Cherry Brownies

This chocolate cherry brownie recipe is soft and fudgy, studded with plump cherries baked right in. Made in one bowl, I love how simple and delicious they turn out!

Looking for more brownie recipes? Try my Nutella brownies, zucchini brownies, and avocado brownies.

I’m a big fruit and chocolate fan, so I’m always looking for new ways to incorporate sweet fruits in my chocolate dessert, especially brownies. That means we make a lot of strawberry brownies and double chocolate cherry brownies.

Table of Contents

1. Why I love this recipe
2. Ingredients needed
3. How do you make cherry brownies?
4. Recipe tips and variations
5. Storage instructions
6. More delicious brownies to try
7. Cherry Brownies (Recipe Card)

Why I love this recipe

• Way better than a box mix. I’ve had more boxed mixed brownies than I can count, and let me tell you, these are way better, yet they’re just as easy to make. 
• Baked in under 30 minutes. And the prep time is over in half that. 
• Amazing texture. Fudgy brownies laced with half-melted chocolate chips and juicy cherries–how could they get any better?
• Naturally gluten-free. No flour or grains are in this recipe, and they’re easy to make vegan with a few simple swaps.

Ingredients needed

• Coconut oil. I used refined coconut oil, so there is no coconut flavor. Alternatively, vegetable oil or melted butter can work as well. 
• Unsweetened chocolate. Make sure to use unsweetened natural cocoa powder since these brownies already have plenty of sweetness.
• Sugar. I used white sugar to give the brownies a crackly top, but brown sugar also works.
• Eggs. Use room-temperature eggs. To make vegan brownies, swap the eggs for ½ cup of unsweetened applesauce or make 2 flax eggs by combining 2 tablespoons of flax seeds with 6 tablespoons of water. 
• Arrowroot powder. To thicken the batter in place of all-purpose flour. Cornstarch can also be used. 
• Cocoa powder. Use unsweetened Dutch-processed cocoa powder for a rich, earthy chocolate flavor. 
• Chocolate chips. I used semisweet chocolate chips, but any chocolate chips of choice can be used, including our vegan dark chocolate chips. For pools of chocolate throughout, use a chopped-up chocolate bar. 
• Cherries. Fresh cherries or frozen cherries can be used. Be sure to remove the pits from them. Do not use dried cherries, as they will give the brownies a sour flavor.

How do you make cherry brownies?

I’ve included step-by-step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. For the full printable recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Step 1- Prep. Preheat the oven to 350F/180C and line an 8×8-inch deep baking pan or brownie pan with parchment paper. 

Step 2- Melt the coconut oil. In a small saucepan over low heat, add the coconut oil and unsweetened chocolate and stir to melt until combined and glossy. Once combined, remove from the heat. 

Step 3- Make the brownie batter. To the saucepan, add the sugar and whisk to combine, followed by the 2 eggs, cocoa powder, and arrowroot powder. Whisk until you have a smooth batter, then fold in most of the cherries and chocolate chips. 

Step 4- Assemble and bake. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and top with the remaining cherries and chocolate chips. Bake for 28-30 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean. 

Step 5- Cool and slice. Remove brownies from the oven and allow to cool in the pan completely before slicing into 12 pieces.

Recipe tips and variations

• Use high-quality chocolate/chocolate chips. Trust me, it’ll make all the difference and make for flavorful, richly-colored brownies.
• Let the coconut oil mixture cool to room temperature. If you add the eggs to the coconut oil when it’s warm, you’ll scramble them. Ask me how I know!
• Make cakier brownies. Remove them closer to the 35-minute mark. 
• Add more cherry flavor. If you have any cherry juice, canned cherries in liquid, or cherry brandy lying around, add a splash for an even stronger cherry flavor. If you really want to go gaga, swap the fresh cherries for a can of cherry pie filling!
• Cut them when they’ve cooled completely. Otherwise, you risk making a mess when you slice. 
• Serve the brownies with a scoop of ice cream for a more decadent treat.

Storage instructions

To store: Brownies can be stored at room temperature, in a sealed container. They will keep this way for up to 3 days. t is best to refrigerate chocolate cherry brownies, and they will keep for up to 7 days. Be sure to cover them in plastic or in a container.

To freeze: Wrap the brownies in parchment paper and place it in a ziplock bag. Store in the freezer for up to 6 months.

More delicious brownies to try

• Keto Brownies
• Vegan Brownies
• Flourless Brownies