Get ready to meet your new favorite dessert. These are not just any brownies; they are the ultimate Fudgy Cherry Brownies, boasting an intensely rich chocolate flavor, a gooey, dense center, and a beautiful crackly top. Each bite is packed with sweet, juicy cherries that perfectly cut through the deep cocoa richness. This recipe is surprisingly simple, delivering bakery-quality results right from your own kitchen. Forget boxed mixes forever—this is the only fudgy brownie recipe you’ll ever need.
Why This is the Fudgy Cherry Brownies Recipe You’ll Ever Need
There are thousands of brownie recipes out there, but this one is meticulously crafted for one thing: the ultimate fudgy texture. We’re talking dense, moist, and intensely chocolatey, never dry or cakey. Here’s why it works:
- Perfectly Fudgy Texture: The high fat-to-flour ratio, achieved by using melted butter and a minimal amount of flour, guarantees a super moist and fudgy crumb.
- Intense Chocolate Flavor: Using both unsweetened cocoa powder and dark chocolate chips creates a deep, complex chocolate experience that’s rich but not overly sweet.
- Juicy Cherry Bursts: The cherries add a wonderful tartness and moisture, elevating these from simple chocolate brownies to a truly decadent treat.
- Easy & Forgiving: No fancy equipment needed! Just a couple of bowls and a whisk. This recipe is straightforward enough for beginners and reliable enough for experts.
Key Ingredients for the Fudgiest Brownies
The secret to incredible brownies lies in using high-quality ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Unsalted Butter: Melted butter is the foundation of a fudgy brownie. It coats the flour proteins, limiting gluten development and ensuring a tender texture.
- Granulated & Brown Sugar: A combination of both sugars provides the perfect sweetness, moisture (from the brown sugar’s molasses), and contributes to that signature crackly top.
- Eggs: They act as a binder and provide lift. An extra egg yolk is our secret weapon for adding even more richness and fudginess.
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder: Choose a good quality Dutch-processed cocoa powder for a deep, dark chocolate flavor and color.
- All-Purpose Flour: Just enough to give the brownies structure without making them cakey.
- Dark Chocolate Chips: Pockets of melted chocolate make these brownies extra decadent.
- Cherries: The star of the show! They bring a bright, fruity contrast to the rich chocolate.
*
Choosing Your Cherries: Fresh, Frozen, or Canned?
You have options when it comes to the cherries, and each works beautifully:
- Fresh Cherries: If they’re in season, fresh, pitted Bing or Rainier cherries provide the best flavor and texture.
- Frozen Cherries: A fantastic year-round option. Do not thaw them before use; simply toss the frozen, pitted cherries in a tablespoon of flour to prevent them from sinking and making the batter too watery.
- Canned Cherry Pie Filling: For the ultimate easy cherry chocolate brownies, you can swirl in cherry pie filling. This will result in a sweeter, more jam-like cherry layer. Check out our Cherry Cheesecake Crescent Muffins for another recipe using this convenient ingredient!
How to Make Fudgy Cherry Brownies (Step-by-Step)
Making these from scratch is easier than you think. Follow these simple steps for brownie perfection.
- Prep Your Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease an 8×8 inch baking pan and line it with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides to easily lift the brownies out later.
- Melt Butter & Sugars: In a large microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter. Whisk in the granulated and brown sugars until fully combined. The mixture will be grainy.
- Add Eggs & Vanilla: Whisk in the eggs, egg yolk, and vanilla extract until the batter is glossy and smooth.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, and salt.
- Mix Wet & Dry: Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients using a spatula until just combined. Be careful not to overmix! Overmixing develops gluten and leads to cakey brownies.
- Fold in Goodies: Gently fold in the dark chocolate chips and the prepared cherries.
- Bake: Pour the batter into your prepared pan and spread it into an even layer. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs, but not wet batter.
- Cool Completely: This is the hardest part! You must let the brownies cool completely in the pan before lifting them out and slicing. This allows them to set, ensuring a clean cut and the perfect fudgy texture. If you love decadent chocolate desserts, you should also try our recipe for German Chocolate Pecan Brownies.
Pro Tips for Perfect Brownies Every Time
- Don’t Overbake: The key to a fudgy center is to slightly underbake the brownies. The residual heat will continue to cook them as they cool.
- Room Temperature Eggs: Using room temperature eggs helps them incorporate more smoothly into the batter, creating a more uniform texture.
- Measure Flour Correctly: Spoon the flour into your measuring cup and level it off. Scooping directly from the bag can pack in too much flour, leading to dry brownies.
- Let Them Cool: I can’t stress this enough. Slicing into warm brownies will result in a gooey mess. Patience is rewarded with perfectly neat, fudgy squares.
Storing Your Brownies
Store your fudgy cherry brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. If you need to keep them longer, they will last for up to a week in the refrigerator. For longer storage, you can freeze the uncut slab of brownies by wrapping it tightly in plastic wrap and then foil for up to 3 months.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cherry Brownies
Absolutely! Frozen cherries work wonderfully. Do not thaw them before using. To prevent them from making the batter too watery or sinking to the bottom, toss them in 1 tablespoon of all-purpose flour before gently folding them into the batter.
A crackly, paper-thin top is the result of dissolving the sugar well and whipping the eggs. Whisking the sugar with the hot melted butter helps dissolve it, and then vigorously whisking in the eggs creates a meringue-like layer on top that bakes into that perfect crackly crust.
Store the brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. Because of the moisture from the cherries, they are best enjoyed within the first few days. You can also refrigerate them for up to a week.
For the richest flavor, we recommend using a high-quality Dutch-processed unsweetened cocoa powder and good quality dark chocolate chips (60-70% cacao). This combination provides a deep, complex chocolate flavor that isn’t overly sweet.
The key to fudgy brownies is a higher fat-to-flour ratio. This recipe uses melted butter and less flour to minimize gluten development, resulting in a dense, moist, and gooey texture rather than a light, airy, cake-like crumb.
The Best Fudgy Cherry Brownies Recipe
Fudgy Cherry Brownies (The Best & Easiest Recipe!)
Ingredients
Equipment
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line an 8x8 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the melted butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until well combined.
- Whisk in the eggs, egg yolk, and vanilla extract until the batter becomes smooth and glossy.
- In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, and salt.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and fold with a spatula until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Gently fold in 3/4 cup of the dark chocolate chips and the pitted cherries.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan, spreading it evenly. Sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup of chocolate chips on top. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with moist crumbs attached.
- Let the brownies cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before lifting out and slicing into 16 squares.
Notes
If using frozen cherries, toss them in 1 tablespoon of flour before adding to the batter to prevent sinking.
Allowing the brownies to cool completely is essential for clean slices.
Share Your Masterpiece!
You’ve just created the most decadent Fudgy Cherry Brownies! We know you’ll love them as much as we do. If you make this recipe, don’t forget to leave a comment below and share a photo of your beautiful creation on Pinterest! For another boozy brownie twist, try our Baileys Buttercream Brownies. Happy baking!
