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Homemade Black Forest brownies stacked on a plate, with layers of fudgy chocolate, cherry filling, whipped cream, and topped with cherries and chocolate shavings.

Black Forest Brownies

These Black Forest Brownies combine rich, fudgy chocolate with tart cherries and fluffy whipped cream to create a show-stopping layered dessert that looks bakery-fancy but is simple enough to make at home.
5 from 1 vote
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Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Black Forest Brownies, Black Forest brownies from a mix, Black forest brownies Nigella, Black forest brownies pioneer woman, Black forest brownies recipe, Black Forest brownies with cherry pie filling, Black forest brownies with cocoa powder, Blue bowl black forest brownies, Old fashioned black forest brownies
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Chill Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 55 minutes
Servings: 16 brownies
Calories: 310kcal
Cost: $13

Equipment

  • 1 9x13 inch pan (For baking the brownie layer)
  • 1 Electric mixer (For whipping cream)
  • 2 Mixing bowls (Large; for brownie and cream)
  • 1 Rubber spatula (For folding and mixing)
  • 1 Fine-mesh strainer (To drain cherries)
  • 1 Sharp knife (For cutting clean squares)

Ingredients

For the Brownies:

  • 8 oz Semi-sweet chocolate - Or ¾ cup cocoa powder
  • 1 cup Butter - Unsalted
  • 1.5 cups Granulated sugar
  • 3 Large eggs - Room temperature
  • 1 cup All-purpose flour
  • 0.5 teaspoon Salt
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract

For the Cherry Layer:

  • 1 cup Maraschino cherries - Drained and chopped
  • 1 cup Cherry pie filling - Rinse off excess syrup
  • 1 tablespoon Kirsch - Optional – or use vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon Cornstarch - Helps thicken and reduce bleeding

For the Whipped Cream:

  • 1.5 cups Heavy whipping cream - Cold
  • 3 tablespoon Powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
  • 2 oz Cream cheese - Optional – for stability

For Finishing:

  • As needed Dark chocolate shavings - For garnish
  • As needed Extra cherries - For garnish
  • As needed Cocoa powder - Light dusting optional

Instructions

  • Melt chocolate and butter until smooth. Beat in sugar, then add eggs one at a time. Stir in vanilla, fold in flour and salt. Pour into greased 9x13 pan and bake at 350°F for 25–30 minutes. Cool completely.
    Glass bowl with brownie batter and a raw egg being whisked, shown from above on a light surface.
  • Drain cherries well and pat dry. Rinse pie filling to reduce syrup. Chop cherries and mix with cornstarch and kirsch (if using). Set aside.
    Thick cherry filling with whole cherries in a saucepan, stirred with a black spatula, part of homemade Black Forest brownie preparation.
  • Beat cold heavy cream until soft peaks form. Add powdered sugar and vanilla. Beat to stiff peaks. Fold in cream cheese if using.
    Fluffy whipped cream in a glass bowl with a metal whisk, surrounded by vanilla extract, powdered sugar, and cubed cream cheese—part of homemade Black Forest brownie prep.
  • Spread cherry mixture evenly over cooled brownies.
  • Dollop or pipe whipped cream on top. Garnish with chocolate shavings and cherries.
  • Chill brownies for at least 1 hour. Slice with a sharp knife, wiping between cuts. Serve chilled.

Notes

Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be considered an approximation. Actual values may vary based on specific ingredients used and portion sizes

Nutrition

Serving: 85g | Calories: 310kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4.5g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 70mg | Sodium: 120mg | Potassium: 150mg | Fiber: 1.5g | Sugar: 24g | Vitamin A: 600IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 35mg | Iron: 1.5mg