chocolate chips on top before baking.
- Try raspberry jam dollops for a fruity twist.
- For thicker brownies, use a 7×7-inch pan and bake 3–5 minutes longer.
- Nesting Bowls: Mix it up with this set of small, medium, large and extra large nesting bowls! Perfectly sized for preppi…
- Salads, Snacks & Beyond: These versatile bowls are perfect for serving saucy pastas, big leafy salads, hot soups, butter…
- Narbonne Collection: Made from durable and glossy cream stoneware. Each bowl is embossed with a geometric pattern and fi…
- SET OF 3 BOWLS: This set includes a 2-1/2 quart bowl, 3-1/2 quart bowl and a 4-1/2 quart bowl
- NON-SLIP BASE: Never worry about the bowls slipping when mixing, these bowls feature non-slip bases that increase stabil…
- ELIMATE THE MESS: Each bowl has a pour spout on each bowl, helping and reduce chance of spills when transferring mixes
- Set includes: 1.5-quart, 3-quart, and 5-quart sizes
- Wide grip and spout for easy pouring
- Non-slip base stabilizes bowl while mixing
These Marble Swirl Brownies aren’t just beautiful—they’re melt-in-your-mouth delicious. With rich chocolate flavor and a smooth vanilla swirl, they’re the kind of dessert that turns a casual gathering into something a little more memorable. They’re also easy to prep ahead, slice cleanly, and stay moist for days (if they last that long!).
Let me know in the comments how yours turned out, or tag me with your swirl designs—I love seeing how everyone puts their own spin on them!
Save this recipe for later. Pin the image below on Pinterest!
Fudgy Marble Swirl Brownies – Rich Chocolate Meets Creamy Vanilla
These Marble Swirl Brownies combine a fudgy chocolate base with a creamy vanilla swirl for the perfect dessert bar. Easy to make, freezer-friendly, and crowd-pleasing!
Ingredients
Brownie Base:
Vanilla Cream Cheese Swirl:
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8x8-inch pan with parchment paper or lightly grease.
Make the brownie batter:
- In a large bowl, whisk together melted butter and sugar.
- Add eggs and vanilla; whisk for 30–60 seconds until glossy.
- Stir in cocoa powder, flour, and salt just until combined.
- Fold in chocolate chips. Pour batter into prepared pan and smooth the top.
Make the swirl topping:
- In a separate bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, egg yolk, and vanilla until smooth.
Create the marble effect:
- Drop spoonfuls of the cream cheese mixture over the brownie batter.
- Use a butter knife or skewer to gently swirl in a figure-eight motion.
- Bake for 30–32 minutes, or until edges are set and a toothpick near the center comes out with moist crumbs (not wet batter).
- Cool in pan for 20–30 minutes before slicing into 16 squares.
Equipment
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Nutrition Facts
Nutrition Facts
Servings 16
Serving Size 1 brownie
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories 225kcal
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat 13g20%
- Saturated Fat 7.8g39%
- Cholesterol 66mg22%
- Sodium 140mg6%
- Potassium 138mg4%
- Total Carbohydrate 24.5g9%
- Dietary Fiber 1.8g8%
- Sugars 18.8g
- Protein 3.5g8%
- Vitamin A 420 IU
- Calcium 40 mg
- Iron 1.4 mg
- Vitamin D 16 IU
- Vitamin E 0.6 IU
- Vitamin K 4 mcg
- Thiamin 0.06 mg
- Riboflavin 0.1 mg
- Niacin 0.8 mg
- Vitamin B6 0.04 mg
- Folate 22 mcg
- Vitamin B12 0.3 mcg
- Biotin 5 mcg
- Pantothenic Acid 0.4 mg
- Phosphorus 85 mg
- Iodine 12 mcg
- Magnesium 28 mg
- Zinc 0.6 mg
- Selenium 8 mcg
- Copper 0.15 mg
- Manganese 0.4 mg
- Chromium 3 mcg
- Molybdenum 8 mcg
- Chloride 145 mg
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Note
- Want even more chocolate? Add an extra ¼ cup of chocolate chips on top before baking.
- Try raspberry jam dollops for a fruity twist.
- For thicker brownies, use a 7x7-inch pan and bake 3–5 minutes longer.
