Gluten Free Chocolate Cheesecake Brownies

These gluten free Chocolate Cheesecake Brownies are fudgy and fabulous. Made with a single flour, this is the kind of recipe that appeals to everyday cooks who "want" to cook for you. Quinoa flour is readily available and easy to use so share this recipe with family and friends.

this gluten free recipe

Just like the grain quinoa, the flour is high in fibre and protein. That doesn't exactly make these sugar-laden brownies healthy but it can't hurt to eat more quinoa, right? So once you've got quinoa flour in your kitchen, you'll want to try these Chocolate Chip Cookies or check out this post, How to Use Almond Flour and Quinoa Flour.

Ingredients

If you like to lick the beaters, or dip your finger into cheesecake batter, you may detect a slight bitter taste. Despite the pre-rinsing process manufacturers and processors do, quinoa and quinoa flour does have an unusual taste. The good news is, it disappears during cooking.

• chocolate chips
• butter
• sugar
• eggs
• vanilla extract
• quinoa flour - certified gluten free and ready available (near me) at the Real Canadian Superstore
• cream cheese
• milk

See recipe card for exact amounts.

Instructions

Lining the pan - Rather than covering all four sides of the pan, create a sling by measuring the paper so it is the width of the bottom but comes over two edges of the pan. This makes transferring the entire brownie easy to a cutting board easy.

Paper - Parchment is easier to work if you scrunch it up under running water. Try it! Tin foil is the old fashioned way and it works too.

Layering the filling - Pour wide ribbons of cheesecake onto the brownie layer by moving the bowl back and forth across the whole pan.

How To Make Chocolate Swirls

After mixing some of the cheesecake batter with melted chocolate chips blob it on top in any random pattern. Then grab a knife, wooden skewer or spreader and have fun drawing it through the top layer and seeing what kind of patterns you can make.

How To Cut a Cheesecake Brownie

The hot knife method for cutting cheesecake is the same for cutting all brownies. Feel free to eyeball it with a big knife or use a ruler to make even size pieces. The method is the same.

• Dip a knife into hot water. This can be in a sink, a tall glass or under a running tap.
• Wipe it off with a cloth between each cut. There will still be some cheesecake brownie on the knife that can be carefully removed with a cloth. If you can't stand food waste use a small spreader, or your finger, and eat as you go like I do.

For those perfect edges you see in photos follow this slightly tedious, but delicious, process. This is my quality control measure to ensure I'm sharing only the highest quality home baking.

• Cut a thin slice off two sides. Set off to the side for your own taste test. I also give these to certain people labeled Factory Seconds. (You know exactly who will get them, right?)
• Lay a ruler on top of the brownie and make cut marks at 1½ inches intervals in one direction. Repeat at the opposite end of the brownie so you can see exactly where to make the cut. Using a hot knife make 4 cuts. Now you have another long thin piece to add to your taste test pile.
• Turn the brownie a quarter turn and use the ruler to repeat at 1½ inches intervals in the other direction. Using a hot knife make 4 cuts. You will have 16 perfectly cut pieces worthy of any celebration or a surprise treat for no reason at all.
• To serve a larger crowd or have smaller portions cut each brownie on the diagonal for 32 triangles.

Best Baking Pans and Serving Ideas

Every kitchen needs a few tools and a set of two square baking pans is the most versatile bakeware I have in my kitchen. From granola bars to sushi pizza there's no end to the uses for these pans. Buy a set of two, you'll never be sorry.

• 8-inch square carbon steel baking pan or silicone baking pan.
• I've never tried a 9-inch square stoneware baking dish but they're popular. Just know that your brownies will be slightly thinner (and just as delicious).
• A pedestal tray is always my pick to create an impressive presentation from simple brownies.
• For a surprise presentation that travels well, use an empty pizza box. Find them at neighbourhood pizza joint, a craft store like Michael's or online. Amazon has both white and brown boxes that come in packages of 50 so you might need to share that purchase with a few friends. I also serve my cookie pizza (made with quinoa flour) in those boxes.

Gluten Free Chocolate Cheesecake Brownies

These brownies are fudgy and fabulous but the best part is that I can make them anywhere I go. Just buy a bag of quinoa flour and you're cooking! You're sure to get rave reviews.

5 from 2 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Baking

Cuisine: Canadian

Keyword: gluten free chocolate cheesecake brownies

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes minutes

Servings: 16 pieces

Calories: 12567kcal

Author: Cinde Little

Ingredients

BROWNIE BASE

• ▢ 1½ cups chocolate chips
• ▢ ½ cup butter
• ▢ ⅓ cup sugar
• ▢ 2 eggs
• ▢ ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• ▢ ½ cup quinoa flour

CHEESECAKE TOPPING

• ▢ ¼ cup chocolate chips
• ▢ 250 gram package cream cheese (room temperature)
• ▢ ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• ▢ ¼ cup sugar
• ▢ 1 egg
• ▢ 1 tablespoon milk
• ▢ 2 tablespoon quinoa flour

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 325°F. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment or foil, hanging about 2-inches over two sides of the pan to help easily remove the cooked brownie.

BROWNIE BASE

• Put chocolate chips in a small bowl and microwave on high for 1 minute. Stir.
• Add butter to chocolate chips and microwave on high, another 30 seconds, stirring to ensure it doesn't burn. Repeat for another 30 seconds if needed, stirring until smooth. Set aside.
• In a medium bowl whisk sugar, eggs and vanilla. Add melted chocolate and stir to combine.
• Add the flour and mix thoroughly. Pour into prepared pan.

CHEESECAKE TOPPING

• Place chocolate chips in a small bowl and microwave on high for 30 seconds. Stir and microwave for another 30 seconds if needed until chocolate is smooth. Set aside.
• In a medium bowl beat cream cheese, vanilla, sugar and egg. Combine with chocolate mixture.
• Blend in milk and flour.
• Add about ½ cup of cheesecake mixture to small bowl with melted chocolate. Set aside.
• Spread remaining cheesecake mixture onto the brownie base to cover it completely.
• Drop spoonfuls of the chocolate cheesecake mixture all over cheesecake layer in the pan.
• Using a knife or skewer draw circles through the chocolate cheesecake mixture into the white cheesecake topping to create swirl pattern. Be careful not to touch the bottom brownie layer.
• Bake in preheated oven 32-35 minutes, until the middle springs back when gently touched in the center. Cool then chill overnight before cutting.

Notes

The secret to perfect edges for both brownies and cheesecake is using a hot knife. Run a large knife under hot water (or dip it into the water), wipe it off and make one cut. Repeat for EVERY SINGLE CUT.

Tips for cooking cheesecake: When over cooked cheesecake cracks in the oven or as it cools. When perfectly cooked the cheesecake layer should be set but not completely firm to the touch. It takes practise so record the time it took in your oven and when you know the exact time follow it.

For a summer version of this recipe try these Raspberry Swirl Cheesecake Brownies.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Gluten Free Chocolate Cheesecake Brownies

Amount Per Serving (1 piece)

Calories 12567 Calories from Fat 11043

% Daily Value*

Fat 1227g1888%

Saturated Fat 721g4506%

Trans Fat 0.2g

Polyunsaturated Fat 53g

Monounsaturated Fat 316g

Cholesterol 3613mg1204%

Sodium 11147mg485%

Potassium 4733mg135%

Carbohydrates 218g73%

Fiber 0.3g1%

Sugar 151g168%

Protein 219g438%

Vitamin A 47648IU953%

Calcium 3449mg345%

Iron 4mg22%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.