What could be better than combining two decadent desserts in these keto cream cheese brownies? With just 3 net carbs per serving, these cheesecake bars are a great way to satisfy your sweet tooth on a keto diet.
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Is there anything more indulgent than combining two desserts into one decadent treat? Sure, simple desserts can be just as lovely as elaborate ones. I get it.
But sometimes, you need a dessert that feels like a celebration with every bite, you know? That’s why I decided to bring together rich, fudgy brownies and creamy, tangy cheesecake into one incredible treat!
These bars are out-of-this-world delicious. The flavors compliment each other perfectly with just the right balance of sweet cream and slightly bitter dark chocolate.
And to top it all off, these little bites of heaven are only 3 net carbs each. And there’s no flour of any kind in the recipe.
That’s right. Indulgent, guilt-free, and combining the best of both worlds with two of the most popular desserts out there.
So the next time you need a dessert for a special occasion, or you’re just in the mood for something extra, a keto cheesecake brownie may be just what you need.
Using dark chocolate in brownie cheesecake bars
You may be wondering why I use dark chocolate for the brownie layer. Some have asked if this ingredient will be too rich or too bitter in this recipe.
First of all, I love that dark chocolate contains powerful antioxidants. So not only are keto cream cheese brownies guilt-free, but they even provide a little health boost! Win-win.
Second, dark chocolate is not quite as sweet as milk chocolate. I find the longer I eat low sugar and low carb, the less sweetness I need in my treats.
Dark chocolate provides just the right amount of chocolate flavor without being overly sweet. It’s deliciously rich, just what I want from a fudgy brownie.
The cheesecake layer is also quite sweet, which balances the dark chocolate brownie layer. Together, I think the sweetness is just right.
If you prefer more sweetness, or are making this recipe for a non-Keto group, you may want to add some additional low carb sweetener to the brownie layer. Or, you can stir in some low carb chocolate chips for double chocolate flavor.
How to make the keto cream cheese brownies recipe
First, we’ll whip up a batch of flourless brownies. Next, we’ll prepare the cheesecake topping. Then after your brownie layer has cooled, it’s time to assemble!
Making the brownie layer
- In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, melt the chocolate and butter.
- Transfer the melted chocolate mixture into a mixing bowl and add the stevia and cocoa powder. Stir to combine.
- Whisk in eggs one at a time.
- Spray an 8×8 square baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
- Transfer the brownie mixture into the baking dish, then bake at 350°F for 15-20 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and set aside to cool.
Preparing the cheesecake layer
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese, stevia, vanilla extract, and ground cinnamon. Blend until smooth and creamy.
- In a separate bowl, use a hand mixer to whip the heavy cream until stiff peaks form.
- Slowly fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture until well-combined.
Completing the keto dessert
- Pour the cheesecake topping over the cooled brownies.
- Place the dessert in your fridge for 4 hours to set. Once they’re set, slice into squares and enjoy!
Net carbs per brownie
When I bake this recipe, I cut it into 16 brownie cheesecake bars.
At this size, each square will have 4 grams of carbohydrates and 1 gram of fiber. So each serving will contain 3 net carbs.
Compare that to commercial cheesecake brownie squares, which can contain anywhere between 30 and 55 net carbs! I can only imagine the sugar crash.
These keto cheesecake brownies are the perfect treat when you want to indulge guilt-free.
Rich keto brownie cheesecake
The combination of dense, fudgy brownie with light and sweet cheesecake is truly decadent. When I’m craving something sweet, it’s the kind of satisfying treat I love!
Seriously, who can resist topping a keto brownie with cheesecake?
When baking for my family or friends, I’ll even sprinkle a little unsweetened cocoa powder on top. I think the end result looks almost as great as it tastes.
Next time you need a treat for a special occasion, or just want to treat yourself, you have to try these keto cheesecake brownies.
Other low carb dessert recipes
You’ll find all kinds of desserts on this blog, from easy chocolate fudge to fancy tiramisu. Looking for other low carb and keto friendly treats? Indulge in a few of these favorites:
- Keto Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars taste just like peanut butter cup candies and can be enjoyed as a dessert or fat bomb!
- Keto Red Velvet Cake is made from scratch with low carb flours and topped with keto friendly cream cheese frosting.
- Cranberry Swirl Cheesecake is just as beautiful as it is delicious. This festive dessert is sure to please any crowd!
- Low Carb Peanut Butter Pie is a heavenly keto pie that doesn’t need to be baked in the oven.
- Keto Yellow Cake will take you back to birthday parties as a kid, expect you can enjoy it as an adult totally guilt-free!
- Vegan Cookie Dough Bars are a simple no bake treat made with only 5 ingredients.
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📖 Recipe
Chocolate Brownie Cheesecake Squares
Video
Ingredients
Flourless Brownies
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3.5 ounces dark chocolate
- 3 tablespoons low carb sugar substitute
- 3 large eggs
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
Cheesecake Topping
- 16 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup low carb sugar substitute or less to taste
- 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and spray a 8×8-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
- In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, melt the chocolate and butter.
- Pour the melted chocolate mixture into a mixing bowl and combine it with the sweetener and cocoa powder.
- Slowly whisk in the eggs one at a time and then transfer the brownies from the bowl to a square 8×8-inch baking pan to bake for 15-20 minutes. Once cooked, set the brownies aside to cool.
- Cheesecake Topping
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese, sweetener, vanilla extract, and ground cinnamon.
- Blend the mixture until it is smooth and creamy.
- In a separate bowl, use a hand mixer to whip the heavy cream until stiff peaks form.
- Slowly fold together the cream cheese and whipped cream until all the ingredients are well-blended.
- Pour the cheesecake topping over the cooled brownies and place the dessert in your fridge for 4 hours to set.
Notes
Low Carb Sweeteners | Keto Sweetener Conversion Chart
Nutrition
Additional Info
Note on Nutritional Information
Nutritional information for the recipe is provided as a courtesy and is approximate only. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site. Erythritol carbs are not included in carb counts as it has been shown not to impact blood sugar. Net carbs are the total carbs minus fiber.
Unauthorized use of this material without written permission from Lisa MarcAurele is strictly prohibited unless for personal offline purposes.
Single photos may be used, provided that full credit is given to LowCarbYum.com along with a link back to the original content.
First Published: September 17, 2018… Last Updated: January 7, 2019
Lisa Evans
Very very good. Totally agree with reviewer Chelsie. Will become a favorite. Thanks
Rita
Absolutely beautiful it’s hard to believe this is a low carb desert ! It’s the best one I have made up to now & no one would ever no
Malorie Edie
3.5 oz is that 1 whole dark chocolate bar? how much is 16 oz for the cream cheese? Is it tbsp or in cups?
Lisa MarcAurele
It depends on the brand of chocolate, but most large bars are a little over 3 ounces. For cream cheese, I typically buy 8 ounce blocks so it’s two of those. A half ounce of cream cheese is generally equivalent to 1 tablespoon so 8 ounces is equal to 1 cup.
Lisa MarcAurele
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Chelsie
I’ve made many Keto desserts and tried variations of cheesecake desserts and this is by far the best recipe I’ve came across. The bottom brownie was a little bit bitter but the sweetest of the cream cheese filling on top evened it out. Amazing and delicious. Will defiantly be making again. Thank you
Hilva Allen
A serving is 1/2″ x 1 /2″ ?
Lisa MarcAurele
It’s best to keep the pieces small for keto. For low carb, it might be okay for larger slices.
Shirley
Very small. How do you cut it so small.
Lisa MarcAurele
A small sized spatula! 🙂
Laura Vilendrer
Well 16 servings would be 2″ x 2″. 4 rows across and 4 rows the other way, 4×4 is 16
Jo-Anne Boudreau
Hi Lisa, this combo of brownie/cheesecake sounds delish!! I’m going to make it this weekend. I was wondering if you stabilize the whipped cream, would that eliminate the need to strain the cream cheese mixture and possibly improve the texture of the cream cheese mixture?? If so, what method would you recommend to stabilize the whipped cream?
Jo-Anne
Lisa MarcAurele
A little gelatin that’s been bloomed in water is what I use for stabilizing whipped cream. And it likely would improve texture and eliminate the need to strain.
Rose
These are amazing! The chocolate layer is very dense and firm, not soft like a brownie, but more like a dark chocolate bar with some give when bitten into. Very chocolatey. The topping is rich and delicious. The cinnamon adds a hint of decadence. I used monkfruit sweetener, adding a little less and tasting as I went because I didn’t know which sweetener was used. I kept out half in the fridge and they lasted for a week with no loss of quality. I froze the rest individually on a cookie sheet and them popped them into a freezer bag. I’m trying to give my body a break from them this week. They have been my go to every night after dinner for my sweet treat!
Janet Adey
How big is the square in order to get the carbs right please
Lisa MarcAurele
It depends on your pan size. I use a square pan and divide into 16 square pieces.
Janet Adey
It would help if you could tell me the pan size you use please
Lisa MarcAurele
I used an 8×8-inch square baking pan. I’ll add that to the recipe card.
Brandy
What is it your sprinkling on top of the finished product, unsweetened cocoa?
Lisa MarcAurele
It’s just unsweetened cocoa powder.
Ami
I followed the recipe exactly, and my family did not like the brownies at all. They tasted terrible…I think the problem was that I used unsweetened cocoa powder and didn’t increase the stevia. The topping was fairly good. We ended up tossing out the brownie and using the topping to dip strawberries in instead.
Pattie
What’s the brownie texture like without flour? Can I add almond flour for a softer texture? If so how much would you suggest?
Lisa MarcAurele
It’s more dense and fudge like. You can try adding almond flour, but I’m not sure how much you’d want to use. Maybe 1/2 cup?
Pattie
Thanks for your prompt response Lisa. I’ll give that a try.
Debbiedowner
Lindt Dark Chocolate is not Keto friendly just FYI…..
Lisa MarcAurele
It’s low carb and has very low sugar. But I do agree that strict keto should avoid eating it.