These decadent Chocolate Cherry Bars are the ultimate crowd-pleasing dessert, combining the deep, rich flavor of chocolate cake with the bright, tart pop of cherry pie filling. The batter is simple to prepare using a boxed mix, but the result feels homemade and luxurious. As the bars bake, the cherry swirls create beautiful marbled patterns and pockets of juicy fruit throughout the dense, moist cake. Once cooled slightly, they are smothered in a thick, velvety chocolate frosting that ties everything together. Perfect for potlucks, summer gatherings, or a sweet treat after dinner, these bars offer a perfect balance of sweet and sour flavors. They are easy to make, require minimal cleanup, and always disappear quickly from the serving platter.
Chocolate Cherry Bar
Description
These decadent Chocolate Cherry Bars are the ultimate crowd-pleasing dessert, combining the deep, rich flavor of chocolate cake with the bright, tart pop of cherry pie filling. The batter is simple to prepare using a boxed mix, but the result feels homemade and luxurious. As the bars bake, the cherry swirls create beautiful marbled patterns and pockets of juicy fruit throughout the dense, moist cake. Once cooled slightly, they are smothered in a thick, velvety chocolate frosting that ties everything together. Perfect for potlucks, summer gatherings, or a sweet treat after dinner, these bars offer a perfect balance of sweet and sour flavors. They are easy to make, require minimal cleanup, and always disappear quickly from the serving platter.Ingredients
Directions
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Preheat your oven or Dutch oven according to manufacturer instructions, aiming for a baking temperature of 350&# 194;°F (175ðC).
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Line an 8x8 inch baking pan or Dutch oven with aluminum foil, leaving some overhang for easy removal, and lightly grease it.
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In a large bowl, combine the boxed chocolate cake mix, eggs, water, and oil as directed on the box. Mix until smooth and well-blended.
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Pour half of the chocolate batter into the prepared pan and spread it evenly.
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Spoon the cherry pie filling over the bottom layer of batter, distributing it evenly but leaving a small border around the edges.
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Drop spoonfuls of the remaining chocolate batter over the top of the cherries, covering most of the fruit but leaving some visible.
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Using a knife or skewer, gently swirl the batter and cherries together to create a marbled effect, being careful not to overmix.
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Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake (avoiding the cherries) comes out clean.
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While the cake bakes, prepare the chocolate frosting according to the package directions on the frosting package.
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Allow the cake to cool in the pan for about 10-15 minutes before spreading the frosting over the top while still slightly warm.
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Let the bars cool completely before cutting into squares to serve.
Nutrition Facts
Servings 8
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories 288.0kcal
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat 9.0g14%
- Saturated Fat 5.2g26%
- Cholesterol 20.2mg7%
- Sodium 22.5mg1%
- Total Carbohydrate 48.0g16%
- Dietary Fiber 2.2g9%
- Sugars 43.5g
- Protein 3.8g8%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.