This easy brownie recipe uses a boxed brownie mix of your choice with the addition of a pumpkin cheesecake swirl. Great recipe if you are in a hurry or are new to baking. Boxed brownie mixes come out delicious every time. Or use your favorite brownie recipe and adapt it. There are “pumpkin everything” people and “chocolate everything” people (me). This recipe is the best of both! Perfect for this time of year when you want to incorporate pumpkin into a dessert.
Make the brownies according to the box instructions and add some chocolate chips because even if your mix has chocolate chips, you can never have too many chocolate chips!
There is both a plain cream cheese swirl and a pumpkin cream cheese swirl in the brownies. Be sure to let the cream cheese warm up before using or it will be difficult to get all the lumps out of the mixture. You can use an electric mixer or just a whisk to mix.
It is a good idea to line your pan with parchment paper and leave an overhang at both ends of the pan. This makes it easier to take the brownies out of the pan.
Pour the brownie batter into the 8 X 8 pan and then alternate between spoonfuls of the cream cheese mixture and the pumpkin cream cheese mixtures. Drag a knife through the batter to mix the flavors together. Be sure not to over swirl! Just a couple of times in each direction and a little circle here and there is all you need. If you over swirl, they will still taste great but you won’t see the 3 distinct batters when the brownies are baked.
Bake according to your box instructions. You want to be able to insert a toothpick into the middle of the brownies and have it come out clean. Always error on the side of under baked with brownies. A gooey brownie is better than a dry brownie.
Recipe
Pumpkin Swirl Brownies
Ingredients
Brownies
- 1 box brownie mix (or recipe of your choice)
- ½ cup chocolate chips
Cream Cheese Swirl
- ½ cup cream cheese, softened
- 3 tablespoon sugar
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla
Pumpkin Swirl
- ¼ cup cream cheese, softened
- 2 tablespoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon flour
- ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- ½ cup pumpkin
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
- Line a 8 X 8 square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal of brownies. Spray with non-stick baking spray.
- Make brownies according to directions on the box.
- Add chocolate chips. Set aside.
Cream Cheese Swirl
- Mix cream cheese, sugar and vanilla. Set aside.
Pumpkin Swirl
- Mix cream cheese and sugar until smooth.
- Add flour and pumpkin pie spice. Mix until combined.
- Mix in pumpkin. Set aside.
Assembly of Brownies
- Pour the brownie batter into prepared pan.
- Drop spoonfuls of both the cream cheese and pumpkin mixtures on top of the brownie batter.
- Use a knife to swirl the batter together. Being sure not to over swirl.
- Bake for 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean. Do not overbake.
