Cherry Chestnut Dark Chocolate Brownies
Fudgy dark chocolate brownies studded with tart dried cherries and roasted chestnuts. Baked until the edges are set and springy while the center stays gooey, then dusted with icing sugar and served with crème fraîche and orange zest. The unexpected pairing of fruit and nuts creates depth against the cocoa richness.
Ingredients
- 12 tbsp unsalted butter
- 27 tbsp dark chocolate (70% cocoa solids), broken upmilk chocolate1:1flavoradds dairy
sweeter, less intense cocoa
- 2 ¾ oz dried cherries
- 2 ¾ oz whole roasted chestnuts, choppedwalnuts, chopped1:1texturenutritionadds tree_nuts
crunchy instead of creamy
- 10 tbsp cocoa powder, sifted
- ¾ cups all-purpose flour, sifted
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 ½ cups golden superfine sugar
- 4 large free-range eggs
- icing sugar, for dusting
- 2 cups crème fraîche, 1 tub, to serveGreek yogurt1:1dairynutritionadds dairy
tangier, lower fat
- 1 orange, zest, to serve
Instructions
- 1
Preheat oven to 350°F/350°F/gas 4. Line a 7.75" x 11 ¾" baking tin with greaseproof paper.
- 2
Melt butter and chocolate together in a bowl over simmering water, stirring gently until smooth.
- 3
Stir cherries and chestnuts into the melted chocolate and remove from heat.
- 4
In a separate bowl, mix cocoa powder, flour, baking powder and sugar together.
- 5
Add the dry mixture to the chocolate mixture and stir until fully combined.
- 6
Beat the eggs then mix them into the brownie batter.
- 7
Pour batter into the prepared tin and bake for around 15 to 20 minutes until edges are springy and center is gooey; do not bake until a skewer comes out clean.
- 8
Cool in the tray for 30 minutes then turn out onto a chopping board and cut into 1 ⅛" squares.
- 9
Dust with powdered sugar, pile onto plates and serve with bowls of crème fraîche topped with orange zest.
Tips
Do not overbake; the brownies should be slightly springy on the outside but gooey in the middle to avoid dry texture.
Cherries and chestnuts complement the chocolate well despite seeming an unconventional pairing.
Good to Know
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Brownies can be baked a day ahead and kept in an airtight container; dust with icing sugar just before serving.
Serve at room temperature or slightly warm, dusted with icing sugar and accompanied by crème fraîche and fresh orange zest.
Common Mistakes
Do not overbake by checking if a skewer comes clean; aim for a gooey center by removing when still slightly underdone in the middle.
Do not skip cooling in the tin before turning out to avoid crumbling or breaking apart.
Substitutions
Dairy-Free Swaps
General Alternatives
crunchy instead of creamy