Sweet Recipe: Dark Chocolate Brownies with Raspberry Goat Cheese Swirl
To me, brownies are the Plain Jane of the dessert table. I’ll usually pass over those stodgy squares for something more pert, like lemon squares or a cup of pudding. But add something creamy to the top of a brownie, or perhaps some tart fruit, and I’m all in. These brownies are all dressed up and ready to catch someone’s eye: Their thick, fudgy bottom is studded with raspberries and topped with a sweet, creamy goat cheese swirl.
Together, the dark chocolate and the creamy topping make these far more irresistible.
I’ve always been a fan of goat cheese in desserts; its mellow funkiness is more interesting than plain cream cheese. I use both here — cream cheese to make sure the topping is creamy enough, and goat cheese for serious flavor. Raspberries are a classic pair with goat cheese, and I love them with chocolate, so I swirled them into the topping, and baked them into the brownies themselves.
And now, let’s talk about those brownies. The brownie base here is thick and fudgy, although not the melt-in-your-mouth candied texture I usually prefer. The base needed to be a bit sturdier to hold up all that creamy, fruity goodness. But the texture is still on the moist, dense, and fudgy side, getting even moister as the brownies sit overnight underneath that topping. No cakey, crumbly brownie here. (Because, in my book, a “cakey brownie” is just another way to say, “failed brownie.”)
You can use fresh raspberries or frozen; both are quite good. If you use frozen, defrost them before using.
And there you have it: A brownie that will get even my attention on the dessert table: Dark chocolate, with a swirl of cream and hot pink. A Valentine, from me to you.
Dark Chocolate Brownies with Raspberry Goat Cheese Swirl
Makes about 30 squares
Nutritional Info
Ingredients
For the raspberries:
- 2 cups
raspberries, lightly mashed
- 2 tablespoons
brandy or Kirsch
For the brownies:
- 8 ounces
unsweetened chocolate, chopped
- 2 ounces
bittersweet chocolate, chopped
- 3/4 cup
(12 tablespoons) unsalted butter, cut into chunks
- 1/2 cup
milk
- 2 cups
sugar
- 1 teaspoon
vanilla extract
- 4
large eggs
- 1 cup
flour
- 1/4 teaspoon
baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon
salt
Raspberry Goat Cheese Swirl
- 8 ounces
goat cheese, softened at room temperature for an hour
- 4 ounces
cream cheese, softened at room temperature for an hour
- 2 tablespoons
unsalted butter, softened at room temperature for an hour
- 1
egg
- 1/4 cup
sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon
almond extract
Instructions
Heat the oven to 350ºF and lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking pan (or any 3-quart dish, like the gratin dish I use here) with butter or baking spray. Place the raspberries in a bowl and stir in the brandy or Kirsch. Set aside.
Melt the chocolate and butter until liquid in a 3-quart (or larger) saucepan over low heat. When the chocolate is completely melted, remove from the heat, whisk in the milk, and cool for about 5 minutes. Stir in the sugar and vanilla. Stir in the eggs one by one. Add the flour, baking powder, and salt and fold in until just combined. Fold in about half of the raspberries and spread this brownie batter in the prepared pan.
In the bowl of a stand mixer (or with hand beaters, or by hand with a heavy whisk) beat the goat cheese with the cream cheese, butter, egg, sugar, and almond extract until light and fluffy. Gently fold in the other half of the raspberries and their juices. Drop the goat cheese mixture on top of the brownie batter in spoonfuls, then swirl it through the batter with a knife. Bake for 30 minutes or until just barely set. The top will be just turning light brown. Let cool for at least 10 minutes before slicing.
Store at room temperature, well-covered. The flavor and texture of these brownies really bloom when you let them rest overnight.
More Brownies from The Kitchn
• Look! Brownies Baked in Egg Shells
• How to Get a Crunchy Top on Brownies
• Extra-Dark Brownies with Sea Salt & Lime
• One Bowl Mascarpone Brownies
• Gooey and Fudgy: Hershey’s Ultimate Chocolate Brownies
(Images: Faith Durand)