Tart Cherry Brownies (Vegan)
These ultra-fudgy brownies are packed with tart cherry flavor and dark chocolate chunks. They are simple to make, decadent, and dairy-free.
These rich and indulgent brownies are bursting with tart cherry flavor and dark chocolate chunks. A blend of cherry powder and tart cherry jam gives these melt-in-your-mouth brownies their irresistible cherry taste. Every bite brings the perfect balance of tart and sweet. They’re super easy to whip-up, beyond decadent, and completely dairy-free. Whether you’re satisfying your own sweet cravings or looking to impress friends at a get-together, these brownies are guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser!
What you will need:
This recipe focuses on the delightful combination of cherries and chocolate. I used tart cherry jam and cherry powder to create a rich cherry flavor. For the brownies, I chose dark chocolate and added chocolate chunks for extra indulgence. I specifically used Stonewall Kitchen Tart Cherry Jam, but any cherry jam or preserves will work well. The cherry powder I used was from Food to Live, which I ordered from Amazon.
- dark chocolate – I used Lindt Excellence 70% bar
- plant based butter with salt
- cherry powder – I used Food to Live organic cherry powder
- ground flax seed
- cane sugar
- plant based yogurt
- vanilla extract
- almond extract
- all purpose flour
- cherry jam – I used Stonewall Kitchen Tart Cherry Jam
- chocolate chunks – I used Good and Gather Dark Chocolate Chunks (from Target)
- powdered sugar
How to:
These brownies are as easy to make as they are delicious, so let’s get started. Preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare an 8×8-inch square pan by lining it with parchment paper. In a small container, mix the ground flaxseed with water, stirring thoroughly. Allow the mixture to sit for about 5 minutes to thicken.
The next step is to melt the chocolate and butter. Break the chocolate bar into pieces and combine it with the butter in a small pot. Place the pot over medium heat. Once the butter and chocolate have melted, remove the pot from the heat and stir until the butter and chocolate are well combined. Add the cherry powder to the melted chocolate/butter and stir until well incorporated. Set the pot aside.
In a medium bowl, combine the sugar and the flax mixture. Using a handheld mixer, blend the sugar and flax mix at medium-high speed for 2 minutes. Next, add the yogurt, vanilla extract, and almond extract to the bowl and blend on medium-high for an additional minute. Then, incorporate the melted chocolate mixture, blending on medium speed until all the ingredients are well combined, which should take 30 seconds to a minute. Add the flour to the wet ingredients and mix on low speed until everything is well combined. Lastly, gently fold the chocolate chunks into the batter.
Pour half of the batter into the prepared pan. Evenly distribute a half cup of the tart cherry jam over the batter. Pour the rest of the batter over the jam layer. Spread 1/4 cup of cherry jam and a handful of chocolate chunks over the batter. Bake the brownies for 40 minutes. The brownie edges should be firm and pulling from the sides of the pan, and the middle should no longer be jiggling. Once out of the oven, leave the brownies in the pan to cool to room temperature.
To prepare the cherry glaze, combine powdered sugar, water, and cherry powder in a small container. Stir the mixture until all the ingredients are well combined and smooth. Once the brownies have cooled to room temperature, drizzle the glaze over the top. The tart cherry brownies are now ready to be sliced and served. Store the brownies in an airtight container at room temperature.
Alright, let’s get started. Please make, bake and enjoy!
Tart Cherry Brownies (Vegan)
Ingredients
Tart Cherry Brownie
- 120 grams dark chocolate
- 70 grams / 5 tbsp plant based butter with salt
- 4 tbsp cherry powder
- 250 grams / 1¼ cups cane sugar
- 150 grams / 1¼ cups all purpose flour
- 2½ tbsp ground flax seed
- 4½ tbsp water
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp almond extract
- 60 grams / 4 tbsp plant based yogurt – room temperature
- ¾ cup Stonewall Kitchen Tart Cherry Jam
- ¾ cup chocolate chunks + extra for the top of the brownies
Cherry Glaze
- 4 tbsp powdered sugar
- 1 tbsp water
- 1½ tbsp cherry powder
Instructions
Tart Cherry Brownies
- Combine the ground flax seed and water together in a small container; stir to combine and set aside to thicken – about 5 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 350F and line an 8×8 square pan with parchment paper.
- To a small pot, add the dark chocolate and butter. Place the pot over medium heat until the chocolate and butter have melted. Remove the pot from the heat, add the cherry powder and stir until all ingredients are well combined.
- To a medium bowl, add the ground flax seed mixture and the sugar. Using a hand held mixer, blend the sugar and flax together on medium-high speed for 2 minutes. Add the yogurt, vanilla extract and almond extract to the bowl. Blend on medium-high for another minute. Add the chocolate mixture to the bowl and blend on medium speed for about 30 seconds. Add the flour to the bowl and blend on low speed just long enough to incorporate the flour.
- Add the chocolate chunks to the batter; fold-in just long enough to incorporate them. Pour half of the batter into the prepared pan. Scatter ½ cup of the tart cherry jam over the top of the brownie batter. Pour the rest of the batter over the jam layer. Scatter ¼ cup of the tart cherry jam over the top of the batter. Sprinkle a handful of chocolate chunks over the top of the brownies.
- Bake the brownies for 40 minutes or until the center is no longer jiggling. Allow the brownies to completely cool before removing them from the pan.
Cherry Glaze
- Add the powdered sugar, water and cherry powder to a small container. Stir until well combined and smooth.
- Once the brownies are completely cool, drizzle the glaze over the brownies. They are ready to be cut and served.Store the brownies in an airtight container at room temperature.
I love tart cherries, and what a glorious way to showcase the flavor, couched in this fudgy goodness! I hadn’t tried cherry powder before–love this delightfully decadent recipe, and the way small bites satisfy brilliantly!
Thank you so much Wendy! I love cherries and thought this was a nice way to incorporate cherry flavor. I love baking with the fruit powders; they are a great way to add intense flavor without throwing off the moisture balance.