Easy Chocolate Cream Cheese Cake
Got a box of German chocolate cake mix, a block of cream cheese and a bag of chocolate chips? Then you need to make this Chocolate Cream Cheese Cake!
Soft, fluffy chocolate cake is filled with surprise pockets of rich cream cheese and melty chocolate chips. Every bite practically melts in your mouth.
If you like this recipe you may also enjoy this Crescent Roll Cream Cheese Danish recipe and Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting recipe.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Our family loves the mix of chocolate cake with surprise pockets of cheesecake tucked inside. Every piece is a little different, depending on how much cream cheese and chocolate swirled into that spot. That’s half the fun!
We’ll be honest: this isn’t the prettiest cake on the dessert table. The cream cheese sinks as the cake rises around it, so the top bakes up a little uneven. What it lacks in looks, it more than makes up for in taste. It’s a simple box mix dessert that tastes like something special.
We tested this recipe with both chocolate fudge and German chocolate cake mix. The chocolate fudge was too rich and fought with the cream cheese for attention. German chocolate has a milder chocolate flavor that lets the cream cheese shine, and the two blend together perfectly.
What I Love About Chocolate Cream Cheese Cake:
- It’s a crowd favorite. The first time we made this recipe, we baked three batches in one week, and everyone we shared it with loved it. It’s perfect for potlucks, cookouts and family get-togethers.
- It’s easy enough for kids to make. During our second round of testing, my daughter made it all by herself and was so proud of her work. After her first bite, she said it tastes like perfection!
- It tastes fancier than it is. A few simple ingredients and a couple of easy steps turn a box of cake mix into a dessert that feels special.
Ingredients Needed
- Box of German Chocolate Cake mix
- Vegetable Oil
- Eggs
- Cream Cheese – we like Philadelphia for a more premium flavor
- Granulated Sugar – transforms the cream cheese into cheesecake
- Chocolate Chips – I like to mix 1/2 cup milk chocolate chips in the cream cheese filling and sprinkle 1/2 cup of mini chocolate chips on top. Using one type of chocolate chip is fine.
Churro Cheesecake Bars are one of our most popular recipes on Pinterest. So anytime we come across a simple dessert recipe that includes cream cheese we try it every time!
How to Make Chocolate Cream Cheese Cake
- Using an electric mixer, mix together the box of cake mix, oil, vegetable oil, and eggs. Pour into a greased 15 x 10 x 1-inch baking pan or jelly roll pan. Do NOT bake yet!
- In a small microwave-safe bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar. Microwave for 40 seconds, then stir until smooth. Stir in 1/2 cup chocolate chips – this is where we love using milk chocolate chips.
- Drop tablespoons of cream cheese and chocolate chip mixture as evenly as possible over the top of the batter.
- Use a butter knife to sort of smooth out any pieces of cream cheese that stick up above the batter and then use the knife to swirl the cream cheese into the chocolate cake batter.
- Sprinkle remaining mini chocolate chips over the top.
- Bake in a 350°F oven for 25 to 30 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Does This Cake Have Cream Cheese Frosting?
No! The cream cheese is mixed with sugar and swirled into the cake batter before baking, so it bakes into the cake itself. We love it unfrosted, but a thin layer of chocolate or cream cheese frosting can be added if you want an extra-sweet treat.
Can I Use a 9 x 13 Inch Pan?
If a wider and longer 15 x 10 x 1-inch baking sheet isn’t available a 9 x 13 pan can be used, but the cake flavor will be more dominant as the cream cheese pieces will sink to the bottom and the fluffy cake bakes up much higher around the marbled filling.
Our family enjoys shorter pieces from the more shallow pan where the flavors can better mix together in every bite.
Jennifer’s Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Microwave the already softened cream cheese mixture for 40 seconds so it swirls into the batter more easily.
- The top will look a little uneven where the cream cheese sinks. That’s normal!
- Marbling will not be exact, and the cake never looks exactly the same twice.
- Take care to swirl the cream cheese mixture as close to the edges as possible with out pushing the cream cheese mixture up the sides of the pan.
- We prefer a 15 x 10 x 1-inch pan, but a 9 x 13-inch pan can be used.
- This cake has no frosting; the cream cheese bakes inside.
- Bars can be frosted, but just like our Brownie Mix Cupcakes, we prefer to enjoy them without icing
We have an extensive list of amazing cakes that start with a box – Best Cake Recipes from a Box Mix
More Easy Recipes from a Box Mix
- Pumpkin Spice Crunch Cake
- Chocolate Mint Cake recipe
- Smores Pudding Cake
- Almond Joy Brownies with Brownie Mix
Chocolate Cream Cheese Cake
Ingredients
Cake
- 13.25 ounce box German chocolate cake mix
- 1 cup water
- 3 large eggs
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
Cream Cheese Filling
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 cup mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Prepare cake batter by mixing together cake mix, water, oil and eggs. Pour into a greased 15 x 10 x 1-inch baking pan.13.25 ounce box German chocolate cake mix, 1 cup water, 3 large eggs, 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- In a small bowl beat softened cream cheese and sugar. Stir in 1/2 cup chocolate chips. Don't melt or liquify, but soften even more in the microwave for 30 to 40 seconds.8 ounces cream cheese, 1/2 cup sugar
- Drop by tablespoonfuls over batter. Use butter knife to swirl the cream cheese mixture into the cake batter.
- Sprinkle remaining chocoalte chips evenly over the top.1 cup mini chocolate chips
- Bake for 25 – 30 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Notes
- Marbling will not be exact and the recipe never looks exactly the same twice.
- Take care to mix cream cheese mixture as close to the edges.
- We prefer a 15 x 10 x 1-inch, but a 9 x 13-inch pan can be used, monitor baking time as it will need adjusted slightly.
Did you make this recipe?
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Rate This Recipe Pin This RecipeOriginally shared on May 25, 2020 with pictures updated on October 21, 2026.
This sour cream chocolate bars
Really easy delicious
Thank you for sharing this
Recipe
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Can’t wait to try!