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Cream Cheese Brownies with Toffee and Pecans

Cream cheese brownies with toffee and pecans are brownies on overdrive! Cream cheese, nuts, chocolate chips, toffee… oh, my!

Overhead view of cream cheese brownies with toffee and pecans on rectangular tray

Toffee Pecan Cheesecake Brownies

These days, my brownie love runs the gamut from the classic chocolate brownie to the kitchen-sink varieties with every kind of topping imaginable (ahem… cookies and cream brownies). Essentially, I haven’t met many brownies I haven’t liked. These flavor-packed cream cheese brownies with toffee and pecans are no exception.

The first question usually asked about brownies is whether they are cakey or fudgy. The original recipe describes them as not too much of either one. To me, they’re cakey. That works very well with the cream cheese topping to make them not seem so heavy.

Added to both the brownie batter and the top of the brownies is a generous helping of pecans, toffee chips, and chocolate chips. It’s a lovely flavor combination, with no one component seeming to overpower. If you enjoy chocolate cream cheese brownies, but miss the crunch of a traditional nutty brownie, this recipe will be a new favorite!

What You’ll Need

Scroll down to the recipe card to find the ingredient quantities and recipe instructions.

For the Cream Cheese Filling:

  • Cream cheese – Be sure to use full-fat cream cheese that comes in blocks, not the kind that comes in a plastic tub.
  • Granulated sugar
  • Egg – Let this come to room temperature.
  • All-purpose flour

For the Brownies:

Is Unsweetened Chocolate the Same as Dark Chocolate?

No, unsweetened chocolate is not the same as dark chocolate; unsweetened chocolate is made with 100 percent cacao nibs and no sugar, so it’s much more bitter than dark chocolate. Unsweetened chocolate is also known as baking chocolate, and it will make these cream cheese brownies with toffee and pecans extra rich.

3 cream cheese brownies with toffee and pecans lined up on rectangular tray

How to Make Cream Cheese Brownies With Toffee and Pecans

If you’ve ever made cream cheese brownies, you’re already familiar with the technique used in this recipe!

Make the cream cheese filling. Use an electric mixer on medium speed to beat the cream cheese and sugar until it’s smooth. Add the egg and flour, then continue to mix until the filling is well-combined. 

Melt the chocolate and butter. Place the butter and chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl, then microwave at half power in 30-second intervals until the butter and chocolate melt together when you stir. Pour this mixture into a large mixing bowl and allow it to cool slightly.

Prepare. Preheat your oven to 325°F, then grease and flour a 9″x 13″x 2″ baking pan.

Mix the dry ingredients. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. 

Finish the batter. Stir the sugar into the butter and chocolate mixture, then beat in the eggs, milk, and vanilla. Add the flour mixture in 3 to 4 portions, mixing until blended. Fold in half of the pecans, half of the toffee, and half of the chocolate chips. 

Assemble. Reserve about 1/2 cup of the brownie mixture, then spread the rest into the bottom of the prepared pan. Drop tablespoonfuls of the cream cheese mixture over the top of the batter, then drop the reserved brownie mixture by teaspoonfuls between the dollops of cream cheese. Swirl the two together with a butter knife, then sprinkle the remaining pecans, toffee, and chocolate chips over the batter, gently pressing them in.

Bake. Place the pan in the oven and bake for 45 to 55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs attached. Cool the cream cheese brownies completely in the pan, then cut into bars and serve.

Overhead view of 2 toffee pecan cream cheese brownies

Tips for Success

Start with my tips for baking brownies, then use the following additional tips for perfect cream cheese brownies with toffee and pecans:

  • Don’t over-swirl. If you overdo your swirling, you’ll end up with a pan of light brown brownies instead of getting the elegant marbled effect you’re looking for.
  • Use parchment for easy removal. To lift the brownies out of the pan and cut them into perfect squares, you can line the pan with greased parchment paper instead of greasing the pan itself.
  • Be careful not to over-bake. Leaving the brownies in the oven too long will dry out the cream cheese swirl, which means it won’t have that wonderfully creamy cheesecake-like texture.

Variations

As long as you keep the proportions the same, you can play around with the toffee bit/pecan/chocolate chip add-ins. Try adding your favorite candy bar instead of the toffee bits, or maybe swap in chopped walnuts for the pecans.

How to Store

Store these cream cheese brownies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. I like to set them on the counter for a few minutes to let them come to room temperature before serving.

Can This Recipe Be Frozen?

Cream cheese brownies can be frozen in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Let them thaw in the refrigerator before serving.

Closeup of cream cheese brownies with toffee and pecans on narrow rectangular platter

More Over-the-Top Brownie Recipes

Cream Cheese Brownies with Toffee and Pecans

Yield 24 2-inch brownies
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 55 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 25 minutes

With a cream cheese filling, nuts, toffee, and plenty of chocolate, there's no shortage of flavors in these Cream Cheese Brownies with Toffee and Pecans!

3 cream cheese brownies with toffee and pecans lined up on rectangular tray

Ingredients

For the cream cheese filling:

  • 8 ounces (226g) cream cheese
  • 1/3 cup (67g) granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

For the brownies:

  • 1 & 1/4 cups (150g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup (170g) unsalted butter
  • 4 ounces (113g) unsweetened chocolate
  • 2 cups (400g) granulated sugar
  • 3 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 1 & 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 3/4 cup (90g) coarsely chopped pecans, toasted
  • 1/2 cup (80g) toffee bits
  • 1/2 cup (85g) semisweet chocolate chips

Instructions

To make the filling:

  1. Using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the cream cheese and sugar until smooth.
  2. Add the egg and flour, and continue mixing until well-combined. Set aside.

To make the brownies:

  1. Place the butter and chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at half power in 30-second increments until butter has melted and chocolate melts when stirred. Transfer to a large mixing bowl and allow to cool slightly.
  2. Preheat oven to 325°F. Grease and flour a 9"x 13"x 2" baking pan.
  3. Whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
  4. Add the sugar to the butter/chocolate mixture. Stir until blended. Add the eggs, milk, and vanilla. Beat well, either by hand or with an electric mixer. Add the flour mixture in 3 or 4 portions, mixing until blended.
  5. Stir in half of the pecans, half of the toffee, and half of the chocolate chips. Reserve about 1/2 cup of the brownie mixture.
  6. Spread the remaining brownie mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Drop the cream cheese mixture by tablespoonfuls over the top of the batter. Drop the reserved brownie mixture by teaspoonfuls between the dollops of cream cheese mixture. Use a thin knife to swirl together the cream cheese mixture and brownie mixture.
  7. Sprinkle the remaining pecans, toffee, and chocolate chips over the batters. Gently press the toppings into the batter.
  8. Bake 45-55 minutes, or until a pick inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs attached. Do not overbake.
  9. Cool completely in the pan before cutting into bars.

Notes

Recipe adapted from At Home with Magnolia.

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    26 Comments on “Cream Cheese Brownies with Toffee and Pecans”

  1. I definitely lean towards brownies that are fully loaded. In other words, send me some of these haha.

  2. I posted cream cheese brownies today too! The toffee sounds especially delicious in these!

  3. These look perfect and I love everything in them! Can’t wait to try! 🙂

  4. These look delicious. Must bake these soon!

  5. We love brownie… Any time… Any day.. Any way.. =) Looks delicious!

  6. Love the combination of igredients. Since I like lots of crunch & texture, I will amp up the toffee and chocolate chips for a total of one cup each. Great choice for the next carry-in @ work.

  7. I need to get some toffee
    and pecans
    Oh!
    Please go to trader joe’s and get those sweet & spicy pecans–you must try those!

  8. I love that these brownies have such fun toppings! Makes them extra delicious.

  9. I love brownies. Must make these soon.

  10. Oh yum, these look and sound like the most delicious brownies!

  11. I really need to bake more with cream cheese…these are FANTASTIC! Thank you for sharing!

  12. The topping of these brownies looks insanely good! as does the brownie underneath!

  13. These brownies look very good. I put them on the list but I will it will take ages till I try them 🙂

  14. I will definitely try and these browny look so delicious. Perfect combination of toffee and cheese .. so Yummy!

  15. I’m a huge toffee fan, so adding it to one of my already favorite combos of cream cheese and brownies makes this over the top for me!

  16. I LOVE this Blog! Made these brownies this weekend but cheated on the base layer and used a mix. They were really tasty and went quickly! Definitely make these again.

  17. Do these need to be refrigerated?

  18. They look so so yummy.  Can I make with cake flour instead.  My best friend has a gluten intolerance but can eat a small amount of cookies or cakes made with cake flour with no problems.

  19. Jennifer, I received your email today about your Instagram account. I am not on Instagram and just wanted you to know that I would happily help if I could. Hoping your followers on Instagram can help out! Merry Christmas and keep baking! I love these brownies!

  20. Hello!

    Are the 2 tablespoons of milk necessary? If so, is there a substitute?

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