Description
These Black Forest Brownies blend rich, fudgy chocolate with juicy cherries and melty chocolate chips to create an irresistibly chewy dessert. Inspired by classic Black Forest cake, this recipe transforms those beloved flavors into easy-to-make brownies perfect for any occasion. Simple ingredients come together for a moist, decadent treat that stays fresh for days and freezes well for make-ahead convenience.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Add-ins
- 1 cup fresh or jarred cherries, drained and patted dry
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips or chunks
Instructions
- Prepare Your Baking Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease or line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper to ensure your brownies come out effortlessly.
- Melt Butter and Mix with Cocoa Powder: In a microwave-safe bowl or over a stovetop, gently melt your butter. Stir in the unsweetened cocoa powder until smooth and rich, which forms the luscious chocolate base of your brownies.
- Combine Sugar and Eggs: In a separate large bowl, beat the sugar and eggs together until glossy and slightly fluffy, helping to give the brownies their chewy texture.
- Incorporate Chocolate Mixture and Vanilla: Slowly pour the melted butter and cocoa mixture into the sugar-egg blend, stirring gently but thoroughly. Add vanilla extract for that extra depth of flavor.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Sift together the flour and salt, then fold them carefully into the wet ingredients to avoid overmixing and ensure tender brownies.
- Fold in Cherries and Chocolate Chips: Gently mix in your fresh or jarred cherries along with chocolate chips or chunks, distributing these delicious additions evenly throughout the batter.
- Bake to Perfection: Pour the batter into your prepared pan and bake for 25 to 30 minutes. The brownies are done when a toothpick inserted near the center comes out with a few moist crumbs but no raw batter.
- Cool and Slice: Allow the brownies to cool completely in the pan before slicing into squares. This step helps the flavors meld perfectly and prevents crumbly edges.
Notes
- Use room-temperature eggs to incorporate better and ensure a smoother batter.
- Don’t overmix when combining wet and dry ingredients to keep brownies tender.
- Choose high-quality unsweetened cocoa powder for more intense chocolate flavor.
- Drain jarred cherries well to avoid excess moisture that can make brownies soggy.
- Start checking for doneness at 25 minutes as oven temperatures may vary.
- For cleaner cuts, let brownies cool completely and use a sharp knife wiped clean between cuts.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 brownie (approx. 2-inch square)
- Calories: 210 kcal
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 80 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg