Description
Delight in these luscious Lemon Cream Cheese Brownies that perfectly blend a rich, creamy texture with a tangy citrus twist. Soft and moist brownies with a tangy lemon icing make a refreshing dessert that’s easy to prepare and sure to please any crowd.
Ingredients
Scale
Brownie Batter
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 stick (1/2 cup) softened salted butter
- 3/4 cup cream cheese, softened
- 2 eggs
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 3-4 drops yellow food coloring
Lemon Icing
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2-3 tablespoons lemon juice
- Optional: yellow sprinkles for decoration
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius) to ensure it reaches the perfect temperature for baking your brownies evenly.
- Prepare Pan: Line an 8×8 inch baking pan with parchment paper and lightly grease the sides with non-stick cooking spray to prevent the brownies from sticking and for easy removal.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a mixing bowl, combine the sugar and all-purpose flour thoroughly to evenly distribute the sugar throughout the flour base.
- Add Fat and Cream Cheese: Add the softened butter and cream cheese to the dry mixture. Beat the mixture until it becomes creamy and smooth, ensuring no lumps remain for a rich texture.
- Incorporate Wet Ingredients: Beat in the eggs, lemon juice, and yellow food coloring into the creamy mixture, stirring until the batter is uniform in color and well combined.
- Pour and Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan, spreading it evenly. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool Brownies: Remove the brownies from the oven and allow them to cool in the pan for about 30 minutes to set properly before adding icing.
- Prepare Icing: While brownies cool, mix powdered sugar with lemon juice until the icing is smooth and pourable.
- Ice Brownies: Pour the lemon icing evenly over the cooled brownies, spreading it with a spatula for a smooth finish. Optionally, sprinkle yellow sprinkles on top for a decorative touch.
- Serve: Slice into 9 squares and serve these tangy, creamy Lemon Cream Cheese Brownies to enjoy their perfect balance of sweet and tart flavors.
Notes
- Ensure cream cheese and butter are softened to room temperature for easier mixing and smooth batter.
- Use fresh lemon juice to enhance the natural citrus flavor in both the batter and icing.
- If you prefer a more intense lemon flavor, you can add a teaspoon of lemon zest into the batter.
- To store, keep brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerated for up to 5 days.
- For a dairy-free version, substitute cream cheese and butter with vegan alternatives.
