Pumpkin Cream Cheese Brownies – Delicious chocolatey brownies with swirled pumpkin pie filling and cream cheese, both homemade and boxed recipes.Yes, I am part of the crazy obsessed, it’s fall, I need pumpkin flavor in everything, group of people. Luckily, I also use pumpkin in many savory applications. Last year I made chicken and pumpkin pizza and a chicken pumpkin curry. Yeah, you read that right, pizza and curry.
Last weekend we were in California for my beautiful cousin’s wedding. Stephanie and Mike were married on Laguna Beach. Or just above it, a mere 25 feet away on a grassy knoll. She was radiant. He looked utterly happy to be taking her as his wife. The ceremony was just beautiful, even if I do say so myself…as I wrote it and officiated it. (hehehehe)
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #DelightfulMoments #CollectiveBias
Before any trip, I try to use up all the produce in the house along with all remaining dairy, including my coffee creamers. Turns out I used up all the coffee too. We flew in late on a Monday and my daughter had school first thing the next morning.
I had originally intended to buy milk and a few other items on the way home. Alas, that did not happen. I just stopped at the local gas station mart and bought a 12 oz bottle so she could have cereal for breakfast.
As these things go, the morning was hectic. After all the rushing around I wanted some up close and personal time with my coffee maker. I proceeded to add the water, put in a filter, opened my coffee container and gasp, the horror….NO COFFEE.
I did have some instant that I use for travel purposes and some instant espresso for baking. I was saved for at least a few hours until I could get to the store. After I found a stopping point in my morning work routine, I took off to Walmart where I spied International Delight Pumpkin Pie Spice Creamer in the refrigerated bins.
Now that it is officially the holiday season (Happy HallowThanksChristmakauhNewYear), I will rotate between the Pumpkin Pie Spice, a creamy swirl of season spice flavors inspired by pumpkin pie and the Peppermint Mocha, a rich taste of chocolate meets festive peppermint flavor.
How to Use Flavored Coffee Creamer in Recipes
I try to plan out my blogging/cooking schedule in advance. A few weeks ago I wrote a recipe for brownies with pumpkin and cream cheese swirled in, making an odd blend of brownie, pumpkin pie, and cheesecake.
Once I had the coffee creamer, the mad scientist in me got to thinking and an adaptation of my recipe was born. Why not use the Pumpkin Pie Spice creamer in both the brownie and to sweeten and flavor canned pumpkin…yes, you can clap now, I’ll pause to let you.
Pumpkin Cream Cheese Brownies
Thank you. Thank you very much. Pumpkin Cream Cheese Brownies were born!
Since I was on a roll, I decided I wanted to see how the creamer would work with both a homemade brownie recipe and a boxed mix.
When I bake cakes and cookies, I bake from scratch-which we all know is a rare occurrence anyway. But there is something quite delicious about a boxed brownie mix. Plus, I can whip up a batch and have it in the oven in about 3.5 minutes. No judgement. The boxed mix I had on hand was dark chocolate, but if you’re going to make the boxed mix version of this, any will do, it all just depends on how you like your chocolate.
Homemade vs. Boxed Brownies
The consistency between the two Pumpkin Cream Cheese Brownies were different. The homemade version was cake-ier and the box was chewier, despite following the direction for cake-like brownies and adding 3 eggs. The homemade were a ‘regular’ chocolate taste, since I just used cocoa powder.
The box Pumpkin Cream Cheese Brownies, well those were dark chocolate, so they were richer. I can’t decide which I like more. It’s like asking a mother to pick what child she likes best. (Luckily, for me, I just have one child so that choice is always easy.)
From Scratch Version
Boxed Mix Version

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Brownies
Delicious chocolatey brownies with swirled pumpkin pie filling and cream cheese, both homemade and boxed recipes
Ingredients
From Scratch
- 3/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 3/4 cup melted butter
- 1/2 cup warmed to hot International Delight Pumpkin Pie Spice Coffee Creamer
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 cups flour
Box mix
- 1-18.4 oz box brownie mix
- 3 eggs
- 1/4-1/2 cup oil (depending on package directions)
- 1/4-1/2 cup International Delight Pumpkin Pie Spice Coffee Creamer (replacing the required water amount, depending on package directions)
Pumpkin (for both versions)
- 1/2 cup canned pumpkin (non-sweetened
- 1/2 cup International Delight Pumpkin Pie Spice Coffee Creamer
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
Cream Cheese (for both versions)
- 4 oz cream cheese (softened)
- 1/3 cup powdered sugar
- 1.5-2 tbsp HOT/Boiling water (depending on desired consistency)
Instructions
Cream Cheese
-
Place softened cream cheese in a bowl and begin to mix on low speed.
-
Slowly incorporate the powdered sugar.
-
After half the sugar has been mixed in, add about 1/2-1 a tablespoon of the water.
-
Continue adding the powdered sugar until it is completed mixed in.
-
Slowly add the remainder of the water until the cream cheese has reached the personally desired consistency. Set aside.
Pumpkin
-
Mix the pumpkin, coffee creamer, nutmeg, and cinnamon in a bowl until combined; set aside.
Box Mix
-
Add the mix to a large bowl.
-
Stir in the coffee creamer, eggs, and oil until mixed.
-
Pour into a greased 13x9 pan.
-
Bake in a pre-heated 350° for at least 28 minutes, but up to 35. Insert a toothpick to gauge done-ness.
From Scratch
-
In a large bowl, sift the cocoa and baking soda together, using either a sifter or a fork.
-
Stir in 1/2 cup of the melted butter, hot coffee creamer and stir until combined.
-
Add in the remaining butter, eggs, vanilla, and sugar and mix until combined.
-
Sift the flour and salt together, using either a sifter or a fork.
-
Slowly stir in the mixture to the liquid batter, using 1/4 cup at a time.
-
Once all the flour has been incorporated, pour into a greased 9x13 pan.
Assembly (both versions)
-
Once the batter is in the greased pan:
-
Ladle spoonfuls of pumpkin on top of the brownie batter.
-
Ladle spoonfuls of cream cheese in the holes between brownie batter and pumpkin.
-
Using a butter knife, swirl or mix up the brownie, cream cheese, and pumpkin. Feel free to make a design, letting your artistic flag fly or just mix it up.
-
Bake in a pre-heated 350° oven for at least 28 minutes, but up to 35. Insert a toothpick to gauge done-ness.
-
Allow to cool for at least 5 minutes before cutting-if you have the restraint.
41 Comments
Cate | Chez CateyLou
September 9, 2015 at 2:04 pmI am definitely in the all the pumpkin things camp – I’m obsessed. And I love it with chocolate, so these brownies are making me drool!!
Michelle
September 9, 2015 at 3:56 pmThank you Cate, have to have a fellow camper.
Darla
September 9, 2015 at 2:39 pmI can’t wait to make these!! Wow!
Michelle
September 9, 2015 at 3:56 pmYou will enjoy them.
Kristen @ A Mind Full Mom
September 9, 2015 at 3:01 pmChocolate and pumpkin–I am in heaven!!
Michelle
September 9, 2015 at 3:57 pmExcellent to hear, Kristen.
Beth
September 9, 2015 at 3:54 pmYou have tons of creative ideas – pumpkin and chicken pizza?! Wowza! These pumpkin cream cheese brownies are definitely something we’d like 🙂
Michelle
September 9, 2015 at 3:57 pmThank you Beth, the pizza was wonderful too.
Maria
September 9, 2015 at 6:50 pmJust looking at these I can tell they have the perfect texture! Can’t wait to try them!
Michelle
September 9, 2015 at 10:36 pmThank you Maria, they are quite delicious.
gerryspeirs
September 9, 2015 at 7:27 pmSo glad to see fall treats coming in 🙂
Michelle
September 9, 2015 at 10:37 pmOh me too.
Sheena @ Tea and Biscuits
September 9, 2015 at 7:31 pmOoooh, pumpkins and chocolate all in one brownie, count me in!
Michelle
September 9, 2015 at 10:37 pmI know exactly how you feel.
Mariah @ Mariah's Pleasing Plates
September 9, 2015 at 10:10 pmAw glad you had fun in California Michelle. We live not too far from Laguna Beach and that is actually where I got married too! Such a gorgeous place.
Speaking of gorgeous, I want a dozen of these brownies! So much yummy goodness, I am crazy for pumpkin. Aren’t we all? 😉
Michelle
September 9, 2015 at 10:39 pmEvery time I go home to California, I question why I ever left. Glad you like the brownies, thank you. 🙂
Michelle@healthiersteps
September 9, 2015 at 10:39 pmLove pumpkin, I can tell this recipe is to die for!
Michelle
September 10, 2015 at 10:33 amIf you eat enough of it you surely well…chocolate overload. 😉
Denise Wright
September 10, 2015 at 5:00 amThis sound fantastic! I never used to use creamer but there are so many good ones to pick from and now you can even use them in recipes. Great idea!
Michelle
September 10, 2015 at 10:33 amThey are fun to work with.
Marye
September 10, 2015 at 5:42 amThese brownies sound so good!I would love to try them!
Michelle
September 10, 2015 at 10:34 amTrade you some of your delicious goodies?
Judy@ImBoredLetsGo
September 10, 2015 at 5:49 amI’m a bigger fan of savory pumpkin rather than sweet but pair it with chocolate like this, I could be easily persuaded to dig in! Box mix all the way for me!
Michelle
September 10, 2015 at 10:34 amYay! A savory pumpkin fan.
Manila Spoon
September 10, 2015 at 9:19 amLooks like a wonderful wedding, Michelle! I love your pumpkin swirled brownies – love the fall flavors in it and it certainly looks scrumptious!
Michelle
September 10, 2015 at 10:34 amThank you, that’s high praise coming from you Abby.
Cathy Pollak ~ Noble Pig
September 10, 2015 at 9:39 amThrows my head back…..delicious!
Michelle
September 10, 2015 at 10:34 amLOL, thank you so much Cathy.
Michelle at A Dish of Daily Life
September 10, 2015 at 9:56 amWhat a beautiful wedding picture!
And as for your brownies, I could go for a couple of them right now! They look amazing! And brownies are one of my favorite desserts!
Michelle
September 10, 2015 at 10:35 amThank you Michelle. I’m happy to send some over.
lizzy
September 10, 2015 at 1:17 pmyou had me at pumpkin!! Literally, anytime I see something with pumpkin in it I have to buy it, my mouth literally waters. This recipe looks so freaking yummy, can’t wait to try it!
jamie
September 10, 2015 at 4:27 pmThese look amazing!
Sabrina @ Dinner, then Dessert
September 11, 2015 at 12:40 amMy husband loves brownies and he loves pumpkin! I’ll have to surprise him with these!
Michelle
September 13, 2015 at 9:21 amWonderful, hope he loves them.
Sandi (@sandigtweets)
September 12, 2015 at 10:30 pmI love that you are baking more!! These look so moist and delicious!
Michelle
September 13, 2015 at 9:23 amI have a couple more recipes in mind too….for baking
Jennifer Stewart
September 13, 2015 at 12:56 pmI haven’t delved into all things pumpkin yet but I love the idea of using pumpkin creamer as an additive to a recipe! What a great shortcut and one that I will usually have one hand this time of year! Thanks so much!
Michelle
September 14, 2015 at 8:52 pmThank you Jennifer.
Michaela - An Affair from the Heart
September 14, 2015 at 7:24 pmWhat a fantastic recipe!! I have that creamer in my fridge right now! 🙂
Michelle
September 14, 2015 at 8:54 pmHow fortuitous. 🙂
Dark Chocolate Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies - The Complete Savorist
December 14, 2018 at 6:20 pm[…] Pumpkin Cream Cheese Brownies […]