Dark, decadent and delicious these black velvet cheesecake swirl brownies with stout caramel sauce are not to be missed. If you’re expecting guests any time soon, switch the oven on.
As regular readers will know, I can’t resist a brownie. I have many recipes for them on the blog, but there are still so many to try. These black velvet cheesecake swirl brownies with stout caramel sauce were the happy result of two events fortuitously coinciding. It was a no brainer; I had to make them. The third event, is of course We Should Cocoa, the blogger’s monthly, “we need chocolate”.
Real Ale
It’s rare for me to get my hands on a Waitrose Magazine, so on the odd occasions I do, it’s a real treat. I managed to get a copy of the February edition last month and there, screaming at me, was a recipe for black velvet brownies. They had my name written all over them.
At the very same time CT’s nephew turned up with some bottles of hand-crafted ale – unfiltered and unpasturised. He’s in the lucky position of being head brewer at Gloucester Brewery – a fine job if you like good beer.
Black Velvet Cheesecake Swirl Brownies
The recipe required stout, a rather unusual ingredient for brownies that intrigued me. It turned out that one of the ales, Dockside Dark, was a stout-like beer that had notes of coffee and chocolate with a subtle sweetness.
I’m not much of a beer drinker, but I did try a mouthful and it was rather good. Perfect, as it turned out, for these black velvet cheesecake swirl brownies. It also made a mighty fine stout caramel sauce, which has to be tasted to be properly appreciated.
The brownies were sublime. I changed the recipe, as I always do and used a few different ingredients. Like most brownies, they are very sweet, but the stout ameliorated the sweetness to some extent. The creamy cheesecake swirl made a great foil to the robust earthiness of the stout.
I wasn’t going to make the caramel sauce to begin with, but on second thoughts it seemed a good way to use up the remaining stout. I’m so glad I did as not only was the stout caramel sauce delicious in its own right, but it adds an extra and welcome dimension to the brownies. It tastes deep and rich with bitter tones, but also nutty notes which I wasn’t expecting.
These black velvet cheesecake swirl brownies with stout caramel sauce are truly decadent. They are rich and dark with plenty of chocolate. It turned out, stout wasn’t the only unusual ingredient as I included rye flour too.
They’d make a fantastic afternoon tea treat or dessert for a dinner party, especially served slightly warm with hot sauce. The day after baking, the brownies had reached their peak, displaying a fudgy consistency which was quite irresistible.
Other Brownie Recipes You Might Like
- Caramel Kiss brownies via Foodie Quine
- Carob, molasses & tahini chocolate brownies via Kavey Eats
- Cashew nut butter brownies (award winning) via Tin and Thyme
- Cornish salted caramel brownies via Tin and Thyme
- Fat Elvis brownies stuffed with banana, pretzels & peanut butter via Supper in the Suburbs
- Flourless chocolate hazelnut brownie cake via Family Friends Food
- Healthy chocolate brownies (vegan) via Planet Veggie
- Macadamia nut brownies via Tin and Thyme
- Marmite caramel brownies via Tin and Thyme
- One pot peanut butter brownies via United Cakedom
- Oreo brownies via Fab Food 4 All
- Peanut M&M brownies (gluten free) via Emily’s Recipes and Reviews
- Prune and chocolate fudge brownies (vegan) via Tinned Tomatoes
- Raspberry fudge brownies via Tin and Thyme
Black Velvet Cheesecake Swirl Brownies. PIN IT.
Keep in Touch
Thanks for visiting Tin and Thyme. If you make these decadent brownies, with or without the stout caramel sauce, I’d love to hear about it in the comments below. And do please rate the recipe. Have you any top tips? Do share photos on social media too and use the hashtag #tinandthyme, so I can spot them.
If you’d like more cheesecake recipes, follow the link and you’ll find I have quite a lot of them. All delicious, of course.
Choclette x
Black Velvet Cheesecake Swirl Brownies – The Recipe
Black Velvet Cheesecake Swirl Brownies with Stout Caramel Sauce
Ingredients
Black Velvet Brownies
- 125 ml stout I used Dockside Dark from Gloucester Brewery
- 200 g 70% dark chocolate
- 100 g unsalted butter
- 75 g molasses sugar
- 100 g vanilla sugar or golden caster sugar
- 3 free range eggs
- 80 g wholemeal spelt flour
- 50 g rye flour
- 25 g cocoa powder
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
Cheesecake Swirl
- 180 g full fat cream cheese
- 50 g crème fraîche
- 100 g vanilla sugar or golden caster sugar and ½ tsp vanilla bean paste
- 1 egg
Stout Caramel Sauce
- 100 ml stout
- 75 g molasses sugar
- 100 g golden granulated sugar
- 50 g dark chocolate
- 150 ml double cream (heavy cream)
- 1 pinch sea salt flakes
Instructions
Black Velvet Brownies
- Place the stout, chocolate and butter in a large pan over a low heat . Stir until everything is melted.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the sugar until dissolved.
- Beat in the eggs one by one, then sift in the flours, cocoa and baking powder and stir until just combined.
- Grease or line a 23 cm (9″) sq. cake tin. I use a silicone mould, so I don’t need to line it.
- Pour half of the batter into the tin.
Cheesecake Swirl
- Beat everything together until just combined.
- Spoon half of the mixture over the brownie batter. Spoon the remaining brownie batter over the cheesecake and then spoon over the remaining cheesecake.
- Using a knife, swirl the mixture a few times to create a marble effect.
- Bake in a pre-heated oven at 180℃ (350℉, Gas 4) for 30 minutes or until the top is just firm.
- Place the tin on a wire rack and leave to cool completely.
- Cut the bake into 12-16 pieces and serve with some of the stout caramel sauce.
Stout Caramel Sauce
- Pour the stout into a pan and place over a medium heat. Add the sugars and stir until dissolved.
- Bring to the boil and leave until the mixture has reduced by about half.
- Stir in the chocolate, cream and salt and simmer for another minute or so.
- Serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
Nutrition Estimate
Linkies
These black velvet cheesecake swirl brownies with stout caramel sauce are my entry to this month’s #WeShouldCocoa. There is a lot of dark chocolate in the brownies and some in the sauce too.
Lou | Crumbs and Corkscrews says
These look utterly amazing! I’ve never made a cheesecake brownie before, but it sounds like its a perfect combination. Add in the Stout Caramel and I think I’d be in dessert bliss!
Choclette says
Lou, you absolutely need to make cheesecake brownies. With or without the stout caramel sauce, they are delicious. I think I’ve got two other recipes on here.
POPPY says
That sauce sounds incredible! I’ve never seen a stout caramel sauce before, I’ll have to try a vegan version 🙂
Choclette says
Yes, I had to try it as soon as I saw it. I’m sure you’ll come up with a good vegan version. It works particularly well with these brownies.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
O sounds like a wonderful decadent treat!
Choclette says
It’s completely over the top decadent, but that makes it even more enjoyable 🙂
Dom says
oh they looks superb… it’s been such a while since either of us have baked brownies and these are such a good place to kick off from… love how complex in flavour they look and how pretty the swirls are… nice work my friend!
Choclette says
Aw thanks Dom. It’s good to remember my roots from time to time and bake up a batch of brownies 🙂
Gingey Bites says
These do look amazing, I wish I was better at baking but for now I’ll drool over your blog posts!
Choclette says
Thanks. If you’re not a confident baker, brownies are an excellent place to start. They really are quite simple to put together.
Sisley White says
Stout and chocolate is a beautiful taste collaboration. I can’t wait to make this. I need these so much right now
Choclette says
Stout does make for a particularly dark and brooding adult brownie 😉
Johanna @ Green Gourmet Giraffe says
looks delicious – just the sort of brownies I wish I was making but also feel I should not make 🙂
Choclette says
Hahaha, I know exactly what you mean. My willpower isn’t great when it comes to brownies. Best made for a party really.
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
Cheesecake and brownies.. two most divine desserts in one. Heavenly!
Choclette says
So very naughty Angie, but so very good 😀
Elinor Hill aka Beach Hut Cook says
I’ve always wondered what the taste of stout is like with chocolate with three men in my house this would be perfect!
Choclette says
The tasting notes on the bottle of this one say coffee and chocolate, so I reckoned it had to be a good match AND it was 🙂
Jacqueline Meldrum says
Those look wonderful Choclette. I’ve made cheesecake brownies before and they were really good. I love that you elevate yours to luxurious dessert with the caramel sauce.
Choclette says
Thanks Jac. I’ve made cheesecake brownies before and they are good, but these stout ones definitely take them up a notch.
Emma @ Supper in the Suburbs says
These sound EPIC! My OH is a big beer fan. I think his dream job would be head brewer but alas he works for the council instead! I should make him a batch of these 🙂
Choclette says
Well yes, working for the council doesn’t sound quite as romantic, but the silver lining is, it’s probably better paid. It sounds like you absolutely have to make him a batch and don’t forget the sauce.
Kavey says
I really love stout or porter beers in chocolate recipes, Pete has baked some tasty treats. These look superb, love that drizzled sauce on top.
Choclette says
The sauce is so much nicer than I thought it would be Kavey. The stout definitely took everything to a new level.