This recipe is essentially fancied-up brownies that are intended to be quick and easy. We used boxed brownie mixes and we are not apologizing. You’re going to make the brownies cake-ier by adding an extra egg to the batter. You can also bake your own brownies from scratch, of course. This recipe is best made ahead of time in steps because you’ll need cooling time and chilling time. You can easily convert this recipe to gluten and dairy free by using a gluten free brownie mix and dairy free whipped topping.
We talk you through this recipe in Episode 262 of our podcast. If you like these easy Black Forest Brownies, you may also like our recipes for Chocolate Cherry Scones and Cherry Clafoutis.
1 box brownie mix or gluten free brownie mix, or 1 batch of your own favorite brownies, with an extra egg added to the batter
1 jar of dark cherry jam
1 package of frozen sweet dark cherries (optional)
1 cup of whipping cream
⅓ cup of powdered sugar
Or
1 container of your favorite whipped topping or dairy free whipped topping
Preheat your oven to 350 and grease a 8×8” or 9×9” baking dish or pan. Set aside.
Prepare your brownies according to the directions, adding an extra egg for more cake-y brownies. Set aside until the finished brownies have cooled completely.
The next steps can be done anywhere up until 30 minutes or so before serving. You can also do all of these steps several hours or even days in advance and store in the freezer. Take the brownies out to sit at room temperature 30 minutes before serving.
Spread the cherry jam evenly over top of the brownies. If you’re using frozen cherries, cut them in half if they’re large, then scatter them over top of the jam. They amplify the Black Forest experience, but you do not have to use them.
If you’re making whipped cream, add the whipping cream to a medium sized mixing bowl and mix on high speed until soft peaks form. Add the powdered sugar in 2 or 3 additions and continue beating until the whipped cream forms and holds stiff peaks. Spread the whipped cream or your whipped topping over top of the jam and freeze the brownies for 30 minutes before serving. Bon appetit!