Mini Cherry Cheesecake Brownies

Featured in Indulgent Dessert Recipes to Satisfy Any Sweet Tooth.

These rich cherry brownies feature a soft chocolate base, creamy cheesecake center, and smooth ganache topping. They’re perfect for chocolate fans who love layered flavors. Topped with whipped cream, chocolate curls, and fresh cherries, they bring a fancy yet indulgent vibe. Chill well before serving for the ultimate taste and texture combo!

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Updated on Mon, 19 May 2025 20:21:46 GMT
Chocolate brownie topped with cream and cherry. Pin it
Chocolate brownie topped with cream and cherry. | chefmelt.com

This indulgent mini cherry cheesecake brownie combines two amazing treats: a rich chocolate brownie foundation topped with smooth cherry-flavored chocolate cheesecake. This fancy combo makes a stunning sweet that's great for parties or when you're craving something seriously chocolatey.

I whipped up these mini cheesecake brownies for the first time during a Valentine's dinner, and now they've become my go-to treat when I want to wow my friends. There's something about mixing cherries and chocolate that feels both familiar and fancy at the same time.

Ingredients

  • For Brownie Layer
  • Danish Creamery European Style Unsalted Butter: Gives an incredibly smooth base
  • Dutch process cocoa powder: Offers a much darker chocolate flavor compared to standard cocoa
  • Room temperature eggs: Help everything mix properly for the ideal brownie consistency
  • All purpose flour: Keeps the bottom layer gooey instead of cake-like
  • For Cherry Cheesecake
  • Room temperature cream cheese: Must be softened to avoid any clumps in your filling
  • Superfine sugar: Melts faster than regular sugar
  • Heavy cream and sour cream: Add depth and tartness to cut through sweetness
  • Bittersweet chocolate: Brings layers of flavor that you just can't get from milk chocolate
  • Cherry juice: Adds a light fruity hint that works wonderfully with the chocolate
  • For Ganache
  • Heavy cream: Makes everything velvety smooth
  • Quality bittersweet chocolate: Really matters for getting that deep flavor punch

How To Make Mini Cherry Cheesecake Brownies

Prepare the Brownie Base:
Start by mixing butter and sugar until it gets thick and starts bubbling around the edges. This helps the sugar break down for a smoother mix. Let it cool a bit, then mix in cocoa powder and eggs, before gently folding in flour and salt. Don't mix too much or you'll end up with tough brownies. Bake just until the edges set up.
Create the Cherry Infusion:
Cook down fresh or frozen cherries, gently mashing them to get all their juice out. This makes a strong cherry flavor that'll run through the whole cheesecake layer. Strain it carefully so no cherry bits mess up the smooth cheesecake texture.
Perfect the Cheesecake Mixture:
Mix cream cheese, sugar, sour cream, and heavy cream until totally smooth. Take your time with this part. Use low speed so you don't add too much air, but keep going until everything's silky. Adding melted chocolate and cocoa gives depth, while the cherry juice brings subtle fruit notes throughout.
Bake with Precision:
Pour your cheesecake mix over the partly baked brownie and put it back in the oven at a lower temp. The cooler oven stops cracks from forming and keeps everything creamy. Keep an eye on it toward the end since overbaking can dry it out.
Chill Completely:
Let your cheesecakes cool slowly at room temp before putting them in the fridge. This stops condensation and weird texture changes. You absolutely must chill them for at least three hours so they set properly and flavors blend.
A dessert with cherries and chocolate. Pin it
A dessert with cherries and chocolate. | chefmelt.com

The cherries in this treat mean a lot to me. My grandma had a cherry tree in her yard, and summer visits always included picking cherries for her amazing desserts. This treat brings back those sweet memories while taking ordinary cherries to a whole new level.

Make-Ahead Instructions

These mini cheesecake brownies actually taste better when made in advance. The flavors grow stronger as they sit in the fridge. You can make them two days before serving with no problem. Just add the whipped cream and fresh cherries right before bringing them out for the best look. Keep them in a sealed container in your fridge to stay fresh.

A slice of chocolate cake with cherries on top. Pin it
A slice of chocolate cake with cherries on top. | chefmelt.com

Substitution Options

What's great about this treat is how easy it is to change up. If you're not crazy about cherries, try using raspberry, blackberry, or even orange juice instead. Want a grown-up version? Swap two tablespoons of cherry juice with cherry liqueur. You can use dairy free cream cheese too, though it might feel a bit different. For the brownie part, gluten free flour mixes can usually replace regular flour one for one.

Serving Suggestions

These fancy mini treats deserve to look their best. Put them on small dessert plates with a spoonful of fresh whipped cream, some chocolate shavings, and a perfect cherry on top. They go great with sweet wines like port. For a full dessert spread, serve these with something lighter like fresh fruit or lemon sorbet to balance out how rich they are. Coffee makes the perfect partner since its slight bitterness works so well with the sweet chocolate.

The Science Behind Perfect Cheesecake

Getting silky smooth cheesecake comes down to watching temperatures and mixing gently. Room temp ingredients blend together without getting lumpy. Baking at a lower heat stops the eggs from cooking too fast, which would make cracks. The water in cherry juice helps keep everything moist. And cooling slowly after baking lets the inside set up gradually, preventing that annoying sinking in the middle that happens when you rush cooling.

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Can I switch frozen cherries for fresh ones?

Definitely! Fresh cherries can be used. Just remove the pits and cook them until they thicken into a syrup.

→ What if I don’t own a pan with a removable bottom?

No problem! Line cupcake pans with parchment or grease liners thoroughly for easy release.

→ How can I tell if the cheesecake layer is baked?

The cheesecake should be firm around the edges but still a little jiggly in the center. Don’t overbake to avoid cracks.

→ Can I swap bittersweet chocolate with dark chocolate?

Sure thing! Dark chocolate will bring a bolder, richer taste to the dessert.

→ How long should these desserts chill before serving?

Allow at least 3 hours of chilling, but keeping them in the fridge overnight makes them even better.

→ Can this be prepped in advance?

Yes! Store them in the fridge for up to 4 days. Great for planning ahead.

Cherry Cheesecake Brownies

Brownie base, cherry layer, and ganache create a sweet treat you can’t resist.

Prep Time
20 Minutes
Cook Time
40 Minutes
Total Time
60 Minutes

Category: Dessert Recipes

Difficulty: Difficult

Cuisine: American

Yield: 6 Servings

Dietary: Vegetarian

Ingredients

→ Base Brownie Mix

01 1 cup all-purpose flour
02 2 tsp vanilla extract
03 3/4 cup unsalted butter
04 1/2 cup Dutch-process unsweetened cocoa powder
05 3 large eggs, room temperature
06 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
07 1/2 tsp salt

→ Cherry Cheesecake Filling

08 3 TBSP Dutch-process unsweetened cocoa powder
09 1/4 cup sour cream, at room temperature (Greek yogurt works too)
10 6 ounces bittersweet chocolate chips, melted and cooled
11 2/3 cup superfine granulated sugar
12 2 eggs, at room temperature
13 16 ounces plain cream cheese, softened
14 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream, at room temp
15 2 tsp vanilla extract
16 2 cups fresh or frozen cherries (to cook/juice)
17 1/4 tsp kosher salt
18 1/3 cup cherry juice (strained after cooking cherries)

→ Chocolate Ganache

19 1 1/4 cups bittersweet chocolate, roughly chopped
20 1 cup heavy whipping cream

Instructions

Step 01

Heat up your oven to 350°F. Spray a 6-cup removable-bottom cheesecake pan with non-stick baking spray, or line a 12-cup cupcake pan with liners. Set it to the side for now.

Step 02

Melt butter and sugar together in a medium pot over medium heat, stirring now and then. Let it bubble a little for 30 seconds before pulling it off the heat. Pour the mix into a stand mixer bowl with the paddle attached; cool it down for 15-20 minutes. Blend in cocoa powder, eggs, and vanilla at medium speed. Stop the mixer, fold in the salt and flour manually. Spread it evenly into the pan and bake for 12-15 minutes until just set at the edges (center stays soft). Lower oven to 325°F after removing the pan.

Step 03

Toss two cups of cherries (frozen or fresh) into a medium pot. Crush them while heating on medium until they release their juice. Keep simmering for about 10 minutes till it thickens up. Strain through a fine strainer into a bowl, then let it cool down.

Step 04

In a stand mixer, use the paddle to blend cream cheese, sugar, heavy cream, and sour cream on low until smooth (5 minutes). Add melted chocolate, cocoa, and salt, then mix medium for 30 seconds. Switch to low speed and drop in eggs one at a time, scraping the sides as needed. Lastly, mix in cherry juice and vanilla without overworking the batter.

Step 05

Pour cheesecake mix on top of the brownies in an even layer. Put it in the oven at 325°F for 20-25 minutes. It should feel just set but stay smooth—no cracks! Cool the pan on a counter until it reaches room temp, then chill it in the fridge for 3 hours or overnight.

Step 06

Gently heat heavy cream in a pot until it's steaming. Pour it over chopped chocolate in a heat-safe bowl. Let it sit for two minutes, then stir it all together till silky. Cool it down before topping.

Step 07

Spread the ganache over the chilled cheesecakes and add whipped cream, chocolate flakes, and a cherry on top. They should be served cold.

Notes

  1. Cheesecakes need to be fully chilled for the best texture and flavor.

Tools You'll Need

  • Stand mixer with paddle attachment
  • Medium pot
  • Fine strainer
  • 6-cup removable bottom cheesecake pan or 12-cup cupcake pan
  • Wire rack

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Includes dairy from items like butter, cream cheese, and heavy cream.
  • Eggs are present.
  • All-purpose flour may contain gluten.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 420
  • Total Fat: 26 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 45 g
  • Protein: 6 g