Brownies with Cherry Pie Filling

Jump to Recipe·Leave a Review

These brownies with cherry pie filling are rich and chocolatey, infused with espresso, and feature a gooey layer of tart sour cherry filling. They are indulgent, fudgy, and unique.

brownies on parchment with cherries and cocoa powder

It's hard to improve upon brownies. They're already nearly perfect. But with a freezer full of sour cherries I picked at the height of summer, I thought, why not add some into brownies and see what happens. I didn't want them to get lost within the chocolate, so I briefly cooked them into a pie-like filling and spread this in between two layers of brownie batter.

The result was so freaking good.

🍫 Why I love these brownies

There's a layer of fruit filling in the middle. The tart cherries with their syrupy sweetness perfectly balance the richness of the chocolate. Also, have you ever had fruit in the middle of brownies? It's an interesting addition that's worth a try.
They're fudgy. And everyone knows the best brownies are fudgy.
They have an intense chocolate flavor. Dark chocolate, cocoa powder, and ground espresso combine to create a rich and intense flavor profile.

If you've been here before, you know I have a thing for cherries. Here are a few of my other cherry recipes you'll want to check out next:

Jump to:

🍫 Why I love these brownies
🍒 Ingredients
🫐 Substitutions & Variations
🥄 How to make brownies with cherry pie filling
✨ Helpful Tips
🍳 Equipment
🥡 Storage
🙋🏻‍♂️ FAQ
☕ Pairing
📖 Recipe
🧁 Related Recipes
💬 Comments

🍒 Ingredients

Here's everything you need to make these brownies.

Key Ingredients

Cherries: I like to use sour cherries, though sweet cherries could also work here. I pick a bunch at a local orchard each summer, pit them, and freeze them for use throughout the year. If you don't have access to or time to visit an orchard, look for frozen cherries in your grocery store.
Chocolate: I recommend a good dark chocolate around 60-70%, which is dark but not bitter. Either use a roughly chopped bar of chocolate or chocolate chips. This chocolate will be melted, so its form isn't important.
Ground espresso: I like to add coffee or espresso to my chocolate-based recipes because it enhances the flavor and balances sweetness. Many recipes call for ground espresso powder - a specialty baking product - but I always use finely ground espresso or coffee beans and have found that to work well. The ground coffee melds into the liquid ingredients and you don't get any grittiness.
Cocoa powder: A quality cocoa powder, like a quality bar of chocolate, can make all the difference in a baking recipe. My go-to is the triple cocoa blend from King Arthur. It's a combination of Dutch-processed, natural, and black cocoa powders.
Butter: You'll need two sticks of unsalted butter for these brownies.
Brown sugar and white sugar: Brown sugar adds moisture and helps achieve a fudgy texture, while white sugar gives the brownies structure and a little crispness on top.
Flour: This brownie recipe requires a cup of all-purpose flour.

Check out the recipe card below for the complete list of ingredients and quantities.

🫐 Substitutions & Variations

Blueberry or raspberry brownies: Substitute an equal amount of either fruit.
Brownie mix: No time to make your brownie batter? (I'd argue that the batter doesn't take much longer.) But a store-bought mix is fine (here are some suggestions on which to use). Follow the instructions on the mix, except you'll want to make the cherry pie filling as I describe and spread it over half of the batter before covering it with the remaining batter. I can't really guarantee your results as brownie mixes vary so much.
Store-bought cherry pie filling: You can also use a store-bought filling here. Skip the filling ingredients and instructions and use your filling as described in a layer in the middle of the batter.
Without espresso: If you're not into coffee or can't have caffeine, omit the ground espresso from the recipe.

🥄 How to make brownies with cherry pie filling

sugar being poured into a pan of cherries

Step 1: Combine cherries, sugar, and water in a saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat until the fruit is softened.

Step 2: Add cornstarch mixed with water and continue cooking a few more minutes until the cherry filling has thickened and is glossy. Stir in the vanilla and let cool.

melted chocolate and butter being stirred in a bowl

Step 3: Melt the butter and dark chocolate in a double boiler on the stove or microwave for 20 second intervals, stirring often.

Step 4: Beat the eggs and sugars for 3-4 minutes until light and fluffy. Then stir in the vanilla.

chocolate being poured into beated eggs and sugar

Step 5: Pour the chocolate mixture into the eggs and sugar.

Step 6: Whisk together until smooth.

Step 7: In another bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients.

dry brownies ingredients being added to bowl of wet

Step 8: Fold the dry ingredients into the wet until incorporated.

cherry pie filling being poured over chocolate brownie batter

Step 9: Spread half the batter across the bottom of a greased 8x8-inch baking pan. Then, pour over the cherry filling.

Step 10: Cover the cherries with the remaining brownie batter. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 10 minutes, then lower the heat to 325 and bake for another 25-30 minutes.

✨ Helpful Tips

You only need to heat the butter and chocolate long enough for them to melt. You can remove the bowl from the double boiler (or microwave) on the early side and finish the melting process by stirring.
When mixing the wet and dry ingredients, avoid overmixing the batter, as this can lead to dry brownies.
When testing the brownies for doneness, try to avoid the filling, which remains liquidy. You don't want to overbake them.

🍳 Equipment

Square pan: Use an 8x8-inch square baking pan. A 9x9-inch pan may be used if you prefer the brownies to be a bit thinner.

🥡 Storage

Fresh: Store the brownie, covered, at room temperature, for up to four days.
Frozen: Storing a few of these in the freezer is great when you want dessert but can't be bothered to bake something fresh. To freeze, tightly wrap individual brownies and store them in a sealed bag for up to three months. Defrost at room temperature.

🙋🏻‍♂️ FAQ

What else can you add to brownie mix?

You can add just about anything you like to brownie mix or homemade brownie batter. Try nuts, dried fruit, or a fruity filling like these cherry pie filling brownies.

What is the best thickener for cherry pie filling?

The easiest thickener for cherry pie filling is cornstarch. Dissolve some into water - start with about a tablespoon - then add to your cooked fruit filling. Continue to cook for a few more minutes until the filling has thickened.

What sugar is best for fudgy brownies?

Using a combination of brown and white sugar will help create a fudgy brownie. The brown sugar will add moisture and softness and help create a fudgier texture.