Fresh cherries meet a rich, decadent chocolate bite in these chocolate cherry brownies. The sweet cherry juices plus the chocolate make the perfect bite.
Chocolate Cherry Brownies
These chocolate cherry brownies will be a staple in your kitchen all summer long. Fresh cherries combine with a rich brown butter brownie to make an out-of-this-world combination. Everyone in the family will eat these up—although I wouldn't blame you for not sharing!
This brownie recipe is based on my brown butter brownie recipe. It is rich and decadent in the best way possible. Chocolate is melted down with butter and oil to mix directly into the batter with cocoa powder. Plus, chocolate chips are folded in at the end to triple up on the chocolate. The brownies get even richer thanks to the addition of brown butter, giving them a nutty and deep flavor.
When it comes to summer fruits, cherries are probably my favorite. They are so sweet this time of the year, making it easy to gulp them down by the handful. Brownies are also one of my favorite desserts, so putting the two in one treat only made sense. The combination is unmatched. Each bite is sweet, juicy, and decadent.
These brownies are also incredibly simple to make. Normally, with brownies, I am a big fan of turning to the boxed mix (especially Ghradehilli!). However, this recipe is worth making from scratch.
Looking for more brownie ideas? Try these Easter Brownies or my S'mores Brownie Pie.
Why I Love These Chocolate Cherry Brownies
- Combination - Cherry and chocolate go hand in hand. The brownies are sort of like a play on black forest cake.
- Simple and Quick - This brownie recipe is simple and easy to make. Everything is made in basically one bowl.
- Freezer Friendly - The brownies freeze super well, making them great for any extras you may have lying around.
Ingredients Needed To Make Chocolate Cherry Brownies
See below for all the details on what you'll need to make the full recipe.
- Cherries - Use fresh cherries, chopped into chunks.
- Butter - Melt and brown the butter for a rich flavor.
- Espresso Powder - A small amount helps highlight the chocolate flavor.
- Cocoa Powder - The main chocolate flavor.
- Eggs - The key to the shiny top.
Directions For How To Make Chocolate Cherry Brownies
- Prepare.
Preheat the oven to 350 and prepare an 8x8 pan with parchment or grease and set to the side.
- Brown the butter.
Melt the butter in a small saucepan. It will melt, foam, and turn a golden brown color. Keep a careful eye on the butter, as it can burn in an instant.
- Chop the chocolate.
Chop the chocolate into small chunks and place in a bowl. Add the melted butter and oil and mix until the chocolate fully melts.
- Make the brownies.
Combine the sugars, salt, eggs, vanilla, and espresso powder in a large bowl. Whisk everything together for 5-6 minutes, until light and foamy. Add the melted chocolate to the bowl, stirring until combined. Fold in the flour and the dry ingredients. Keep the folding mixture going until everything is fully combined. Then, fold in the chopped cherries.
- Bake the brownies.
Add the brownies to the prepared pan and bake for 25-30 minutes. Let the brownies cool in the pan for 10 minutes before cutting into.
Serving Suggestions
These chocolate cherry brownies are super rich and great on their own. However, to make them a truly decadent dessert, top the brownies with ice cream to make a chocolate cherry brownie ice cream sundae.
Make Ahead and Storage
These brownies can be made 1-2 days ahead of time. They taste best fresh because of the fresh cherries, so it is best to maximize that flavor. Any extra brownies can be frozen and kept in the freezer for 2-3 months.
Tips and Variations
- Whisking - The egg whisking process is key. Don't skimp on the timing, as this creates a shiny, crackly top.
- Brown Butter - Not a fan of brown butter or want to cut out some of the richness for the brownies? No problem, just use melted butter.
- Fresh Cherries - If you can't find fresh cherries, frozen cherries will be a solid replacement. Let them thaw and drain out any extra liquid so it doesn't impact the batter.
FAQs
If you find that your brownies are hard and not gooey, you probably overbaked them. Look for the brownies to crack on top to know when they are done.
Fresh cherries are typically in season from May to July.
Any kind of chocolate will work in this recipe. I like to use dark chocolate for a deeper flavor.
Chocolate Cherry Brownies
Equipment
- 8x8-inch pan
- cherry pitter
Ingredients
- 6 tablespoon butter, melted and browned
- ½ cup chocolate, chopped
- ⅓ cup oil
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 eggs, plus 1 egg yolk
- 1 ½ tsp espresso powder
- ½ cup cocoa powder
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup cherries, pitted and chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 and prepare an 8x8 pan with parchment or grease and set to the side.
- Brown the butter in a small saucepan on low heat. It will melt, foam, and then turn golden brown.
- While the butter is melting, chop the chocolate. When the butter is done, pour the butter over the chocolate and add the oil. Mix until the chocolate is fully melted.
- In a large bowl, combine the sugars, salt, eggs, and espresso powder. Whisk until light and foamy, about 5-6 minutes. Add in the melted chocolate and mix to combine.
- Fold in the flour and cocoa powder, making sure everything is fully combined. Mix in the cherries.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes. Let the brownies cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes before cutting.
Susan says
No flour amount listed in ingredients?
Margo says
¾ cup of all purpose flour!