This new Brownie Cheesecake recipe is giving the most popular Oreo Cheesecake a run for it’s money!
If you have not yet tried my famous vegan cheesecake recipe
Today is a great day to start!
It’s never been easier since there are no mixers required
All you need is a food processor or a blender!
However for this brownie cheesecake recipe you will have to make the brownies of course!
A double layer of fudge brownies and creamy New York Style Cheesecake!
It’s almost like a giant brownie cheesecake sandwich!
Notes for Success:
Since the creation of this fudge brownie cheesecake recipe I have perfected my cheesecake game!
So if you watch the YouTube video tutorial you may see a slight discrepancy of the ingredients on the video compared to the new and improved recipe listed below
Some slight tweaks to perfection but essentially it’s the same!
Cornstarch is a very difficult ingredient to measure consistently with a volume/spoons measure
So while I list both measures below I cannot stress enough how the grams measure with a scale is going to give you the best results.
Many times people have complained that their cheesecake is like rubber and they don’t know why!
This is from a heavy measure of cornstarch when using volume measuring spoon vs the 100% accurate scale measure in grams.
You may notice that my base recipes for cheesecake are always the same with some slight variations to the sugar or an added spice depending on what flavor I am making.
At times I add a small addition of firm tofu in place of some of the cream cheese for a lightened up version and to cut some of the fat calories.
By all means you can use all vegan cream cheese if you prefer
Additionally I only use Tofutti Cream Cheese for my BAKED recipes *not sponsored
I have not had success with any other brand in BAKED recipes; for some reason the other more expensive brands I’ve tried have broken down into an oily mess when baked.
UPDATED VEGAN CREAM CHEESE DISCUSSION:
Some of my viewers have reassured me that some other brands now work in BAKED recipes.
One viewer said, “Tofutti gives the best texture in my opinion, but I’ve had success with Violife too! It’s a little less perfect but still delicious.”
Another viewer said, “I used Miyokos original and it turned out divine!!”
Another viewer said, “I used Treeline cream cheese in the baked pumpkin and chocolate recipes and it worked really well.”
In UK there is a cream cheese brand found in the regular supermarket called Asda.
CLICK HERE FOR THE ORIGINAL YOUTUBE VIDEO TUTORIAL FOR HOW TO MAKE THIS RECIPE
- For the Cheesecake:
- Vegan Cream Cheese *see notes 12ounce (339g)
- Firm Tofu 4ounces (113g) * see notes
- Vegan Butter melted 2 tablespoons (28g)
- Granulated Sugar 1 cup (200g)
- Cornstarch 4 Tablespoons (32g) *see notes
- All Purpose Flour 3 Tablespoons (24g)
- Plant Milk *I use soy milk 6fl oz (177ml)
- Vegan Lactic Acid or apple cider vinegar 1 teaspoon
- Salt ¼ teaspoon
- Vanilla Extract 3 teaspoons (15ml)
- 1 Recipe Fudge Brownie
- ¼ Recipe Fudge Icing *optional
- ¼ Recipe Buttercream Icing *optional
- ¼ Recipe Ganache *optional
- For the cheesecake batter:
- Place all of the cheesecake ingredients into the work bowl of your food processor and pulse to blend to a smooth batter
- Scrape the sides of the bowl to ensure an even mix then blend again to a smooth mixture
- Pour the batter into the crust and bake in a water bath in a preheated 350°F and bake for 60 minutes
- After 60 minutes turn the oven off but leave the cheesecake in the oven with the door cracked open to cool slowly for another 60 minutes
- Remove the cheesecake & cool completely at room temperature and then refrigerate for at least 2 hours to set or overnight before un molding.
- Prepare the brownie recipe as per the instructions on that recipe post but divide the batter evenly amongst 3- 7" cake pans (greased & parchment line)
- Bake the brownies in a preheated 350°F oven for about 18 minutes or when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs not raw batter
- Cool the brownies in the pan then when you can safely tough them without burning yourself flip them out onto a parchment lined sheet pan
- of the brownie layers will become the sandwich for the cold/set cheesecake and the other layer will get chopped up into chunks for the topping.
- Prepare the ganache, buttercream & fudge icing recipes *ALL OPTIONAL RECIPES!
- As this will be the rosette decoration for the cheesecake.
- Affix the brownie layers onto the cold cheesecake after you have un molded it and use some of the fudge icing as "glue"
- Assemble the cake as shown in the video tutorial
Hi Gretchen, I noticed in your video you didn’t include any sour cream, but it is in the recipe. Which is correct?
ah good looking out! Thanks! I did not use it! (This was the original Oreo Cheesecake recipe!) Thanks!!
Could I use 2 packages of vegan cream cheese instead of one + the tofu? Or would that change the consistency?
yes that would be fine
Hi Gretchen,
Is the tofu you used super firm?
I use firm or extra firm for my cheesecakes
Is there a recipe for the white chocolate?
I don’t make my own, I buy it, but there are several recipes on the net if you just google it – it would work here
Gretchen, thank you for your amazing recipes! I have a question i have made this cheesecake 3 times now, but each time when i put the brownie cake layer on top, the cheesecake cracks. Is it because of the weight of the brownie cake layers? if i cut the brownie cake layer in half, would that help? thank you so much! Also, could i frost the cheesecake like a normal cake, or would that not work? I did make your tiramisu cheesecake completely frosted, and it was amazing! I also know that it’s probably my fault that it cracks, i absolutely love your recipes!
Hmm, interesting. I would not think that would happen because of the brownie. Are you waiting until the cheesecake is completely cold before adding the brownie?
First of all this recipe is one of my first vegan recipes for cheesecake and I have come quite a way since then!
I am happy you reminded me of this recipe though from all the way back in 2017! Because I want to update it to reflect the new & improved cheesecake base recipe! Not to mention as I read through the recipe I see wher I can be more clear & also change some things since I feel like the brownie recipe is way too much??
I think (and correct me if you feel otherwise) that we could cut that brownie recipe in HALF and get 2 thinner layers which could also solve your cracking problem if indeed it is caused by the weight of that brownie!
At any rate, no matter what flavor combinations I create nowadays for cheesecakes I ALWAYS USE THIS BASE RECIPE FOR THE BASE CHEESECAKE
I will be updating this entire recipe post now!!
Gretchen, THANK YOU so much!! I do refrigerate the cheesecake overnight, I will make the brownie layers thinner and use the new base recipe that you sent. Thank you again!!