Chocolate Cherry Brownies

Rich, decadent and completely irresistible- it's the best way to describe these chocolate cherry brownies. With paper-thin, crackly top, fudgy and gooey in the middle, and crispy, chewy corners and chunks of sweet and juicy cherries, these chocolate brownies tick ALL of the boxes and more!

They are quick and easy to make, and are ideal bake for any occasion. Made for sharing, but once you try them, you will want to keep them all for yourself!

This recipe is based on my Easy Homemade Brownies, and the ingredients are exactly same, but these chocolate brownies have sweet and juicy cherries added to them. If you preference is brownies without the fruit, you may want to check out my Tahini Brownies recipe.

Jump to:

• Ingredients
• Method
• Timings
• How to get shiny top on brownies
• Variations
• Storing and freezing
• FAQ's
• Top tip
• 📖 Recipe
• Comments

Ingredients

Here's what you will need to make these brownies:

• Unsalted butter.
• Sugar - caster or granulated sugar is fine.
• Flour - all purpose / plain flour.
• Eggs - use large or medium eggs.
• Baking powder.
• Salt.
• Cocoa powder - try to use unsweetened, Dutch-processed cocoa powder. Dutch processed (or alkalized) cocoa is much less bitter than natural cocoa powder, because it has been treated with an alkaline to reduce the acidity of cocoa. It is also usually darker in appearance, and will produce darker batter. UK doesn't really differentiate between Dutch processed and natural cocoa in recipes, so it is always best to check the ingredients list to make sure (check out this short article from Nigella, to learn more about cocoa).
• Chocolate - use good quality chocolate, best you can afford. I always use chopped chocolate in my baking, because it is higher quality than chocolate chips (which are often made with vegetable oil), and it produces better results. I'm a fan of dark chocolate in baking (70% cocoa solids), but I often use both, dark and milk chocolate when making brownies. For any readers based in the US, you can use semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, or a mixture of both.
• Cherries - you can use fresh, tinned or frozen cherries in this recipe. I have tested this recipe multiple times, and with each type of the cherries. My personal preference is to use fresh cherries, as they are most flavoursome. If using frozen cherries, there is no need to defrost them first. One thing that I would say about using frozen cherries is that you may want to add few extra minutes to the baking time, as they add more moisture to the bake. I know some recipes are also using maraschino cherries, but I haven't tried it myself.

Scroll down to the bottom of this post for the recipe card and full list of the ingredients.

Method

Watch the video in the recipe card to see how I made these brownies.

Start with greasing and lining the 8 x 8 baking tin with baking paper, leaving plenty of overhang (it helps with removing the brownies from the tin later). Preheat the oven to 170C and make sure the baking shelf is in the middle part of your oven.

Firstly, melt the butter with 100g of sugar. Wait until the sugar has fully dissolved and you have thick, glossy mixture. Remove it from the heat and set aside to cool slightly.

Place the eggs and remaining sugar in a large bowl, and using a hand-held electric mixer or kitchen whisk, beat the eggs and sugar until they are pale and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes. The mixture should almost double in volume and be really airy.

Tip all of the dry ingredients into a bowl and whisk to combine. Pour the melted butter into the bowl with eggs and sugar. Add dry ingredients into wet ones, fold the ingredients together using a spatula or wooden spoon, but do not overmix it. Few streaks of flour remaining are just fine.

Lastly, fold in the chopped chocolate and cherries. Mix it all to combine again, then transfer the brownie batter into the prepared baking tin. You can scatter some more chocolate and cherries on top if you desire.

Timings

Bake the brownie for 38- 40 minutes. It should be slightly under-baked (it will continue to cook and set after you take it out of the oven), and the toothpick inserted in the middle should come out with crumbs attached to it.

If you like your chocolate brownie to be more cakey, simply bake it for a bit longer (40- 45 minutes), or until toothpick inserted in the middle comes out almost clean.

Allow the brownie to cool before slicing it. Wait at least an hour, or ideally, until they have cooled completely. The longer you wait before slicing them, the more set they will be. I always allow them time to cool down, then transfer them to the fridge to chill overnight, but it's up to you whether you want (and can!) wait for that long.

How to get shiny top on brownies

Different recipes claim different things when it comes to achieving that iconic, paper-thin and shiny brownie top. Based on my experience and years of baking brownies, I believe that there are two things to watch out for:

• Make sure you beat the eggs and sugar together until the mixture is light, pale and fluffy (almost doubled in volume). You want to beat as much air into the eggs as possible, just like you do when making meringue.
• Use good, high quality chocolate/ chocolate chips- it will make ALL the difference! I promise you, using quality chocolate will guarantee that beautiful, glossy top we all aiming for!

Variations

• Mini brownie bites - Instead of slicing the brownies into medium size squares, cut them into small bite-sized chunks.
• Gluten-free brownies - Use good quality gluten free flour instead of the plain / all purpose flour to turn this recipe into gluten free version.
• Vegan brownies - For the vegan version, check out this recipe for Fudgy Vegan Brownies from the lovely Britt and her blog Banana Diaries. Just add some chopped cherries to the brownie batter!
• Top it up - Use chocolate frosting or chocolate buttercream to top the brownies with for an ultimate chocolate treat! You could also drizzle them with some chocolate or caramel syrup.

Storing and freezing

Store these chocolate cherry brownies at room temperature for up to 4 days, or keep them in the fridge, for up to 6 days.

They can also be frozen for up to 3 months. Wrap each slice into a double layer of clingfilm and cover with kitchen foil. Thaw them in the fridge overnight and bring to room temperature before serving.

You can also reheat them in the microwave or in the oven (set at low temperature).

FAQ's

Will frozen or tinned cherries work in this recipe?

Yes! Any type of cherries will work. If using frozen cherries, there is no need to defrost them first. You may have to add few more minutes to the baking time, when using frozen cherries. If you are using tinned cherries, you can save the juice from the can and add it as a drizzle on top after your brownies have baked! You could also use Morello cherries, if you'd like.

How do I get the clean, neat cut on my brownies?

Use a large, sharp knife to slice the bake with. To get that super-clean, neat cut, simply wipe the knife clean between each cut. I always run my knife under the hot water, then wipe it clean before slicing. Also, make sure the brownie has chilled completely and had time to set.

Can I use different size baking tin?

You can use different size and shape baking tin to make these brownies. The 9-inch (23 cm) round cake tin will work really well. If you are using rectangular baking pan, it is more likely to be larger and shallower, so you will have to adjust the baking times (reduce it slightly, as they will bake quicker).

If using smaller, square baking tin, the bake will be deeper, so you will more likely have to add some extra time to baking.

Why are my brownies not gooey?

You probably baked them for too long. Brownies should came out of the oven slightly under-baked. When you insert a toothpick or cake tester into the bake, it should come out with few crumbs still attached to it. Even if you over-baked them, they will still be delicious!

Top tip

Only slice your brownie once it has cooled completely. Ideally, chill your bake in the fridge overnight. If you try to cut it while the bake is still warm, it will not hold its shape and it will fall apart.

To pin this recipe and save it for later, use the button on the recipe card, or on any of the photos above.

If you try this recipe, or any other recipe on Anna Banana, please take a moment to rate the recipe and/ or leave me a comment. I love hearing from you , but it also helps the other readers who are thinking of making the recipe.

📖 Recipe