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4.7 from 33 votes

Chocolate Cherry Cordial Brownies

These brownies, with their contrasting chocolate and cherry layers, are both pretty and playful.

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
35 mins
Servings: 24 brownies
Calories: 222 kcal
Course: Baked Goods
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Brownie Base:
  • 4 ounces unsweetened chocolate bar, roughly chopped (I use Baker's brand)
  • ⅔ cup unsalted butter
  • 2 cups packed light brown sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Cherry Buttercream:
  • ¼ cup minced maraschino cherries
  • 2½ cups powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons heavy cream
  • 10 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon pure almond extract
  • 1 tablespoon maraschino cherry juice
Chocolate Glaze:
  • 5 ounces good quality semi-sweet chocolate baking bar, roughly chopped (I use Bakers brand)
  • 5 tablespoons unsalted butter

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly spray a 9″x13″ baking pan with non-stick spray and set aside.
  2. Brownie Base: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt chocolate and butter together, stirring regularly and taking care to not let it scorch. Remove saucepan from heat.
  3. Add brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla to the melted chocolate and blend well. Then add flour, baking powder, and salt, and stir to combine.
  4. Spread brownie batter in prepared pan, in an even layer. Bake for about 22 minutes, or until toothpick just barely comes clean. For a dense, fudgy brownie, take care to not over bake. Let cool completely.
  5. Cherry Buttercream: Place the minced cherries between two paper towels and lightly press, to extract excess juice. This ensures that the buttercream won't have too much liquid. You will need ¼ cup of minced and "dried" cherries for the buttercream. Set aside.
  6. In the bowl of a stand mixer, on low speed, combine powdered sugar, cream, butter, and almond extract. Once incorporated, beat on medium-high speed for 3 minutes, until fluffy. Add cherry juice and minced cherries, and beat until just incorporated.
  7. Spread cherry buttercream over cooled brownie base, in a very even layer. Place pan in freezer for 20 minutes.
Chocolate Glaze:
  1. In a small saucepan over low heat, melt chocolate and butter. Remove brownie pan from freezer. Then quickly, yet gently, spread warm chocolate glaze evenly over the cold buttercream. The glaze will be thin. Let cool until glaze hardens (refrigerate for 5 to 10 minutes to speed this up, if you like).
  2. To achieve clean cuts, dip a thin non-serrated knife into a tall glass of lukewarm water after each cut, and then clean off the knife blade before cutting again. The bars cut best when they are slightly chilled.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1 Calories 222kcal (11%) Carbohydrates 36g (12%) Protein 2g (4%) Fat 8g (12%) Saturated Fat 5g (25%) Polyunsaturated Fat 3g Cholesterol 37mg (12%) Sodium 50mg (2%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 31g (62%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 24brownies

Amount Per Serving

Calories 222

% Daily Value*

Serving 1
Calories 222kcal 11%
Carbohydrates 36g 12%
Protein 2g 4%
Fat 8g 12%
Saturated Fat 5g 25%
Polyunsaturated Fat 3g 18%
Cholesterol 37mg 12%
Sodium 50mg 2%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 31g 62%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.