Black Forest Brownie Bars
Rich, fudgy brownie bars featuring layers of chocolate, cherries, and whipped cream, inspired by the classic Black Forest cake.
Ingredients
For the Brownie Base
- 1 cup unsalted butter 2 sticks
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder high-quality for best results
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
For Topping
- 1 cup cherry pie filling
- 1 cup whipped cream for topping
- Chocolate shavings for garnish (optional)
Instructions
Preparation
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare a 9x13 inch baking pan by greasing or lining it with parchment paper.
- In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over low heat, then remove from heat and let it cool slightly.
- Stir in granulated sugar, then whisk in the eggs one at a time along with the vanilla extract until smooth.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt, then gradually combine with the wet mixture.
- Gently fold in half of the cherry pie filling into the batter.
- Pour the brownie batter into the prepared pan, spread evenly, and add dollops of the remaining cherry filling on top, swirling gently.
Baking
- Bake the brownie bars for about 25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs.
- Allow the brownies to cool completely in the pan.
Serving
- Once cooled, cut into bars and top each with a generous dollop of whipped cream and chocolate shavings.
Notes
For best results, use high-quality cocoa powder and do not overmix the batter. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.