Description
Indulge in the rich and vibrant flavors of Ube Cream Cheese Brownies, featuring a moist ube-infused chocolate base swirled with a tangy, creamy cheese layer. This delightful Filipino-inspired dessert combines the earthy sweetness of ube with a luscious cream cheese swirl, baked to perfection for a fudgy, decadent treat perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 1¼ cups All-purpose Flour
- ½ teaspoon Baking powder
- ½ teaspoon Salt
Wet Ingredients
- ½ cup Butter, melted
- 1 cup Sugar (add an additional ½ cup for sweeter brownies)
- 2 Eggs
- 1 tablespoon Ube extract
- ¼ cup Ube Jam (Ube Halaya)
Cream Cheese Swirl
- 8 oz Cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup Sugar
- 1 Egg
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prepare Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt until evenly combined. Set aside for later.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a separate large bowl, combine the melted butter and sugar, mixing well to incorporate. Then add the eggs one at a time, beating thoroughly after each addition. Stir in the ube extract and ube jam until the mixture is smooth and uniform in color.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients, folding gently until just combined. Be careful not to overmix to maintain a tender texture.
- Separate Batter for Swirl: Reserve approximately ½ cup of the batter and set aside. Pour the remaining batter evenly into a greased 9 x 13 inch baking pan, spreading it out smoothly for an even layer.
- Prepare Cream Cheese Swirl: In a medium bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese, sugar, egg, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy.
- Assemble Swirl Layer: Evenly spread the cream cheese mixture over the batter in the pan. Then drop the reserved ½ cup of ube batter sporadically over the cream cheese layer in small dollops. Using a chopstick or skewer, gently swirl the two mixtures together to create a marbled effect.
- Bake the Brownies: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the pan in the oven and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until the brownies are set and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs but no raw batter.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the brownies to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before slicing into squares. This chilling step helps the brownies set firmly and enhances the flavors.
Notes
- For sweeter brownies, feel free to add an extra ½ cup of sugar to the batter.
- Make sure the cream cheese is softened to room temperature to ensure a smooth swirl mixture.
- If ube extract or ube jam is unavailable, you can substitute with purple yam puree but note the flavor and texture will differ slightly.
- Store leftover brownies covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days to keep them fresh.
- Allow brownies to cool completely before slicing to prevent crumbling.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Filipino
Keywords: Ube, Cream Cheese, Brownie, Filipino Dessert, Swirl Brownies, Ube Halaya, Baked Treat
