Chocolate Cherry Brownie Cake is a rich fudgy chocolate cake topped with a sweet cherry compote and decorated with fresh cherries. It is a luscious dessert and a special treat, serve with cream or ice cream.
Chocolate and cherries is a classic combination, for example, Black Forest Gateau is a layered chocolate cake with cherries, Kirsch (cherry liqueur), and whipped cream.
My Chocolate Cherry Brownie Cake is a little more simple, a single layer brownie-style cake with a topping of cherry compote and fresh cherries.
What kind of chocolate should I use?
Use chocolate with a high cocoa content. That means dark chocolate rather than milk chocolate. I use a supermarket’s own brand plain dark chocolate and I cannot tell the difference between this and expensive 70% cocoa solids chocolate in the finished cake.
What kind of cherries should I use?
Use any type of sweet cherry, if you buy in season then they are more likely to have been grown in your own country and will also be sweeter and fresher.
Check out market stalls and farmer’s markets or see what offers are on at the supermarket. I base most of my summer fruit buying on what are the best deals, then look for ways to use the produce.
When are cherries in season?
The season for cherries in the UK is short, the first cherries are available in mid-June and the season ends in mid-September. If you live in a different country then availability may be different.
What are ground almonds?
Ground almonds or almond meal are simply the almond nuts that are blanched to remove the brown outer skin, then ground to a fine sand texture.
Can I make my own ground almonds?
Yes, you can. However, be careful not to over-process them or you may release the oil from the nuts and produce almond butter! Pulse the blanched almonds in a food processor or blender in short sharp bursts until you have a sand-like texture.
How to make Chocolate Cherry Brownie Cake
You will see that there are quite a few steps to making the Chocolate Cherry Brownie cake. None of the steps are difficult, simply follow the recipe for the most delicious rich chocolate brownie dessert cake.
Melt the butter & chocolate
- Put the butter and chocolate in bowl over a pan of just simmering water
- Leave to melt and stir very gently to combine.
Stir in the almonds & flour
- Cool the chocolate and butter mixture for 5-10 minutes
- Add the ground almonds and stir into the mixture
- Sieve the flour, then fold gently into the chocolate and almond mixture
Whisk the eggs and sugar
- Place the eggs and sugar in a separate bowl
- Whisk for 5 minutes until the mixture is pale and mousse-like
Add the egg mixture
- Put a little of the egg and sugar mixture to the chocolate cake batter to loosen the mixture.
- Then put the remaining egg mixture into the bowl and gently fold it into the chocolate cake batter with a metal spoon.
- Line the cake tin and pour or spoon the mixture into the tin
Bake the Chocolate Cherry Brownie Cake
- Bake the cake for 20-25 mintues, until set but slightly soft in the centre
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool in the tin before transferring to a wire rack
Make the cherry compote
- Remove the stones from the cherries and cut them in half
- Put the cherries in a saucepan with water and simmer for about 10 minutes
- Add the sugar and lemon juice and heat gently until all the sugar is dissolved.
- Bring the cherry compote to the boil and boil for about 5 minutes or until the compote becomes syrupy.
- Leave to cool.
*Make it Easy*
Use cherry jam or cherry pie filling as a substitute for the cherry compote.
Assemble the Chocolate Cherry Brownie Cake
When the cake and the compote are completely cold, you are ready to assemble the cake.
Add the cherry compote
- Place the cake on a serving plate (doily optional)
- Spoon the cherries from the cherry compote onto the top of the chocolate brownie cake
Prepare the cherries for the top of the cake
- Keep some of the cherry compote and syrup to serve
- Cut the remaining cherries in half and remove the stones
Finish the Chocolate Cherry Brownie Cake
- Cover the Chocolate Brownie Cake and cherry compote with fresh cherries
- Brush a little of the cherry syrup over the fresh cherries
- Make chocolate shavings with a block of dark chocoalte and a knife or vegetable peeler.
- Sprinkle the chocolate shavings over the cherries on top of the cake
Serving Suggestion
Serve with cream, creme fraiche or ice cream. Drizzle over some of the remaining cherry syrup from the compote for an extra special treat.
More Cherry Desserts from Farmergirl Kitchen
Easy Chocolate Cherry Trifle is a quick and easy trifle. This recipe is a simple recipe that uses many ready-made items that combine to make a luscious dessert.
Rich and squidgy Chocolate Cherry Brownies this brilliant recipe is high in chocolate and low in flour, making the perfect fudgy brownie.
Easy Chocolate Button Cake is a super simple recipe for a rich and delicious cake. This chocolate cake makes a great birthday cake and is always a hit with all the family. Perfect for beginning bakers, the simple decoration with giant chocolate buttons is something that anyone can do.
More Cherry Desserts
- Dark Chocolate, Almond & Cherry Fudge – Curly’s Cooking
- Black Cherry Ice Cream – Tempting Recipes by Amy Treasure
- Black Forest Cheesecake – Sew White
Chocolate Cherry Brownie Cake
Equipment
- 20 cm cake tin
- saucepan
- small bowl
- Large bowl
- weighing scales
- Measuring spoons
- electric mixer or whisk
Ingredients
For the Chocolate Brownie Cake
- 200 g dark chocolate broken
- 125 g butter unsalted, cubed
- 50 g ground almonds
- 100 g self raising flour
- 4 Free Range Eggs Large
- 125 g Caster Sugar
For the cherry compote
- 250 g cherries
- 100 g sugar
- 60 ml water
- 1/2 lemon juice only
For the decoration
- 100 g fresh cherries halved and stones removed
Instructions
For the cake
- Preheat oven to 180C
- Place chocolate and butter in a bowl over a pan of simmering water.
- Melt, then cool and stir in ground almonds and flour.
- In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs and sugar for 5 minutes, until they are pale and mouse-like.
- Fold a little of the egg mixture into the chocolate mixture to loosen the thick batter, then add the rest of the beaten egg and sugar and gently fold in with a metal spoon.
- Line a 20cm cake tin with baking paper and spoon in the cake batter.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, until set but slightly soft in the centre.
- Remove from the oven, allow to cook in the tin then transfer to a wire rack.
For the cherry compote
- Remove the stones from the cherries and cut them in half
- Put the cherries in a saucepan with water and simmer for about 10 minutes
- Add the sugar and lemon juice and heat gently until all the sugar is dissolved
- Bring the cherry compote to the boil and boil for about 5 minutes or until the compote becomes syrupy
- Leave to cool
To Assemble
- Place the cooled cake on a serving plate and spoon the cherries from the cherry compote on to the top of the chocolate brownie cake.
- Decorate with fresh cherry halves. brush them with some of the cherry syrup and top with shavings of dark chocolate.
To Serve
- Serve with cream or ice cream and drizzle over the remaining cherry syrup
Video
Notes
Nutrition
This recipe was originally made and submitted to the We Should Cocoa challenge. You can find more chocolate recipes via the link.
Baking Addict says
Love your cherry cake!! Great choice for WSC this month – I'll see what I can whip up for you 🙂
Dom at Belleau Kitchen says
fab idea… I loved the blackberries and didn't think i'd like the fruit/chocolate thing at all so I look forward to using cherries… I have an idea already!
Hannah says
Ooh, your chocolate cherry cake looks delicious!
Good luck with the challenge :o)
Annes S says
Ooohh ooh and double ooh! Chocolate and cherries. Count me in!
Rebecca - Glutarama says
Stop the Press! I found my fav recipe of the week – WOW! I adore cherries and to marry them with a moist delicious chocolate brownie cake is pure genius. So easy to tweak and make GF too. Thank you so much for linking this week to #CookBlogShare
Janice Pattie says
Thank you so much, Rebecca. I love this combination of flavours too, glad you can see it as a GF bake too.
Choclette says
Great choice Janice. chocolate and cherries are a real classic – bring on those Black Forest Gateaux!
Your cake looks fabulous and sounds very tasty.
hungryhinny says
Cherries are a great choice – loads of things you could do but black forest gateau is such a classic I think that might have to be what I go for!
Karen S Booth says
OH yes! I may even make that classic Black Forest Gateau! GREAT choice Janice and I am IN!
Caroline says
Can I enter something I posted on my blog already (but very recently)? I don't eat cherries and have never made anything with them, so doubt I will make anything else this month – is that OK under your rules if I repost it and add the badge and labels etc? Please let me know!
The KitchenMaid says
Oh crumbs. Where am I going to get cherries from in the middle of winter. Oh, unless I find some soaked in booze… now you're talking!
Janice says
Sorry Caroline, I've checked with Choclette and it has to be new posts I'm afraid.
Lucy – cherries jam, cherry liqueur, cherries in booze all sound good to me 😉
All That I'm Eating says
I love cherries but haven't ever cooked them with chocolate. I think it's about time I did!
Jacqueline @Howtobeagourmand says
What a lovely cake Janice. Love cherries and chocolate and this cake even more as there is no cream in it! Yay!
Good luck with the challenge – I'm sure you'll do well!
ABC Liquor License says
Chocolate and Cherries? Totally a good combo. Definitely a must do recipe!
Chele says
That is a great cake Janice.
Hannah says
Beautiful cake and great challenge. Brilliant combo too!
Jacqueline says
It looks marvellous Janice. *slurp*
Jacqueline says
Oh and I will have a wee think.
Juliet says
Oh my! Looks gorgeous!
Kit @ i-lostinausten says
Oh my! This chocolate & cherry cake looks so tempting & lovely topped with cherries! 🙂
Fishfingers for tea says
Loving the look of your cake, chocolate and cherries is one of our favourite combinations! I'm joining in for the first time this month, though have meant to do so most months.
Janice says
Thanks for joining in for the first time, have you linked your entry on the linky thing?
Annes S says
I was reading the roundup and was like, ooh, mm, ooh , mmm, ohh! Can't decide what sounds best, I want them all!
Susan says
Your cherry cake looks yummy.
Janice Pattie says
Thank you Susan.
Nic | Nic's Adventures & Bakes says
Thanks for sharing, this looks very yummy 🙂
Nic | Nic’s Adventures & Bakes
Janice Pattie says
Thanks, Nic
Chloe Edges says
Looks gorgeous – cherries and chocolate is such a fab combo – can’t wait to try it!
Janice Pattie says
Thank you, it’s a real indulgence but so so good.
Kat (The Baking Explorer) says
This is my idea of heaven!!
Janice Pattie says
Pretty much mine too, Kat!
Cat | Curly's Cooking says
This looks incredible! I love cherries and love the idea of them with this delicious looking brownie cake.
Janice Pattie says
Thanks, Cat. It was really good, we all loved it.
Choclette says
Wish I’d remembered this recipe. It would have been perfect for my birthday. I can’t think of many cakes I’d have enjoyed more. As it was I had no birthday cake at all – what a shocking state of affairs.
Janice Pattie says
I think you deserve to have an un-birthday cake, I give you permission!
Eb Gargano | Easy Peasy Foodie says
I keep seeing this cake everywhere… and it’s taking all my self control not to lick the screen! Eb x
Janice Pattie says
Ha ha! I’m not sure the screen would taste too good. You’ll just have to make it for yourself.
Beth Sachs says
Wow Janice, this looks absolutely amazing. Great photo’s! I love cherries, chocolate and brownies so I’m going to have to give this a try!
Janice Pattie says
Thank you, Beth. Do let me know how you get on when you make it.
Rebecca - Glutarama says
If I could I’d give 5 this 6 stars! What a beautifully decedent cake and so, so simple to make gluten free to. I adore cherries and chocolate, a match made in heaven.
Janice Pattie says
Thanks, Rebecca that’s very kind.
Sandra Amos says
Definitely a great cake and made gluten free by using 75g all purpose gf flour blend with 25g oat flour and the 50g almond flour which I always have in the cupboard so used in place of ground almonds.
Janice Pattie says
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Sandra. Thanks for the info on making it gluten-free 🙂