Fudgy Black Forest Bars

These Fudgy Black Forest Bars are layered with a dense, brownie-like chocolate base, topped with a tart-sweet cherry layer, and finished off with a fluffy whipped cream or cream cheese topping. They're the perfect blend of rich chocolate and bright cherry flavor — all in a handheld treat that’s easy to serve at parties, potlucks, or holiday gatherings.

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Bake Time: 30–35 minutes

Cooling & Chilling Time: 2+ hours

Total Time: ~3 hours (includes chilling)

Servings: Makes about 16 bars

Ingredients:

For the Fudgy Base:

½ cup unsalted butter
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
¾ cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¾ cup all-purpose flour
¼ teaspoon salt

For the Cherry Layer:

1 can (21 oz) cherry pie filling

For the Topping:

1 cup heavy whipping cream (or use whipped topping)
2 tablespoons powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Optional Garnishes:

Shaved chocolate or mini chocolate chips
Fresh or maraschino cherries

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment or lightly grease.
In a saucepan, melt butter and chocolate chips over low heat, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat and stir in sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Fold in flour and salt. Spread batter evenly in the prepared pan.
Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with moist crumbs. Let cool completely.
Once the brownie base is cool, spread the cherry pie filling evenly over the top. (Stir in kirsch if using.)
Beat whipping cream with powdered sugar and vanilla until stiff peaks form. Spread over the cherry layer. (Or use Cool Whip for a shortcut.)
Chill for at least 2 hours to set layers.
Cut into bars and top each with chocolate shavings or a cherry, if desired.

Serving Suggestion:

Serve chilled with a fork or as a finger-food dessert bar. Perfect with coffee or a glass of milk!

Tips:

Want extra richness? Add chocolate chunks to the brownie layer.
For a shortcut, use a boxed brownie mix for the base.
Bars are easier to slice cleanly if chilled well and cut with a warm knife.

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🖨️ Printable recipe/ Download PDF