Greek Yogurt Swirl Salted Fudge Brownies
It is confession time: I don’t really like yogurt. You might know already that I don’t like ranch dressing. It might be something with white condiments because you know what else I don’t really like? Mayonnaise, sour cream, cottage cheese, bleu cheese and cream cheese. See what I mean?
Something else you might have noticed? Greek yogurt has become an obsession here at Bake Your Day. But wait, I don’t like yogurt. Well, I have found out that is not all that true. It’s the perfect sub for mayonnaise, sour cream cottage cheese and ranch dressing. Yogurt has turned into my favorite cooking and baking ingredient. It’s perfectly creamy, it’s healthy and it has seriously become my go-to. And speaking of go-to’s…Have you tried Food & Wine’s Salted Fudge Brownies recipe? Holy cow, if you haven’t, you are missing o.u.t.
They are the most perfectly chewy, gooey brownies and are finished off with a hint of sea salt – sweet & salty perfection! And I have been craving them lately. And my fridge is stocked with Greek yogurt. So naturally, it made sense to test it out as a sub for cream cheese in these salted fudge brownies since I have been putting it in everything else that I make. It’s perfect. The tangy flavor of the yogurt really does resemble cream cheese and it baked up perfectly. I can only imagine where this obsession will go from here.
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Greek Yogurt Swirl Salted Fudge Brownies Recipe
Yield: 16 squares
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 3 hours (includes cooling time)
Simple but decadent salted fudge brownies with a sweet and tangy Greek yogurt swirl.
Ingredients:
3/4 cup (1 1/2 stick) unsalted butter
2 ounces dark chocolate (72%), chopped
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons Dutch-process cocoa powder
2 cups granulated sugar
3 large eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon Maldon sea salt
1 cup non-fat Greek yogurt (plain, vanilla or honey flavored)
1 tsp. honey
1 tsp. vanilla extractDirections:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a 9-inch square baking pan with aluminum foil. Spray the foil with non-stick cooking spray.
Melt the butter and dark chocolate in a large sauce pot over low heat, stirring occasionally. Once melted and combined, turn the heat off and whisk in the cocoa until fully combined, followed by the sugar, eggs, vanilla and the flour, stirring each very well before adding the next. Pour into the prepared pan in an even layer. Sprinkle the sea salt over the top and set aside.
Mix the Greek yogurt, honey and vanilla extract in a small bowl. Spoon the Greek yogurt mixture onto the top of the brownie batter every couple of inches. Using a butter knife, swirl the sea salt and Greek yogurt into the brownie batter.
Bake in the preheated oven for 45-50 minutes until the edges are set – the center will still be a little underdone. Remove from the oven and cool at room temperature for 1 hour. Then transfer to the fridge for an hour until the brownies are set.
Cassie's Notes:
If you don't have Greek yogurt, you could exchange the yogurt for cream cheese.Brownie recipe from Food & Wine
What a fantastic idea! I sub Greek yogurt for mayonnaise all the time but I’ve never thought of swirling it in brownies instead of cream cheese! Pinning and trying very soon 🙂
This looks delish!! Great idea to swap out Greek Yogurt!! PS: My husband hates sour cream too. 😉
Cassie, I don’t like ranch dressing either! Eww. I can’t even smell it! I feel like an outcast sometimes. I’m glad you’re with me! I do love yogurt though and these brownies CAUGHT MY eye. What an amazing, BEAUTIFUL swirl! It’s truly perfect looking. They look so fudgy and gooey and the sea salt is the PERFECT added touch. I’m sending this recipe to my sister- she is going to die! 🙂
Cassie replied: — October 13th, 2012 @ 1:13 pm
Yes! My hubs’ family thinks I’m crazy because I don’t like ranch or any other kind of white condiment, they love them all! Thanks, Sally!
I HATE yogurt! Promise you can’t taste it??? 😉
Cassie replied: — October 13th, 2012 @ 1:12 pm
You really can’t – there is a bit of a tang, but it’s extremely close to what you would get if you made cream cheese swirl brownies.
These are so fun! Does the yogurt set up or stay pretty soft? My husband is not a fan of any white condiments either–so funny!
Cassie replied: — October 13th, 2012 @ 1:11 pm
It actually does set up pretty well. The brownies themselves are very gooey but the Greek yogurt stands up to it when baked. I was actually surprised!
bahahahah we are twins. I said the same thing in my post yesterday!! these look amazing!!!
Cassie replied: — October 13th, 2012 @ 1:11 pm
love it!
I hate ranch! And mayo! And bleu cheese! Clearly we are speaking the same language. 🙂
Cassie replied: — October 13th, 2012 @ 1:10 pm
Haha! I found out via this post that a lot of my friends share my sentiments with white condiments…but almost everyone loves cooking and baking with greek yogurt!
I love both yogurt and brownies. I feel like these are especially just for me!
Swoon!! These sound fantastic! I am for sure trying these!!
Ah! What a clever idea! You are a genius. I love greek yogurt and typically use it in place of sour cream, but I wouldn’t have thought to substitute cream cheese with it. Makes sense!
Cassie replied: — October 13th, 2012 @ 1:09 pm
Thanks so much Bailey! Hope to see you at a KC blogger meetup soon!
These look amazing! I love that you used Greek yogurt!
Yup… it’s official. I just died. 😉
These look incredible! I love Greek yogurt. 😀
Fantastic! I could live on these…
These are so genius! Now I just need an excuse to bake brownies.
Yeah buddy! I’m going to need this entire pan. These look fan-freaking-tastic!
Oh my goodness. You went there didn’t you. We really need to be neighbors…
Cassie replied: — October 13th, 2012 @ 1:08 pm
Yes, yes and yes!
Saw you on Huffington Post & thought I’d stop by … Great Blog 🙂
Cassie replied: — October 13th, 2012 @ 1:08 pm
Hi CJ, thank you so much for stopping, hope you come back!
These sound wonderful Cassie! Greek yogurt is such a great substitution for so many things. I’m glad to know that it can even be used as a cream cheese swirl now!
This is brilliant Cassie!! I love cream cheese, but Greek yogurt sounds much healthier 🙂
I don’t ever just sit down to eat…yogurt. But in baking, there is nothing better (okay cream cheese and sour cream are pretty darn fabulous too) but the moisture, the slight tang, the softness, just everything good comes from using it. I am such a fan. And these brownies – such a fan too! And that you made the swirls with yogurt rather than cream cheese. Great thinking!
Cassie replied: — October 13th, 2012 @ 1:08 pm
Yes! It’s a great alternative, at least!
I sub Greek yogurt in everywhere! I love this idea, I bet they taste fabulous.
YES! I want this brilliant tray of brownies in front of my face ASAP! Gorgeous job, Cassie.
Cassie replied: — October 13th, 2012 @ 1:07 pm
Thanks Ashley!
Yes, yes, yes please. Usually I’m not a huge fan of eating Greek yogurt plain (eeek) but I LOVE cooking with it and I LOVE that this has a nice, fat swirl. And the sea salt is the most perfect touch.
Heck yes! This sounds lovely!
I don’t share your dislike of white condiments, but I am all about using Greek yogurt in baked goods. This sounds awesome!
I’d feel less guilty eating these brownies due to the Greek yogurt. hehe
I love these brownies, Cassie! I’m with you – not a big fan of white condiments but Greek yogurt is magic! So perfect in these brownies!
Funny cause I love all those white condiments!! And this sounds amazing and looks gooey delicious. Whoa.
Amazing! You’re so creative to be swirling in Greek yogurt! I always have a huge tube of Fage in the fridge so you know I’ll be making these very soon!
Love the yogurt swirl! And of course, the sea salt!
2 droolworthy desserts in one week?! You’re killing me, Cassie!
Cassie replied: — October 13th, 2012 @ 1:06 pm
Thanks Rachel! 🙂
The yogurt swirl is perfect in these brownies! and they look incredible.
High fives for not liking yogurt! I hate it. I also hate ranch dressing, mayo, and cottage cheese. But yogurt is my biggest hate. Oddly enough, I love baking with it, so this recipe sounds SO GOOD to me! 😀
Yuuuuum! I love a swirled brownie but never thought to do Greek yogurt! Perfect!
I love these Cassie! Greek yogurt really is amazing huh? These brownies look chewy and perfect.
i love the substitution of greek yogurt instead of sour cream!! these look so chewy and soft & delicious!
There are a lot of tasty things on the white condiment list, but you can’t change what you don’t like! If I had to choose one though, it would definitely be Greek yogurt – you’re right that it’s so versatile. Thank you for the link to the Food and Wine brownie recipe. I’m always looking for a go-to brownie, and still haven’t found one, so I’ll have to try it!
Cassie replied: — October 13th, 2012 @ 1:06 pm
It really is my go-to brownie recipe, I hope you like it! The only thing I change from theirs is that I use Dutch-process cocoa powder and I use dark chocolate instead of unsweetened chocolate.
I actually don’t like white condiments either…but I DO like greek yogurt! I love how you subbed it in for cream cheese in these. That totally makes them health food. 😛
Cassie replied: — October 13th, 2012 @ 1:05 pm
It sure does! 🙂
These yogurt swirled brownies are brilliant, not to mention mouth-watering ‘on the eyes’ and I’m sure on the palate! FUDGY goodness. I’m pinning these babies!
Wow Cassie these brownies are incredible! Love the idea of the Greek yogurt swirl. Perfect compliment to the rich chocolate.
I made PW’s knock you naked brownies this week…these look like they might knock you naked too! delish.
Whoa! These looks amazing, Cassie. I think the greek yogurt makes all the difference in these. YUM!
I don’t like unflavored yogurt either but I love baking with it! Enough sweetener and yum. 🙂 These look fantastic! So gooey looking.
I’m totally with you. I use yogurt but I don’t eat it. It’s a great ingredient and these look superb.
I used to dislike yogurt, but now I eat it all the time! And Greek is the best! I love cooking and baking with it, too. I do, however, have a pretty strong dislike for ranch dressing 🙂
These brownies look amazingly fudgy and delicious!
I’m craving a rich and dense brownie today so I might just have to head into the kitchen and bake these right now!
I’ve only recently started to sub Greek yogurt for mayo and sour cream in some recipes and while occasionally I miss the fat, most of the time it’s the perfect substitute! These brownies are such a fun idea, and they’re so pretty 🙂
Beautiful brownies and they sound so good with the Greek yogurt! What a great idea! I do love most dairy products except mayo- gross! If I use it in a recipe the flavor has to be totally disguised and I hate HATE how it smells. 😛
Made these tonight and they did not turn out as planned – edges were too cooked and inside was like fudge, not set up at all. May have something to do with using a smaller pan (8×8) but I cooked them longer and let them sit in the fridge for a few hours. I threw them back in the fridge – hopefully they will set up over night.
Cassie replied: — October 15th, 2012 @ 10:33 am
Hi Rachel, I am so sorry you had this experience. The smaller pan might have had something to do with it, although it shouldn’t effect the end result all that much. Did you allow them to set in the fridge? Also, you might try decreasing the temperature of your oven a little the next time, that should help with more even cooking.
Greek yogurt is pretty amazing and I love how you used it in these brownies!!
Chewy and gooey – just how I like my brownies. This greek yogurt version sound terrific, Cassie! 🙂
To think…. I thought I knew you! You don’t like yogurt and ranch?!?!?!?! Those are my staples.
These brownies look like everything a fudge brownie should be!
We’re big fans of greek yogurt. Loving this one Cassie!
I stumbled upon this by googling “baking with greek yogurt” because I had some in my fridge and knew it was used in baking. SO glad I found this recipe. These brownies turned out amazing! I will be making these again that’s for sure. I absolutely love the salty kick they have and how moist and chewy they are. Thank you.
Cassie replied: — October 20th, 2012 @ 10:07 am
Hi Violetta, so glad you enjoyed the recipe!!
What an original idea, would never have thought of it!
Do you only use the vanilla and honey if you are using plain yogurt?
Cassie replied: — January 18th, 2013 @ 1:49 pm
I would go ahead and use the vanilla and honey regardless of what flavor of yogurt you use, but it is up to you!
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