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Fudgy One-Bowl Zucchini Brownies with Cream Cheese Swirl

Fudgy One-Bowl Zucchini Brownies - featured image
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These fudgy brownies combine the moistness of fresh zucchini with a tangy cream cheese swirl, creating a rich and comforting dessert that’s easy to make in one bowl.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
  • ½ cup (115g) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 cup (125g) all-purpose flour
  • ⅓ cup (35g) unsweetened cocoa powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (120g) grated zucchini, squeezed dry
  • 4 ounces (115g) cream cheese, softened
  • ¼ cup (30g) powdered sugar
  • 1 tablespoon milk (dairy or plant-based)
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Prep the zucchini: Wash and trim about 1 medium zucchini. Shred finely using a box grater or food processor. Place shredded zucchini in a clean kitchen towel or cheesecloth and squeeze out as much moisture as possible, aiming for about ½ cup of drained zucchini. (5 minutes)
  2. Make the brownie batter: In a mixing bowl, combine 1 cup granulated sugar and melted ½ cup unsalted butter. Stir until smooth and glossy. Add 2 large eggs and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, mixing thoroughly. (3 minutes)
  3. Combine dry ingredients: In a separate bowl or sift directly into the main bowl, whisk together 1 cup all-purpose flour, ⅓ cup cocoa powder, ½ teaspoon baking powder, and ¼ teaspoon salt. Gradually add dry mix to wet ingredients, stirring gently until just combined. Avoid overmixing. (3-4 minutes)
  4. Fold in zucchini: Gently fold in the drained shredded zucchini until blended. (1-2 minutes)
  5. Prepare the cream cheese swirl: In a small bowl, beat 4 ounces softened cream cheese with ¼ cup powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon milk, and ½ teaspoon vanilla extract until smooth and creamy. (5 minutes)
  6. Assemble in the pan: Pour brownie batter into a prepared 8×8-inch baking pan, smoothing the top. Drop spoonfuls of cream cheese mixture evenly over the batter. Using a knife or skewer, swirl the cream cheese into the batter with gentle figure-eight motions to create ribbons. (3 minutes)
  7. Bake: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake for 30–35 minutes. Check at 30 minutes with a toothpick; it should come out with moist crumbs but no wet batter. (30-35 minutes)
  8. Cool and enjoy: Let brownies cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before slicing to set the fudgy texture. (20-30 minutes)

Notes

Drain zucchini thoroughly to avoid soggy brownies. Do not overmix batter after adding flour to keep brownies fudgy. Chill cream cheese swirl mixture before swirling if it tends to sink. Fresh zucchini is preferred but frozen (thawed and drained) works. Variations include adding nuts, chocolate chips, or spices to the swirl.

Nutrition

Keywords: zucchini brownies, fudgy brownies, cream cheese swirl, one-bowl dessert, easy brownies, healthy brownies, chocolate zucchini dessert

Find it online: https://tastypierecipes.com/fudgy-one-bowl-zucchini-brownies-with-cream-cheese-swirl-easy-recipe/