Chocolate Cherry Bars Delight (Printable Version)
Rich bars layered with chocolate, cherries, coconut, and peanuts. Perfectly baked and best served chilled or frozen.
# Everything You’ll Need:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 -
1 cup granulated sugar
02 -
1 cup all-purpose flour
03 -
0.5 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
04 -
0.25 teaspoon salt
05 -
0.25 teaspoon baking powder
→ Nuts and Coconut
06 -
0.33 cup shredded coconut
07 -
0.33 cup chopped peanuts
→ Wet Ingredients
08 -
0.5 cup (1 stick / 8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted
09 -
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
10 -
2 large eggs
11 -
0.75 cup sweetened condensed milk
→ Chocolate and Fruit
12 -
1.25 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips, divided
13 -
10 oz jar maraschino cherries, drained and halved
# Steps to Cook:
01 -
Heat the oven to 350°F. Grease a deep 9x9-inch baking dish and line it with parchment paper. Set aside.
02 -
In a large bowl, whisk together granulated sugar, all-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, salt, and baking powder until evenly blended.
03 -
Stir shredded coconut and chopped peanuts into the dry mixture until distributed evenly. Set aside.
04 -
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.
05 -
Add eggs one at a time into the chocolate-butter mixture, mixing thoroughly after each addition to achieve a uniform texture.
06 -
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.
07 -
Press the batter evenly into the prepared 9x9-inch pan, ensuring it reaches all corners and is level on top.
08 -
Evenly distribute the halved maraschino cherries and the remaining 1 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips over the surface of the batter.
09 -
Gently pour the sweetened condensed milk evenly over the cherries and chocolate chips, covering the top.
10 -
Bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes until the edges are golden and the center is set without jiggling.
11 -
Allow the bars to cool completely, preferably overnight, before cutting into desired square servings.
# Extra Suggestions:
01 -
For best texture and flavor, freeze small squares of the bars and enjoy them chilled.