Sourdough Cheesecake Brownie Bars (Printable)
Rich cheesecake swirled with fudgy sourdough brownies for a uniquely decadent dessert bar experience.
# What You'll Need:
→ Sourdough Brownie Base
01 - 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
02 - 3/4 cup dark chocolate, finely chopped
03 - 3/4 cup granulated sugar
04 - 2 large eggs
05 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
06 - 1/3 cup sourdough starter (active, discard, or fed)
07 - 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
08 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
→ Cheesecake Layer
09 - 8 ounces cream cheese, softened to room temperature
10 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
11 - 1 large egg
12 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
# How-To Steps:
01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides for easy removal.
02 - In a medium saucepan over low heat, melt the butter and chopped chocolate together, stirring constantly until completely smooth. Remove from heat and stir in the sugar until well combined.
03 - Allow the chocolate mixture to cool for 5 minutes, then whisk in the eggs one at a time until fully incorporated. Add the vanilla extract and sourdough starter, mixing until smooth. Fold in the flour and salt until just combined — do not overmix.
04 - Set aside 1/4 cup of the brownie batter for the swirl topping. Pour the remaining batter into the prepared pan and spread it into an even layer.
05 - In a medium bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with the sugar until completely smooth and lump-free. Add the egg and vanilla extract, beating until creamy and well blended.
06 - Spread the cheesecake mixture evenly over the brownie base in the pan. Dollop the reserved brownie batter in spoonfuls across the top. Use a skewer or thin knife to drag through the batter, creating decorative swirls.
07 - Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the center is just set and a toothpick inserted comes out with a few moist crumbs attached. Avoid overbaking for the fudgiest texture.
08 - Let the bars cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before lifting out using the parchment overhang and slicing into 16 squares.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The sourdough adds a subtle tang that makes the chocolate taste deeper and more complex without anyone guessing your secret ingredient.
- You get two desserts in one pan, which means no choosing between brownies and cheesecake ever again.
02 -
- If you slice these while they are still warm the layers will smear together into a messy puddle that still tastes incredible but will not win any beauty contests.
- The sourdough flavor is subtle but real, so anyone expecting a plain brownie might be pleasantly confused at first bite.
03 -
- Run your knife under hot water and wipe it dry between each cut for perfectly clean edges that make these bars look like they came from a professional kitchen.
- If your cream cheese has cold spots, give it a quick blast in the microwave for fifteen seconds rather than trying to beat the lumps out, which can overmix the batter.