Description
Chocolate Cherry Bars Delight is a rich and indulgent dessert that combines the sweetness of chocolate and cherries for a delightful treat.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 0.5 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 0.25 teaspoon salt
- 0.25 teaspoon baking powder
- 0.33 cup shredded coconut
- 0.33 cup chopped peanuts
- 0.5 cup (1 stick / 8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 0.75 cup sweetened condensed milk
- 1.25 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips, divided
- 10 oz jar maraschino cherries, drained and halved
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 350°F. Grease a deep 9×9-inch baking dish and line it with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together granulated sugar, all-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, salt, and baking powder until evenly blended.
- Stir shredded coconut and chopped peanuts into the dry mixture until distributed evenly. Set aside.
- In a separate bowl, combine melted butter, 0.25 cup of the semi-sweet chocolate chips, and vanilla extract. Stir until the chocolate chips have melted and the mixture is smooth.
- Add eggs one at a time into the chocolate-butter mixture, mixing thoroughly after each addition to achieve a uniform texture.
- Add half of the dry mixture to the wet ingredients and mix well. Then add the remaining dry ingredients and stir until all components are fully combined into a cohesive batter.
- Press the batter evenly into the prepared 9×9-inch pan, ensuring it reaches all corners and is level on top.
- Evenly distribute the halved maraschino cherries and the remaining 1 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips over the surface of the batter.
- Gently pour the sweetened condensed milk evenly over the cherries and chocolate chips, covering the top.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes until the edges are golden and the center is set without jiggling.
- Allow the bars to cool completely, preferably overnight, before cutting into desired square servings.
Notes
- For a richer chocolate flavor, consider adding an extra 0.25 cup of cocoa powder.
- Make sure to drain the cherries well to prevent excess moisture in the bars.
- These bars can be stored in an airtight container for up to a week.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 90mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 35mg