This impressive, yet super easy, brownie bottom cookie dough cheesecake looks as fancy as any dessert you’ve had from a restaurant!
A fudgy bottom layer of brownie is topped with rich and silken cheesecake, then a layer of egg-less edible cookie dough is spread on the top and drizzled with melted chocolate. ย This is the ULTIMATE cheesecake for the ULTIMATE dessert lover! ย Brownie bottom cookie dough cheesecake deliciousness!
Remember a few weeks back when I shared these Vanilla Chai Cheesecake Bars and let you in on a little secret of mine? ย About how I had a fear of baking a full on cheesecake…. well, I challenged myself and did it! ย Well, not fully I guess, since this isn’t a classic cheesecake… but I think it’s even better.
I mean c’mon, it’s like three desserts in one! ย Rich and fudgy brownies, silky cheesecake and classicly sweet cookie dough. ย And of course I had to beย extra decadent and drizzle a bit of melted chocolate over the top because… well, chocolate ๐
You’re already having a rich piece of cookie dough cheesecake, a little extra chocolate isn’t going to be a problem right? ย Go ahead, drizzle a little more on, it’ll be our little secret ๐
I made this brownie bottom cookie dough cheesecake for my husband’s birthday and let’s just say between us and the kids, we were fighting over who got the last piece!
This dessert may look fancy and complicated because of all the layers, but really it’s super easy.
Just mix up the brownie batter and bake it. ย While it’s baking, mix up the cheesecake batter. ย No need to cool the brownie first, just remove the pan from the oven, pour cheesecake batter over the top and return to the oven. ย Once the cheesecake is finished, it’s going to have to cool for a bit. ย It needs to be firm before you add the cookie dough layer on top, otherwise it’ll mush and not look so pretty. ย You’ll need to chill the cheesecake for 4 hours or overnight, so plan ahead ๐
The cookie dough layer on top is completely egg-less, so no salmonella worries here! ย Honestly, I think it tastes JUST like regular cookie dough, so it makes a great treat to whip up and eat by the spoonful as well. ย Stay tuned for another recipe using the egg-less cookie dough!
If you have a Cheesecake Factory near you, this is one slice that should be on their menu! ย Looks fancy, and tastes even better than it looks ๐
I hope you make this cheesecake and enjoy every single bite of it… I know we sure did!
Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @the_chunky_chef on Facebook and Instagram!
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup milk chocolate chips
- 1 tsp vegetable oil
Brownie Layer
- 1 stick unsalted butter at room temperature (1/2 cup)
- 3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
Cheesecake Layer
- 18 oz cream cheese (2 - 8oz bricks and 1/4 of another 8oz brick), softened to room temperature
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3 eggs room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup sour cream or greek yogurt
Cookie Dough Layer
- 1 stick unsalted butter at room temperature (1/2 cup)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
- 3/4 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup flour
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 cup mini chocolate chips
Instructions
Brownie Layer
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line bottom of a 9" springform pan with parchment paper and spray paper and sides of pan with cooking spray (I use a baking spray, but you could use regular spray and lightly dust with flour instead).
- In a small saucepan, melt butter and chocolate until smooth, over low heat, stirring often.
- Turn off heat and whisk in sugar. Set aside to cool for 5-10 minutes, stirring often.
- To a mixing bowl, add in melted chocolate mixture, milk and eggs, whisking quickly so the residual heat doesn't cook the eggs.
- Use a wooden spoon to stir in flour until just combined. Pour batter into prepared pan in an even layer, and bake for 25 minutes.
Cheesecake Layer
- Remove brownie pan from the oven and set aside.
- Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees F.
- Using a stand mixer (or hand mixer), beat all cheesecake ingredients together until mixture is smooth. Take care not to mix too quickly, or air bubbles will form.
- Pour cheesecake batter over brownie layer in pan.
- Bake for 50 minutes, until center is slightly jiggly (or when an instant read thermometer inserted into the center reads 150.
- Remove from oven and cool at room temperature, with the pan on a wire rack for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
- Place pan in the refrigerator for 4 hours, or overnight to chill and firm up to that amazing cheesecake consistency.
Cookie Dough Layer
- In a stand mixer (or hand mixer), cream together butter and both sugars on MED-HIGH speed until light and fluffy.
- Beat in sweetened condensed milk and vanilla extract.
- Beat in salt and flour. Stir in mini chocolate chips.
- Use an offset spatula to gently spread cookie dough over the top of the cooled cheesecake.
- This is done most easily when the spring has been undone and the cheesecake is free from the sides of the pan.
- If you can't spread the cookie dough, gently press pieces together to "spackle" the cookie dough onto the cheesecake.
Finish the Cheesecake
- Microwave milk chocolate chips and vegetable oil in 30 second bursts (stirring each time), until nearly melted. Stir to melt remaining lumps.
- Drizzle melted chocolate over the top of the cheesecake.
- To slice, use a long, thin knife. Dip knife blade into very hot water, shake off excess and slice carefully. Between each slice, use a paper towel to wipe off cake crumbs and reside, then dip knife into the hot water again before slicing.
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Chef Tips
Video
Nutrition Disclaimer
The Chunky Chef is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
Zaza says
Shared my experience making your cake on my blog! It was really delicious ๐
Cassie lyn says
Was just wondering, would it work the same using low fat or fat free cream cheese as well as fat free sour cream?
The Chunky Chef says
Hi Cassie ๐ Unfortunately, I don’t usually recommend baking (especially cheesecakes), with fat free ingredients, as they can alter the taste and texture of the baked good. Baking is a science, and when you take away the fat, it alters things quite a bit. I’ve never tried this recipe with reduced fat cream cheese (or sour cream), but it *might* work, I just can’t vouch for it.
Monica says
Hey What a delicious recipe. I`m planning to do this, but got a couple of questions. First, in grams how much chocolat do i need? In my country don`t sell the chocolate chips so I have to buy a chocolate tablet.. Same question about the butter stick. How much des that weight? Thanks!!
The Chunky Chef says
Hi Monica ๐ Each butter stick is 4 oz or 110g, and the 3/4 cup chocolate chips would equal approximately 130g. The 1 cup small chocolate chips for the cookie dough would be approximately 175g. Hope that helps, and I hope you love the cheesecake!!
Emily says
I plan on trying this recipe soon! Out of curiosity, what did you use when drizzling the chocolate on top? I saw there was a cool tool you seem to have in the picture but haven’t been able to find something like it.
The Chunky Chef says
Hi Emily ๐ I hope you love it! I used this squeeze bottle http://amzn.to/2gVFtuV , which is nice since you can use any icing tips you have (plus it comes with the plastic one shown). Just make sure there aren’t any lumps in the melted chocolate, or it’ll clog up (nothing a toothpick inserted into the tip can’t fix though).
Stefanie says
This looks so amazing!! Trying it out this week. ๐
Just one question: your oven, do you use a conventional one or one with hot air circulation?
Greetings all the way from Belgium!
The Chunky Chef says
Hi Stefanie ๐ My oven is a combination of traditional and convection. Hope you love the cheesecake!
Stefanie says
Hi!
Do you have to choose between those two or is that not an option for your oven? My oven has both options (and some other options as well) so I always have to pick one. I don’t think mine has the two combined ๐
The Chunky Chef says
I don’t get to choose with my oven, but when I originally developed this recipe, it was in a traditional oven, not the combo, so it works well in either type ๐
Stefanie says
Awesome! I’ll let you know how it turned out :). Can’t wait to make it! Thanks!
Stefanie says
It turned out great in the traditional oven!! But oh my god what a deadly combination, hahaha! ๐
The Chunky Chef says
I’m so glad it turned out!!
Shay says
Hi! I’m new to the baking world and have never made a cheesecake before so I have a few questions.
Would it be a bad call to take off the pan to put the cookie dough on and then put it back on?
I’m also wanting to take this to the cottage, do you think it will withstand a 2h car ride?
One more question, if I make it on Wednesday would it be alright to not eat it until Friday??
Appreciate any advice ๐
The Chunky Chef says
Hi Shay ๐ Welcome to the baking world! It’s actually easier to add the cookie dough layer with the springform pan either released or off. For a longer car ride, I would put this cheesecake in a cooler or something with a few ice packs just to be on the safe side. And yes, it’s definitely okay to make ahead of time ๐
Leslie says
Made this yesterday and took it to work for a coworkers birthday, and oh my gosh, it was fantastic. All gone by the end of the day. It was very easy to make (no water bath!) and had a fantastic texture and taste! I will make this one again, for sure! Thanks for a great recipe!
Boyan Minchev says
This recipe is amazing I can eat this cheesecake seven days a week ๐ Thank you for sharing this amazing dessert with us.
Carla says
It looks really delicious just like I get on the diet.
Simone says
Made this recipe for a bridal shower and it was a hit! I didn’t have regular sweetened condensed milk , so used the dulche de leche sweetened condensed milk that I had in my cupboard, instead. I called it a caramel chocolate chip cookie dough. Will be making the recipe again this weekend for a BBQ and have already shared your website with anyone who wanted the recipe. Thanks for a keeper!
Joyce says
Would using boxed brownie mix be just the same?
The Chunky Chef says
Hi Joyce ๐ I’ve never done it, but I think if you used the 8×8 size (so not the family sized box), it should be fine ๐
Val says
Oh WOW! This looks AH-MAZING! Do you think it would work to use a basic 8×8 brownie box mix for the bottom layer?
The Chunky Chef says
Hi Val ๐ Thank you! I’ve never done it, but I’m sure it would work just fine!
Julie says
My fiancรฉ doesn’t like Cheesecake at all, but he absolutely loved this one and has asked me to make it again. It is one of my favorites now, thank you for sharing!
The Chunky Chef says
Hi Julie ๐ Oh wow, that’s a really high compliment!! So glad you both loved it!!
BAHB says
OMG THIS RECIPE LOOKS GREAT! I was wondering if I could use oat flour in the cookie dough because I’m not a fan of the raw flour taste. If not I’ll just toast my flour in the oven before. And white whole what for the brownies? I feel like it’s a stretch, but it takes off a miniscule amount of guilt from this recipe, which is much needed for me. Thanks!
The Chunky Chef says
Hi there ๐ I’ve never substituted any different flours in this recipe, but it could work! If you try it (or both of them), I’d love to know how it turned out for you ๐
Dawn says
Hi!
I am thinking about making this gorgeous recipe for a charity dessert auction, but I am concerned about the “shelf life” of the cheesecake layer. Do you happen to know if the cheesecake would stand up to being on display for the evening? I am more concerned about durability than spoilage. I have always kept my cheesecakes refrigerated until shortly before serving, so any guidance would be greatly appreciated. ๐
Thanks in advance!
Dawn
The Chunky Chef says
Hi Dawn ๐ I can understand your concern… sometimes cheesecakes don’t hold up so well. I’ve never done this, so I can’t be 100% certain, but I wonder if you fill a large pan with ice, then set the cheesecake on a platter that fits inside or on top of the pan… that way it would stay at least semi-cold ๐
Dawn says
Hi! Thank you so much for your prompt response! The cheesecake turned out perfectly. I won’t be at the auction to ensure the cheesecake’s safety, but I am hoping for the best. The cheesecake seems pretty sturdy! ๐
Thanks so much!
Dawn says
Hi! I just I’d let you know that the cheesecake made $85 for a leukemia/lymphoma society. ๐ Thanks so much for a great recipe!
Dawn
Angelinah says
This cake looks yummy and will definitely try it. I have one question; can the cookie dough be bakes or it’s a No No ๐
The Chunky Chef says
Hi Angelinah ๐ I wouldn’t bake the cookie dough, as it’s an altered edible (eggless) version, and not the type of dough you would bake.
Angelinah says
Ooohhh thank you so much. I will make it as it is thenโบyou’re the best!
The Chunky Chef says
No problem, I hope you love it as much as we do! ๐
Amy says
Oh wow! Cookie dough is my weekends than you for this amazing recipe!
Beringaria says
The cake looks fabulous! I was wondering if you have any experience in freezing it and wether it fairs well when thawing?
The Chunky Chef says
Hi Beringaria ๐ Thank you! I’ve never frozen it, but I think it should do just fine. The only thing that gives me pause is the cookie dough layer on top… I’m wondering if it might separate a bit from the cheesecake layer when thawing (since it’s just pressed on top, not baked on). So if you’re worried about that, you could make the brownie bottomed cheesecake, freeze it… make the cookie dough layer and refrigerate it, then add the cookie dough on top after the cheesecake is thawed ๐
Kelly says
This looks amazing! I am making one right now. I just have a question though. As I am making the cheesecake layer, I placed all the ingredients in my stand mixer as said. However, it seems to be taking awhile to make it smooth. How long should it take? (I am beating it on the Stir setting of the stand mixer setting). Or should I have placed the cream cheese in first then started the mixer and slowly added ingredients? Thanks for help! I haven’t made cheesecakes too many times and was making this one for a New Years Eve get together!
The Chunky Chef says
Hi Kelly ๐ How long it takes depends on the speed you’re mixing it on and how soft your cream cheese is. I usually beat mine on about the “2” speed and it takes about 3-4 minutes. I’ve never had a problem using the room temperature softened cream cheese and having it not get smooth, so my guess is that you just need a couple more minutes ๐ I hope you all love it and Happy New Year!
Kiko says
The Brownie bottom cookie cheesecake heavenly! Thanks for sharing…