Pumpkin brownies are a great, low fat dessert for all ages. They are cute and taste great with a glass of milk.
These pumpkin brownies boast hidden veggies - yes a little pumpkin purée makes them a little healthier than regular brownies. Plus, they're easy to make, and simply delicious.

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Fall Family Baking Recipes
This is a healthy dessert for the family that everyone is sure to love! With just a handful of ingredients and about an hour, you’re all set to enjoy this healthier twist on your favorite brownie recipe.

These treats are fudgy and fulfilling and perfect for halloween parties.
Here's how to make them.
Ingredients for Swirl Top Brownies
Here's a quick list of what you'll need. Check out the recipe card at the end of this post for exact quantities of each ingredient, plus you'll also find the nutritional information and calories per serving.
Equipment
Ingredient List
- cream cheese softened to room temperature
- sugar
- egg yolks
- egg whites
- apple butter
- brown sugar
- vanilla extract
- flour
- ground cinnamon
- pumpkin pie spice
- pumpkin purée (homemade or store bought)

These brownies are not very chocolatey since they do not contain any chocolate chips or cocoa powder. They are more like a pumpkin blondie than a brownie.
If you prefer a more rich, chocolate flavor substitute one quarter cup of flour with one quarter cup of cocoa powder. You can also melt about a quarter cup of chocolate chips and add them to the apple butter and egg white mixture once it has been combined.
You can use homemade pumpkin puree or a store bought can of pumpkin for this recipe.
Other variations include adding a pinch of nutmeg or ground cloves. Chopped walnuts can be mixed through the batter to add some texture. You could use a chocolate brownie box mix and add the cream cheese topping for a super simple marbled brownie.
Directions for Making Homemade Pumpkin Brownies
Here you'll find step-by-step photographic instructions for these delicious fall brownies. You can choose to print the recipe card below with or without instructional photos.
First prepare the baking pan. You will need an 8-inch square baking pan, which you can grease with melted butter or vegetable oil. Dust the greased pan with flour to help prevent sticking.
You can also use a flour infused cooking spray to prepare the pan. However, I prefer to line the pan with parchment paper.
Next, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit or 180 degrees Celsius.

Prepare the cream cheese topping for swirling through the brownie batter first.
Blend the cream cheese, egg yolks, and sugar in a small mixing bowl. The mixture should be soft and creamy.

In large mixing bowl prepare the wet ingredients. Combine apple butter, brown sugar, egg whites, and vanilla. Mix together with a balloon whisk or large spoon until combined.
In a separate bowl prepare the dry ingredients. Combine the cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and flour and stir together.

Add the dry ingredients to to the brown sugar mixture in the large mixing bowl. Next, add the pumpkin purée. Mix everything together until the batter is well blended.
Pour the batter into your prepared baking pan.
Next create the swirled marble topping. Add the cream cheese mixture to the top of the brownie batter. Use a butter knife to swirl the white batter into the pumpkin batter.

Don't over mix the batters. You're looking for a marbled effect.
Bake at 350 deggrees F for 50 min or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Let the pumpkin brownies cool in the baking dish before you try to lift them out of the baking pan.
When you use parchment paper to line the baking dish it's much easier to lift the brownies out.
Recipe Card for Pumpkin Brownies
Here's the printable recipe card for your kitchen files.
Swirl Top Pumpkin Brownies
Ingredients
- 4 ounces cream cheese softened to room temperature
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 3 large egg yolks
- 3 large egg whites
- ½ cup apple butter
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1¼ cups flour
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 15 ounces pumpkin purée 1 can
Instructions
- Prepare the baking pan by either greasing it with butter and dusting it with flour, or line it with parchment paper. Pre-heat the oven to 350° F.
- Blend the cream cheese, egg yolks, and sugar until creamy in a small mixing bowl. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl combine apple butter, brown sugar, egg whites, and vanilla. Mix together until fully combined.
- In a separate bowl combine the cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and flour and stir together. Add the flour mixture to the brown sugar mixture, together with the canned pumpkin. Mix everything together until the mixture is well blended.
- Pour the batter into your prepared baking dish then top with the cream cheese mixture. Use a butter knife to swirl the cream cheese mixture into the pumpkin batter. Do not mix the batters together completely since a marbling effect is desired.
- Bake at 350° F for 50 min or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Let the baked pumpkin brownies partially cool in the baking dish before removing to a wire rack to cool completely. Slice into squares to serve.
Nutrition Information is estimated based on the ingredients and cooking instructions as described in each recipe and is intended to be used for informational purposes only. Please note that nutrition details may vary based on methods of preparation, origin and freshness of ingredients used.
I hope you enjoy this fall dessert. Here are a few more fall recipes from my collection.
Halloween Chocolate Pumpkin Cupcakes
Scarecrow Cheese Appetizer For Fall
Baileys Irish Cream Pumpkin Cheesecake
How To Make Apple Chutney Irish Style
Broomstick Witch Snacks For Halloween

Slán agus beannacht,
(Goodbye and blessings)
Mairéad -Irish American Mom
Pronunciation - slawn ah-gus ban-ock-th
Mairéad - rhymes with parade
Halloween Recipes
- Easy Bat Donut Holes Recipe For Kids
- Stacked Sugar Witch Cookies With Video Tutorial For Halloween
- Halloween Chocolate Pumpkin Cupcakes
- Witch's Broomstick Snacks: Easy And Delicious
Holidays
- Cardboard Tube Paper Plate Christmas Wreath
- Homemade Knotted Bow Cinnamon Stick Christmas Tree
- Irish Holidays You Should Know About
- Old Fashioned Easter Biscuits
Molly
Thanks for another great recipe. I really like the idea of the cream cheese marbling for these brownies.
Irish American Mom
Hi Molly - So glad you like this recipe. The cheesecake marbling creates a wonderful complimentary flavor layer to enhance these pumpkin brownies. Thanks for stopping by to check out my recipe.
All the best,
Mairéad