Strawberry Brownie Cheesecake recipe with a brownie base, cheesecake layer, strawberry puree, and topped with huge chocolate curls and fresh strawberries.
Strawberry Brownie Cheesecake
A brownie based cheesecake with a brownie cheesecake layer, strawberry puree, and topped with huge chocolate curls and fresh strawberries. Whew, that’s a mouthful – in more ways than one. This dessert is sure to please any chocolate covered strawberry lover. It’s a pretty straightforward cheesecake to make, and it always turns out amazing. I had a serious love affair with this strawberry brownie cheesecake, and I think I’m hooked on the idea of a brownie base. Don’t get me wrong, graham cracker crust is wonderful, too, but this thick fudgy layer just added so much more to it.
I was really stuck on what to make with my seven pounds of strawberries. I mean, the sky’s the limit with that much strawberries, but I was looking for something exciting and different.
While I was looking up Strawberry Cheesecakes, I noticed a commonality – they all seemed to me as no-bake versions or just had a slight swirl added to the top. I wanted strawberries all the way though it. I’m guessing that the added moisture to the cheesecake makes it difficult to cook… I don’t know. If you know of a good traditional Strawberry Cheesecake recipe, please let me know.
Since I couldn’t find what I wanted, I had to turn to other ideas. Brownies are always good! So, So I decided to bake the brownies in the pan first, then add the cheesecake to the it.
I was a bit nervous about adding the strawberry puree. I didn’t know what that was gonna do, but it worked out great and gave the cheesecake a little extra flavor without overpowering it.
It was a totally indulgent mid-day snack! I actually had to bribe three little girls with it to leave me alone while I took my photographs. They wanted to go to the pool and I wanted to get the photos done! It was quite an ordeal. They just didn’t get it.
I know you totally get it! A mother’s work is never done.
Also, before you ask about the curls, here’s a previous post I made with them with a video on how to make them. They may look a bit intimidating and you might find it frustrating the first time you make them, but temperature is key and patience is required.
This post is part of three part series. Find the instructions on how to prepare your strawberries and this delightful Old Fashioned Strawberry Soda.
Strawberry Brownie Cheesecake
This homemade cheesecake with a brownie base and strawberry layer, topped with chocolate curls is sure to make a big impression on your guests.
Ingredients
For the Brownie Layer
- 2 cups chocolate chips
- 1 stick (1/2 cup) butter
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 4 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
For the Cheesecake Layer
- 4 8oz packages cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 cup sugar
- 4 eggs
- 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 10 strawberries, pureed
- Chocolate curls and strawberries for garnish
Instructions
For the brownies
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Prepare a 9" Springform pan with foil tightly wrapped around the outside. Then spread with Flour.
- Melt chocolate chips and butter in a medium pot over low heat. Stir until all melted and smooth. Remove from heat.
- Add in both sugars and stir until combined. Mixture will be grainy. Stir for 5 minutes allowing it to cool slightly.
- Stir in eggs one at a time.
- Mix in flour, vanilla, and salt. Reserve ¾ cups and bake remainder for 30 minutes.
- Allow to cool in the bowl while preparing the cheesecake layer.
For the cheesecake
- Beat the cream cheese until smooth with a paddle attachment. Add the sugar, eggs, and vanilla on slow speed until well combined.
- Add ⅓ cup of the cream cheese mix to the reserved brownie batter and stir.
- Pour half the brownie batter into the prepared Springform pan and smooth.
- Then pour half the cheesecake mixture onto the brownie layer and smooth.
- Add 1/2 of the remaining brownie mixture over it, finally add the pureed strawberries. Do not mix. It will thin out.
- Add the remaining cream cheese mixture on top and then spoon the brownie mix over and swirl with a knife.
- Make sure the foil is still secure around the pan. Place the pan into a baking dish and add an inch of water. Place into the oven and bake for 90 minutes. The surface should no longer be shiny and will have a slight giggle.
- Let the cheesecake cool for one hour and place in the fridge overnight to firm up.
- Make your chocolate curls and add when your are ready to serve.
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This not only looks beautiful, but delicious as well. This would be great for a party! Visiting from Mandy’s Recipe Box, and definitely pinning this recipe!
Thanks so much. I worked hard on making it beautiful and delicious!
I pinned this! It’s making me hungry. 🙂 Saw this at cook it craft it share it. Yummy!
Thanks for the pin and stopping by!
my fiance’ traditionally bakes a cake of choice to everyone in our family / company for their birthday. Our daughter was trying to decide between chocolate and strawberry cheesecake! I think you might have just solved her issue. Thanks!
It was a great combination. The brownie base was thick and dense, but added so much flavor. And the strawberry puree was just enough to give it some flavor without overpowering the chocolate. I loved it! I hope you enjoy it as well!
Holy crap Karyn! That’s all. Just wow!
haha! Thanks Julie! Yes, there was a definite WOW when I removed it from the pan. I’m always impressing myself!
Oh my, Karyn! You totally outdid yourself with this!! Pinning and drooling! 😉
Thanks Jamie! Goal met!
I should have known when I saw something so pretty in the link party it had to be yours! How do you bake all this and not gain 100 lbs? LOL, Have a great week and thanks for linking up Karyn!
It’s a serious battle! My workouts have taken a aback seat for the past 6 months and it’s showing. I NEED to get back out there and exercise! Oh, I also give away and throw out a lot of desserts 🙁 Thanks for stopping by!
Before I jump in on this one. Why the foil ?
The foil around the base of the pan prevents water from leaking into your pan. It’s happened to me before because there was a tear in the foil. It didn’t ruin the cheesecake, but it was a bit more dense and wet at the base. I hope that helps.
What a gorgeous cheesecake! It looks so delicious … can’t wait to try it:)
Absolutely gorgeous! Definitely a party in your mouth! =)
This looks divine!!
Thanks! It was 🙂
Looks beautiful and sounds amazing! Definitely trying this. Thanks for sharing!
hooooly. cheesecake! that is all.
Doesn’t double-baking the brownie makecitvtoo hard? Couldn’t all the layers be baked at once, or just par-bake the brownie?
I don’t know… The first layer was 90% baked before I added the cream cheese layers. I guess it’s to prevent it from blending. And no, the brownies were just fine being baked twice.
WOW! This cheesecake looks incredible! Two of my favourite things – brownie and cheesecake!
Wow! Thank you. I love recipes that are completely from scratch. Thank you! Three of my favorites, brownies, cheesecake & strawberries! Hooray!
I like recipes from scratch as well. They can be a bit more challenging, but they taste so much better!
Someone pinch me!! I am in love with this cheesecake!
Do the brownies cook for 2 hours?
Yes, they will “cook” for two hours, but they were super moist and delicious. Don’t worry, they will be fine!
Wow, this looks absolutely beautiful! It caught my eye on foodgawker this morning 🙂 Glad I found your blog!
Great! Thanks so much for stopping by.
The foil doesn’t line the inside of pan but rather goes around the outside and up the sides right? Just checking before making this amazingness 🙂
Yes, up and over the sides to make a sort of sling for the brownies. Use it to lift the brownies out of the pan and then it’s easier to cut them.
Hi. I would like to bake this in this week but I’m confused. Am I supposed to put foil on the outside and on the top? And what about inside the pan so the brownie and cheesecake don’t stick? Should I just use butter and flour? And when I put the pan into the water, should I also cover the top with foil?
I hope this clarifies things for you. Do not cover the top of the pan for any part of the baking. You want to wrap the outside of the pan with foil to keep it watertight. Do not line the inside with foil. I simply sprayed it with Pam with flour (butter and flour would work too), but you can line it with parchment if you are afraid of it sticking. Please let me know if you still have questions.
Looks amazing but when do I put the strawberry puree
Add them in step 2 of the cheesecake layer.
(sigh……) does anyone want to leave a comment who’s actually MADE the cheesecake???!!!
I’ve made it. What would you like to know?
If I use strawberry glaze and fresh strawberries as layers will this ruin my cheesecake due to gel Turing to liquid when heated trying to come up with an over the top cheesecake for my neices birthday
I don’t think so… I would think it would be like baking with jelly. It may get a bit gummy but I don’t think it will turn very liquidy. How did it turn out?
How can I make this cheesecake into 10 inch spring form pan? Please me the answer
Thank you
You can make it in a 10″ pan. It will just be a bit skinnier.
Your Strawberry Brownie Cheesecake looks yummy . I love the curled chocolate and strawberries on top.
Is there a recipe I could make this into cupcakes? Also into a 10 inch cheesecake?
You should be able to make any cheesecake into mini cupcake versions. I’m not sure exactly how many cupcake versions this recipe will make, but I’d guess 24. If you make this recipe in a smaller pan, it will be thicker and therefore will take longer to bake.
@Karyn Granrud, Hi I was just wanting to know can I use any other fruit like raspberries or blueberries instead of strawberry?
I don’t see why you couldn’t use another flavor of fruit puree. You might be able to see blueberries as vividly, but the raspberry sounds amazing!
Want to try it, but wondering if I misunderstood something. If the puréed strawberries are added between both halves of the cheesecake batter, it seems that it would not appear as near the top of the cake, as seen in the pics. Does the purée come to the surface as it bakes?
Hi Dawn, you are adding the strawberries at the end of it and decorate after baking. So the layers are: brownie base, half of cheesecake mixture, rest of brownie mixture, strawberry purée and finally the rest of cheesecake mix. The strawberry mix will smooth out, but not surface, as the eggs in the cheesecake layer solidify quite quickly.Let me know how it went. 🙂