Want to make this winter season your cheesiest? In this multi-part series, chef Erin Harris (a.k.a. The Cheese Poet) shares creative and impressive cheese pairings—and the recipes you’ll need to make them. So, come and cook with The Cheese Poet.
Dark Chocolate and Chevre Swirl Brownies with Red Wine Pomegranate Sauce
Imagine a rich, dark chocolate brownie, studded with dark chocolate chips and swirls of tangy goat cheese, with a jewel-hued sauce of red wine and pomegranate drizzled on top! When it comes to entertaining, this is my go-to chocolate treat. This indulgent combination of flavors will have your guests swooning with delight, and don’t be surprised when they ask you for the recipe. I recommend you serve these brownies on a white platter, with a sprinkling of fresh pomegranate seeds as garnish. This striking dish will add so much festive cheer to your table.
Ingredients
- For the Chevre Swirl:
- 6 oz fresh chevre at room temperature
- 1 tbsp powdered sugar
- 1 egg
- ½ tbsp all-purpose flour
- For the Brownie Base:
- 2/3 cup Dutch process cocoa powder
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- ¾ tsp sea salt
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- 3 eggs
- ½ cup canola oil
- 2 tbsp water
- For the sauce:
- 1 cup red wine
- 1 cup 100% pomegranate juice
- 2 tsp cornstarch
- 2 tbsp water
- ¼ cup sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease an 8"×8″ square nonstick baking pan. Make the chevre swirl by beating together the first four ingredients until smooth and well combined, then set aside.
- Make the brownie base by whisking together the cocoa, sugar, salt, flour, and chocolate chips in a large mixing bowl. In a separate bowl, mix together the eggs, oil, and water until combined. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Spoon half of the brownie batter into the prepared pan and smooth it out to create a bottom layer.
- Next, create a second layer by alternating with large dollops of the chevre mixture and the remaining brownie base mixture, until all of the batter is in the pan.
- Run the tip of a knife through the chevre and brownie batter to create a few distinct swirls on the top.
- Bake the brownies for approximately 35-40 minutes. The brownies are done when a knife inserted into the middle of comes out with bits of moist crumbs. The brownies will continue to cook for a couple of minutes after they are removed from the oven. Place the pan on a cooling rack and allow to fully cool before serving.
- For the Red Wine Pomegranate Sauce:
- In a small sauce pot over medium heat, bring the wine and juice to a simmer, and reduce the volume by one-third. Stir in the sugar and allow it to dissolve completely. Mix together cornstarch and water to make a slurry, and whisk in to the wine reduction. Bring the sauce back to a simmer and cook for two minutes, just until the starch has been fully cooked out. Cool to room temperature and serve with the brownies.
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Erin Harris
Erin Harris is a classically trained chef who spent time living and working in Italy early in her career. After years of being an enthusiast of fine cheese, Erin studied and trained to become a Certified Cheese Professional through the ACS. Combining her passion for fine food and cheese, today Erin is a cheesemonger and a freelance recipe developer and consultant. In her free time, Erin can be found traveling in search of her next cultural adventure.
