I’ve never actually roasted cherries before, but the aroma that filled my house when they were in the oven was amazing! They only need 10 minutes so it’s a quick and easy way to turn ordinary brownies into something extraordinary. This brownie base is really rich and fudgy and the sweet roasted cherries proved to be the perfect complement.
By Tracey
Roasted Cherry Brownies
adapted from The Pastry Affair
Ingredients:
- 2 cups fresh cherries, pitted and halved
- 1 1/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons sugar, divided
- 5 oz semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
- 2 oz unsweetened chocolate, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into 4 pieces
- 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 3 large eggs, at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
Directions:
Preheat oven to 450 F. Toss the cherries with 2 tablespoons of the sugar in a small roasting pan (I used a disposable one) until well combined. Roast until the cherries begin to release their juices, about 9-10 minutes. Remove to a wire rack – set aside while you make the brownies.
Reduce oven temperature to 350 F. Line a 9×9-inch pan with aluminum foil, leaving an overhang on opposite sides to lift the brownies out afterward. Spray the foil with nonstick cooking spray.
Add the semisweet and unsweetened chocolate as well as the butter to a heatproof bowl. Set over a pan of simmering water and heat until melted and smooth, stirring frequently. Remove the bowl from the pan and whisk in the cocoa powder until incorporated. Set aside to cool slightly.
Whisk the remaining 1 1/4 cups sugar, eggs, vanilla and salt together in a medium bowl. Add the slightly cooled chocolate mixture and whisk until combined. Add the flour, using a rubber spatula to fold/stir just until incorporated. Gently fold in the roasted cherries.
Transfer the batter to the prepared pan. Bake for about 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs attached. Remove the pan to a wire rack, and allow the brownies to cool completely before lifting them out and cutting into squares for serving.
