Goat Cheese Brownies {revisited}
December 4, 2012
If I had my own goat(s) I'd be ridiculously content with life. So much, in fact, that any placid contentment would quickly morph into an unfounded fear that a storm was brewing on the horizon. Too much happiness scares me. So for now I'll hold off on snatching up one of the adorable pygmy goats that I pass by once a week- grazing adorably in a field- next to an equally adorbs rustic cabin. *Super-jealous*
I'm not sure if my obsession with goats has anything to do with my equally absurd obsession with their cheese (does it matter?), I love both. I smear the crumbly, creamy, earthy cheese on just about everything, from crackers to bagels, to dark chocolate bars. So making this recipe again didn't take very much arm pulling.
It was more like: "Valerie, will you make those goat ch..." Me: "ok."
These brownies are...what? They're just amazing. Their texture is a wee bit cakey, but that slight brownie indiscretion is completely forgivable thanks to the goat cheese. If you like cream cheese-swirl brownies, I honestly believe that you will adore this upgraded version! They're rich, yet humble- comforting, yet edgy. And who could not fall head over heels for a brownie that's smothered with goat cheese and honey frosting?
goat cheese brownies adapted from Better Homes & Gardens
brownie layer
8 oz semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
3 Tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 3 pieces
2 eggs
1 1/4 cups sugar
1/3 cup whole milk
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 tsp. baking Powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
cheese layer
6 oz goat cheese, softened to room temperature
2 Tablespoons unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 Tablespoons honey
1 egg
method
Preheat the oven to 325 F. Line a 9x13-inch pan with foil, butter the foil and set the pan aside.
Prepare the brownie layer: Fill a saucepan with about 1-inch of water and bring to just a simmer. Place the chopped chocolate and 3 Tablespoons of butter into a heat-proof bowl. Set the bowl over the saucepan (be sure that the bottom of the bowl does not touch the water).
Melt the chocolate and butter, stirring occasionally, until smooth. As soon as it's smooth, remove the bowl from the heat and set it aside to cool as you prepare the cheese layer.
Cheese layer:In a medium-size bowl, beat the cheese and 2 Tablespoons of butter on medium speed for about 1 minute (just to combine). Add 1/4 cup of sugar and beat on medium speed until fluffy. Add 1/4 cup of flour, honey, and 1 egg. Beat well (about 2-4 minutes). Set the bowl aside.
Back to the brownie layer: Beat the 2 eggs on medium speed till foamy. Add 1 1/4 cups of sugar, milk, and vanilla extract. Beat on medium speed for about 2 minutes. Add the cooled, melted chocolate. Beat till combined. Using a large spatula, stir in 1 cup of flour, baking Powder, salt, and nuts (if using).
Spread half of the chocolate batter into prepared pan. [Note: I added the entire thing by accident and it still turned out okay.]
Spread the cheese filling over the chocolate batter.
Using large spoon-filled dollops, drop the remaining chocolate batter over the cheese filling.
Drag a thin metal spatula through both the cheese and chocolate mixtures. Try not to overdo it, a few swirls here and there will go a long way.
Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until the center is set.
Remove the pan from the oven and onto a cooling rack. Cool completely before frosting.
Frosting Ingredients
4 oz of goat cheese, softened to room temperature
1/4 cup (that's 4 Tablespoons) unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 cups of confectioners' sugar (have at least one more cup on hand, just in case the frosting is too thin)
2 Tablespoons of honey
1 Tablespoon of milk
method
In a large bowl, beat the softened goat cheese and butter together on medium-low speed till creamy. It may look chunky at first, but it'll smooth out once everything is combined.
Add the confectioners' sugar in 1/2 cup increments, beating well after each addition. [If you add it all at once, the sugar will go everywhere.]
Once 2 cups of sugar have been incorporated, add the honey and milk. Beat on medium-high speed until creamy.
If the frosting is too thin, add more sugar in 1/4 cup increments until it reaches the correct consistency. If you prefer a thick frosting, add more sugar.
Spread over the cooled brownies and cut into squares.
Makes about 32 brownies
Very unique and very delicious! It would be so fun to have a goat, I want chickens too!
ReplyDeleteYep I think I would be deliriously happy with my own goat as well. That being said, those brownies look like my kind of brownie. Goat cheese and brownies together sound like magic!
ReplyDeleteDivine! That topping is wonderful. Have to try that soon...
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Rosa
well, Valerie, we could be twins.
ReplyDeletefrom a VERY YOUNG AGE I have always wanted my own goat. the reasons have changed (I wanted it as a pet, now I want it as a lawn mower, pet and for my favorite cheese...)
I have a long and ever changing list of recipe ideas, and scrawled on there is "goat cheese brownies" - a mashup of two of my favorite things.
I cannot wait to try this!
Love the frosting, goat cheese butter, honey....slathered on top of a chocolate brownie...I'm listening-you've got my attention all the way here ;-)
ReplyDeleteValerie these look to-die for good! First the goat cheese itself has got to be just tangy perfection in them, balancing the chocolate. And the brownies look dense, fudgy, rich & perfect!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful brownies, Valerie! That topping looks so creamy and finger-licking good! :)
ReplyDeleteI just ran into your blog through Pinterest and I must say that I am in LOVE. I am also completely ga-ga over goat cheese (more than with goats I must say), and really (really!) need to make these asap.
ReplyDeleteBelieve it or not, my cousin and her husband raise goats. It's actually a lot of work, but they love it. I think they'd love it even more if they saw this recipe. These brownies look fantastic.
ReplyDeleteEven before I saw your gorgeous photos I knew that I would love - LOVE! - these brownies! I'm swooning over them - what a great flavor combo!
ReplyDeleteYou've convinced me, and although I don't usually frost my brownies, I imagine the goat cheese really cuts the sweetness of the brownies, great idea!
ReplyDeleteOMG! you never cease to amaze me with your fantastic baked goods - these look fabulous and are so creative!
ReplyDeleteBobby Flay did a brownie throwdown against the VT Brownie Co (I think that's the name), and their signature brownie was swirled with goat cheese! So this is not a foreign concept to me, but I've never seen it anywhere else. YUM!
ReplyDeleteGoat cheese and honey on a brownie?! OMG sounds so good! : )
ReplyDeleteyour brownies look so rich and delicious and the frosting is drool worthy for sure.
ReplyDeleteI would never have thought of using goat cheese for a topping because of its sharpness but I will take your enthusiastic word for it that it works. They certainly look good.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE goat cheese but somehow have never baked with it - I see these brownies in my near future!
ReplyDeleteabsolutely stunning!
ReplyDeletei adore goat cheese, it's a cheese i can actually consume! it's never once occurred to me to use it for icing/frosting. these are to die for!
ReplyDeleteLOVE these brownies! Goat cheese here I come!
ReplyDeleteValerie, I've never actually made goat cheese brownies before! This is all new to me! I love goat's cheese, so I'm sure I will love this, too!
ReplyDeleteI'm not a huge fan of goat cheese but I would totally try this recipe in my garden kitchen - your images are fabulous and I can't wait to stop back!
ReplyDeleteGoat cheese and honey frosting?? Amazing! I hope you get a goat for Christmas :)
ReplyDeleteLove that you incorporated goat cheese in this dessert! I am a bit obsessed with goat cheese and love it each time I have it, especially with a glass of sauvignon blanc. Lovely photos!!
ReplyDeleteLol! You are killing me! Me and my sister have a little goat obsession, I thought we were the only ones. These brownies look awesome! Who doesn't love goat cheese?
ReplyDeleteGoat cheese with brownies - very creative! They look gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI dream of going back to Italy to live and having a farm. And it will have plenty of goats:)Love these luscious brownies:)
ReplyDeleteCount me in: I want to have my goats too. I should tell it to Santa... I do buy goat milk from a family about 20 miles away, but the milk and cheese worth driving there. I just made 4 lb chevre, ricotta, and farmer's cheese. I had a friend over, and she asked me what was I draining above the sink. I told her that it was homemade cheese. "why don't you buy it?" she looked confused... Well, how could I explain why? :)
ReplyDeleteUm... WOW! You creative creature, you... this is freakin' fantabulous! I can't describe how much I love goat cheese, and goats!
ReplyDeleteMy grandma used to have goats back home in Macedonia, in this tiny mountainous village... the happiest days of my life were spent there. I even milked the goats. :)
These brownies are so pretty! Like they are snow-covered - how appropriate for the season!
ReplyDeleteAs a lover of both goat cheese and chocolate all I can say is wooooowww!! What a unique and creative combination. Thanks so much for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI feel pretty much the same about goat cheese...not sure I could handle the goats though :) However, I could handle a few of these delicious beauties!
ReplyDeleteGeeze, Val, somehow I missed these beautiful gems! What a delicious recipe...just added to my must make list!!!
ReplyDeleteValerie, I'm a bit late in coming to the party (only just discovered your blog now!) but these brownies look incredible. I love, love, love goats cheese (I spend a fortune on the stuff) so the combination of rich chocolate with the honeyed goats cheese sounds like heaven! Have you bought a goat yet? I'd be quite happy to go halves in a goats dairy with you! :)
ReplyDelete@Laura: Still no goat, sadly. But your offer sounds promising. :D
ReplyDeleteGreat recipe.
ReplyDeleteWe do have goats, and bees. We feel blesses every day to live in gods country. Now that the diary goats have kidded, it's time to think about new ways to use their milk!
I'll post a link on our farm page on FB too.
Thanks, Patty! (How wonderful that you have your own goats!) :D
ReplyDelete