Contents

Indulge in Bliss: The Ultimate Roasted Cherry Hazelnut Chunk Brownies

Prepare to be transported to dessert nirvana with these Roasted Cherry Hazelnut Chunk Brownies. Decadently sweet, wonderfully nutty, and unbelievably fudgy, they are destined to become your new favorite treat. Perfectly complemented by a tall glass of ice-cold milk, this recipe offers a symphony of flavors and textures that you won’t soon forget. Get ready to bake a batch of pure joy!

Happy Monday, baking enthusiasts! I hope your weekend was filled with joy and relaxation. Ours was certainly memorable, spent with dear friends celebrating my husband’s 10-year college reunion. It’s truly hard to believe a decade has passed since graduation – we met that very year, and so much has evolved for all of us since then. Weddings, the pitter-patter of tiny feet (including multiples for some!), and cross-country moves have marked these years. Yet, through all the changes, one constant remains: our ability to reconnect effortlessly, as if no time had passed at all. This kind of enduring friendship is truly a treasure, and moments like these remind us of the simple pleasures life offers.

While the guys enjoyed a round of golf on Saturday, us girls embarked on a delightful excursion to a local winery. Sipping exquisite local wines and sharing a picnic-style lunch amidst the picturesque vineyards was an absolute dream. You might have spotted a picture of us posing among the grapevines on my Instagram account – it was a truly beautiful setting! Despite the 100% humidity (a small price to pay!), a leisurely afternoon with my girlfriends was exactly what my soul needed. We grazed on an array of Pinterest-inspired finger foods, indulged in pita and hummus, and savored a delightful meat and cheese platter brought by my wonderful friend, Megan. These are the moments that truly nourish us.

The evening took a nostalgic turn as we embarked on a small bar crawl, revisiting all our favorite haunts from our college days. As a “townie” now (a label I never thought I’d embrace!) and a good ten years older, my husband and I don’t often find ourselves navigating the bustling downtown scene, especially among the newly-minted 21-year-olds ready to party like it’s 1999. But with summer bringing a quieter ambiance to the town, it was the perfect occasion to relive those youthful days. I’ve also come to the humbling realization that my 21-year-old self could out-party my current self any day – staying out until 2 a.m. is a feat I no longer conquer with ease! Insert a mild groan here. Fortunately, a restorative two-hour nap on Sunday, followed by a generous plate of these incredible brownies, proved to be the perfect antidote to any lingering fatigue. Comfort food, especially brownies, has a magical way of making everything right again.

My Unwavering Love Affair with Brownies

I confess, I have an undeniable weakness for brownies. They consistently rank among my top favorite desserts, right up there with the creamy elegance of Crème Brûlée. My childhood memories are punctuated by persistent pleas to my mom to buy those iconic Little Debbie Fudge Brownies – you know, the ones with the generous scattering of nuts on top? They were, without a doubt, my absolute favorite. While I now occasionally enjoy the playful sweetness of Cosmic Brownies with their colorful candy-coated pieces, I remain a steadfast aficionado of nuts in my brownies. There’s something about that satisfying crunch and earthy flavor that perfectly complements the rich chocolate fudginess. Anyone else with me on this enduring love for nutty brownies?

The inspiration for these extraordinary Roasted Cherry Hazelnut Chunk Brownies struck when I found myself with a bounty of fresh cherries. My immediate thought wasn’t just to chop them and toss them into a standard batter. I yearned for something different, something that would truly elevate their flavor. Having experimented with roasting various fruits before, I instinctively knew that cherries would benefit from this treatment. Why not, indeed? The results were nothing short of perfection. Roasting the cherries not only intensified their naturally sweet and tart notes, but also created a wonderfully chewy texture. This slightly caramelized, concentrated burst of flavor and delightful chewiness proved to be the ideal addition to the rich brownie batter, transforming a simple fruit into a star ingredient.

The Art of Pairing: Why Hazelnuts and Cherries are a Match Made in Heaven

With the luscious roasted cherries ready, my mind turned to the perfect nutty counterpart. I wanted a nut that would not just add crunch, but truly enhance the overall flavor profile of the brownie. A quick rummage through my freezer (a pro tip for any baker: always store your nuts in the freezer! Nuts are high in natural oils, which can quickly turn rancid when exposed to room temperature and light. Nobody wants to waste expensive nuts, right?) revealed my stash of walnuts, pecans, and hazelnuts. Walnuts are typically my go-to for brownies, offering a classic, robust flavor. However, I knew instinctively that cherries and hazelnuts shared an incredibly harmonious flavor affinity. The earthy, slightly sweet notes of hazelnuts beautifully complement the bright, tart sweetness of roasted cherries, creating a sophisticated and irresistible combination. And thus, the concept of these exquisite Roasted Cherry Hazelnut Chunk Brownies was fully realized.

The Foundation of Fudginess: A Family Secret

Let me rewind a few months to a truly pivotal moment in my brownie-making journey. My dad, a man who has never been particularly fond of sweets, surprised us all by making brownies. This unexpected act could only mean one thing: he made them specifically for my sister, my husband, and me – the resident chocoholics of the family! From the very first bite, I knew these were, without exaggeration, the BEST brownies I had ever tasted in my entire life. That’s a bold declaration, but I stand by it 110%. He generously sent me home with a large Ziploc bag full of them, and during my drive, I decided to indulge in “just one bite.” Well, as all brownie lovers know, one bite quickly escalates. Two brownies later, I was deep in a chocolate coma, still an hour from home. I didn’t regret a single decadent bite, though I did lament not stopping somewhere for a big, frosty glass of milk. Those brownies were so incredibly rich and decadent that only a refreshing drink could truly balance their intensity.

While I’m not sharing my dad’s exact base recipe today (that’s a secret for another time, perhaps!), I used his perfected brownie batter as the foundation for this creation. To that incredible base, I folded in the roasted cherries, generous chocolate chunks, and crunchy hazelnuts. The result? Brownies that were every bit as phenomenal as his, but with an exciting, innovative twist. This demonstrates the sheer versatility of a fantastic basic brownie recipe. You can truly make it your own by adding almost anything your heart desires to the batter. Imagine variations with swirls of caramel, decadent butterscotch chips, toasted pecans, fun sprinkles, or even dollops of creamy peanut butter – the possibilities are endless!

However, with summer in full swing and cherries at their peak, I cannot urge you enough to try these specific brownies. The combination of sweet, tart, and deeply flavorful roasted cherries with the distinctive crunch of hazelnuts and rich chocolate is simply unparalleled. You absolutely won’t regret baking a batch of these seasonal delights. They are the epitome of summer indulgence, perfect for sharing with loved ones or savoring solo.

Expert Baking Tips for Fudgy Brownie Perfection

Achieving the perfect fudgy brownie texture is an art, and a few simple tips can make all the difference. Firstly, resist the urge to overmix your batter. Overmixing can develop the gluten in the flour too much, leading to a tougher, more cake-like brownie rather than the desirable fudgy texture. Mix just until the ingredients are combined. Secondly, quality ingredients matter. Use good quality butter and unsweetened chocolate for the richest flavor. Thirdly, and perhaps most crucially, do not overbake! Brownies continue to cook slightly even after they’re removed from the oven. A toothpick inserted into the center should come out with moist crumbs, but not wet batter. If it comes out completely clean, your brownies might be on their way to being dry. Finally, patience is key. Allow your brownies to cool completely in the pan before cutting them. This not only makes them easier to cut but also allows them to set properly, ensuring that perfect fudgy consistency and clean edges. Following these steps will guarantee a batch of truly irresistible brownies every time.

1 vote

Roasted Cherry Hazelnut Chunk Brownies

Prep 35 mins

Cook 1 hour, 15 mins

Total 1 hour, 50 mins

Author Strawberry Blondie Kitchen

Yield 9

Decadently sweet, nutty and super fudgy, these Roasted Cherry Hazelnut Chunk Brownies will have you in dessert bliss. Perfectly paired with a glass of ice cold milk, these are sure to be your new go to brownie recipe.

Ingredients

Roasted Cherries
1 pound of cherries, not pitted
1 Tablespoon sugar
Roasted Cherry Hazelnut Chunk Brownies
6 Tablespoons butter
2 squares unsweetened chocolate, 2 ounces total
1 cup of sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup chocolate chunks or chips, plus more for topping
1/4 cup chopped hazelnuts, plus more for topping

Instructions

Roasted Cherries
Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius).
Place cherries and sugar into a baking dish and stir to coat cherries evenly.
Bake for 30-40 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes to ensure even roasting and watching closely to prevent burning. (Mine took 35 minutes)
Set aside and let cool completely.
Roasted Cherry Hazelnut Chunk Brownies
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius) and coat an 8 x 8-inch pan with cooking spray or line with parchment paper.
Place butter and unsweetened chocolate into a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds, being careful not to burn, until completely melted and smooth.
Stir in sugar and eggs, one at a time, until just combined.
Add in flour and mix gently until just combined. Do not overmix.
Pour 3/4 cup (approximately half the batter) into the prepared pan and spread evenly.
Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Meanwhile, with the remaining batter, gently fold in the cooled roasted cherries, chocolate chunks, and chopped hazelnuts until combined.
Carefully spread this remaining brownie batter mixture over the partial cooking brownies that just came out of the oven.
Sprinkle more chocolate chunks and hazelnuts over the top, if desired, for extra texture and visual appeal.
Bake for an additional 22-25 minutes, or until set and a toothpick inserted comes out clean (with moist crumbs, not wet batter).
Allow to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before cutting into 9 squares. This patience ensures fudgy, perfectly set brownies.

Notes

Do not pit cherries before roasting. The pits help to retain the delicious juices within the cherries during roasting, intensifying their flavor and keeping them from drying out. You can easily remove them after they are roasted and cooled.

Courses Brownie, Dessert

Cuisine American

Savoring Every Decadent Bite

Make sure you have a perfectly chilled glass of milk ready the moment these Roasted Cherry Hazelnut Chunk Brownies have cooled to perfection. Trust me, resisting the urge to snatch one straight from the hot oven will be a test of your willpower, but the wait is absolutely worth it for that ideal texture. Once cool, each square offers a heavenly experience: they’re wonderfully sweet from the roasted cherries, boast a delightful, slightly chewy texture, and are intensely chocolatey. The added crunch and nutty depth from the hazelnuts elevate them to truly sublime status. These aren’t just brownies; they’re an experience, a blissful escape for your taste buds.

We’d love to hear from you! How do you like your brownies? Are you a fan of classic fudgy, cakey, or do you enjoy creative mix-ins like these? Share your brownie preferences in the comments below!

Enjoy every delightful morsel, and if you whip up this incredible recipe, please do us a favor and share a photo on your favorite social media platform! Don’t forget to hashtag it #strawberryblondiekitchen. I absolutely adore seeing your magnificent creations and how you bring these recipes to life in your own kitchens!