These cheesecake brownies are so super moist, fudgy and chocolatey that you'd barely believe that they are egg-free, dairy-free, and gluten-free! In fact, they are 100% vegan, but super decadent and easy to make!
3-4tbsplemon juiceor lime juice for the cheesecake taste
Instructions
To make the flax eggs (or chia eggs), put 2 tbsp ground flax seeds (or chia seeds) into a small bowl, add 5 tbsp water and mix with a whisk. Set aside for 5 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 360°F (180°C) and line a 7x7 inch or 8x8 inch baking pan with parchment paper.
Add all ingredients for the chocolate layer into a big bowl and mix well with an electric hand mixer until combined.
For the cheesecake layer: Blend all ingredients in a high-speed blender or food processor until completely smooth and creamy. An immersion blender should work fine too.
Use 2 different tablespoons to dollop the brownie batter and the cheesecake batter into the pan.
Bake in the oven for about 30-45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out almost clean (not wet but not dry either). So test the center after 30 minutes, then after 35 minutes, etc. Do NOT over-bake the brownies! I have a gas oven and it took about 40 minutes until they turned out perfect. But they might be done after only 35 minutes or even less with a different oven (or different sized pan). So pay close attention.
Let cool completely before you cut it into bars. The brownies taste best on the second day, so don't eat them all on the first day. Enjoy!
Notes
Flour: Rice flour can be replaced with all-purpose flour or whole wheat flour if you aren't gluten-free. For a different gluten-free option, you could try sorghum flour (but I haven't tried it myself).
Flax seeds: You can use ground chia seeds instead of flax seeds.
Milk: Any plant-based milk like almond milk, oat milk, coconut milk, etc. is fine.
Tofu: Please use firm silken tofu or soft regular tofu (I prefer silken tofu).
Soy-free version: You can use almond-based cream cheese (e.g. from Kite Hill) instead of silken tofu if you cannot eat soy products. I would leave out the oil/vegan butter if you use vegan cream cheese. Don't omit the cornstarch, though!
Please note that the cheesecake layer isn't very sweet. If you prefer it sweeter, simply add more sugar. I would suggest tasting the batter before you spoon it into the baking pan. :)
Nutrition facts are for one (out of 9) brownies.
Nutrition Facts
Cheesecake Brownies
Amount per Serving
Calories
256
% Daily Value*
Fat
10.9
g
17
%
Carbohydrates
33
g
11
%
Fiber
3
g
12
%
Protein
6.5
g
13
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.