These chocolate and cherry brownies are so good! They are made with chocolate and cocoa powder and are topped with fresh cherries and ganache.
If you love chocolate, then these chocolate and cherry brownies are for you. I’ve made many batches of brownies over the years: Romanian Meringue Brownies, Philadelphia Cream Cheee Brownies, Vegan Coconut Cream Brownies, Low Calorie Black Bean Brownies, and so on, but I’ve never made any containing so much chocolate.
Absolute chocolate madness! Chocolate in the fudgy brownie recipe, chocolate on the cherry brownies, and lots of fresh juicy cherries to make things perfect.
For more ways of dealing with a glut of cherries, learn How to Preserve Cherries or make some Cherry Sauce.
Recipe ingredients
Cherries: Fresh sweet cherries; you will need 700 g/ 1 ½ lb weighed before pitting. Fresh sour cherries are also a good option.
Chocolate: When baking with so much chocolate, I always recommend using the best brand you can afford; the cake can only be as good as the chocolate is.
- I recommend using European-style chocolate (German, Swiss, Belgian, etc.) for genuine results. I use chocolate with 50 to 70 % cocoa.
Cocoa powder: Unsweetened, Dutch-processed cocoa powder.
Brown sugar: It helps make the brownies moist and chewy; I would not substitute it with white granulated sugar.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to make chocolate and cherry brownies?
Batter
- Step #1: Melt the chocolate and butter. Fill a pan with hot water, about a quarter full. Place the heatproof bowl on top, making sure that its bottom doesn’t touch the water.
- Step #2: Add cubed butter and chopped chocolate and stir until melted and smooth. Don't let the mixture get too hot; remove it from the heat if it does.
- Step #3: Beat the eggs and the sugar in a large bowl with a hand mixer for about 5 minutes or until thick. Alternatively, use a stand mixer.
- Step #4: Immediately stir the melted chocolate mixture into the sugar mixture. Add the flour mixture and mix only shortly, just enough to combine the ingredients.
- Step #5: Pour the brownie batter into the prepared tin and level.
- Step #6: Bake for about 25 minutes. The brownies should remain gooey in the middle and not get too dry. Let cool completely in the pan; they will set more while they cool.
Topping
- Place the cooled cake on a serving platter.
- Wash and pit the cherries (a cherry pitter works best - the Amazon link opens in a new tab). Set aside.
- Prepare water bath: Chop the chocolate finely. Place it in a small heatproof bowl. Fill a pan with hot water, about a quarter full. Place the heatproof bowl on top, and make sure that its bottom doesn’t touch the water.
- Stir until melted and smooth. Transfer to a larger bowl and let cool slightly while you whip the cream.
- Whip the heavy cream shortly (7). Add 2 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder and continue whipping until stiff.
- At first, fold only about ¼ of the whipped cream into the chocolate. Once incorporated, fold in the rest. Work carefully but rather quickly (8).
Assemble
- Spread about ¼ of the chocolate-cream mixture over the brownie. Top with about ½ of the fresh fruit.
- Cover with the remaining chocolate cream and the remaining cherries.
- Place the cherry chocolate brownies into the refrigerator for about 2 hours or until set.
- Cut the chocolate and cherry brownies into pieces using a sharp knife before serving.
For more chocolate and cherry delight, make Chocolate Cherry Cake, Chocolate Cherry Bundt Cake, or Chocolate Cherry Muffins.
Expert tips
Always use a digital kitchen scale in baking (the Amazon link opens in a new tab); it guarantees for best results. A scale is particularly important in this recipe as it will allow you to measure the butter and flour exactly; these are the two ingredients that are most difficult to measure with a cup. Also, chopping and measuring the chocolate into cups is very inaccurate.
Bain-marie: When melting the ingredients, ensure that the bowl with the butter-chocolate mixture and then chopped chocolate for the ganache doesn’t touch the water in the pot and that the water never gets too hot. If the water threatens to come to a simmer, remove it from the heat source and continue stirring until the mixture is smooth.
Recipe FAQ
Yes. Defrost the cherries in a sieve and drain the excess liquid well. Pat them dry with paper towels and continue with the recipe.
The baking time depends very much on your oven. Shake the pan gently; if the batter still wobbles in the middle, they are not done yet. Bake for another 3-4 minutes and check again.
How to store?
Refrigerate the choc and cherry brownies in an airtight container for 3-4 days. Don’t keep them at room temperature for more than 1 day, less if the weather is hot. As the cherries are uncooked, they will spoil quickly at room temperature.
Chocolate and Cherry Brownies
Equipment
- Baking tin about 24 x 24 cm/ 9.5 x 9.5 inch
Ingredients
Brownies:
- 200 g all-purpose flour 7 oz/ 1 ¾ cup, Note1
- 50 g unsweetened cocoa powder 1.7 oz/ ½ cup
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 250 g unsalted butter 9 oz/ 1 cup + 2 tablespoons
- 300 g bittersweet chocolate 10.5 oz, 50 % cocoa, Note 2
- 4 eggs large
- 250 g brown sugar 9 oz/ 1 ⅓ cup
- pinch of salt
Topping:
- 700 g fresh sweet cherries 1.5 lb
- 200 g bittersweet chocolate 7 oz, 50 % - 70 % cocoa, Note 2
- 500 ml heavy cream 17 fl.oz/ 2 cups
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
Instructions
Cherry chocolate brownies:
- Preheat the oven to 180°C/ 360°F. Grease the baking tin and line its bottom with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides.
- Dry ingredients: Combine flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. Set aside.200 g all-purpose flour/ 1¾ cup + 50 g unsweetened cocoa powder/ ½ cup + 1 teaspoon baking powder + pinch of salt
- Melt chocolate and butter: Fill a pan with hot water, about a quarter full. Place the heatproof bowl on top, and make sure that its bottom doesn’t touch the water. Add cubed butter and chopped chocolate and stir until melted and smooth. Don't let the mixture get too hot; remove it from the heat if it gets too hot.250 g unsalted butter/ / 1 cup + 1 tablespoon + 300 g bittersweet chocolate/ 10.5 oz
- Batter: Beat the eggs and the sugar in a large bowl for about 5 minutes or until the mixture is thick. Immediately mix in the chocolate butter mixture.4 eggs large + 250 g brown sugar/ 1 ⅓ cup
- Add the flour mixture and mix only shortly, just enough to combine the ingredients.
- Bake: Pour the mixture into the prepared tin and level. Bake for about 25 minutes. The brownies should remain somewhat gooey in the middle. Let cool completely in the pan.
Topping:
- Prepare cherries: Was, dry, and pit the cherries. Set them aside.700 g fresh sweet cherries/ 1.5 lbs
- Melt chocolate: Finely chop the chocolate. Place it in a small heatproof bowl. Fill a pan with hot water, about a quarter full. Place the heatproof bowl on top, and make sure that its bottom doesn’t touch the water. Stir until melted and smooth. Transfer to a larger bowl and let cool slightly while you whip the cream.200 g bittersweet chocolate/ 7 oz
- Whip the heavy cream shortly. Add 2 tablespoons cocoa powder and continue whipping until stiff.500 ml heavy cream/ 2 cups + 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- Combine: First, fold only about ¼ of the whipped cream into the chocolate. Once incorporated, fold in the rest. Work carefully but rather quickly.
Assemble:
- Place the brownie or a serving platter.
- Spread about ¼ of the chocolate-cream mixture over it. Top with about ½ of the pitted cherries. Cover with the remaining chocolate cream and finish with the remaining cherries.
- Refrigerate: Place the cherry chocolate brownies in the refrigerator for about 2 hours or until set.
- Cut into pieces before serving.
Notes
- Measurements: Please use a digital kitchen scale to measure the ingredients; it guarantees the best results (Amazon affiliate link). A scale is particularly important in this recipe as it will allow you to measure the butter and flour exactly; these are the two ingredients that are most difficult to measure with a cup. Also, chopping and then measuring the chocolate using cups is very inaccurate.
- I use European-style chocolate.
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