My brother and his wife came over for Easter dinner on Sunday. I had a white cake for dessert. It looked delicious. On Saturday evening as I was making my Algerian Cassoulet, I kept looking at the white cake and saying to myself "this isn't right." I have no idea why I thought that, I just couldn't get it out of my head. I know my brother prefers chocolate desserts, maybe that is why I decided to go ahead and make the Chocolate Cherry Bars for Sunday dinner too. I have absolutely no regrets about the extra work I created for myself the night before a holiday!
This is an absolutely delicious and rich, and a bit decadent dessert! I choose to make the bars in a 13 x 9 baking dish so they would be a bit thicker. They came out with a soft cake brownie consistency. The cherry pie filling provides a lovely cherry flavor throughout the cake part, and they are bursts of whole cherries as well.
The best part is the frosting. It whips together quite easily on the stove. I started it when there was about 3 minutes cooking time left for the bars themselves. You pour it over the bars while they are still hot, so you don't want to start to frosting too soon. It hardens as it cools, so if you wait too long, you will not be able to pour it. Once the bars and the frosting are cooled, the frosting forms an almost fudge like layer on top of the bars.
Absolutely amazing! I will be making them again! And they were brother and sister-in-law approved!
CHOCOLATE CHERRY BARS
1 Package Fudge Cake Mix
1 Can (21 Ounces) Cherry Pie Filling
1 Teaspoon Almond Extract
2 Eggs, Beaten
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Using solid shortening or butter, grease and flour a 10 x 15 jelly roll pan, or a 13 x 9 baking dish. Combine all ingredients in a bowl, stir until well blended. Pour into prepared pan.
For Jelly Roll Pan - Bake 20 to 30 minutes
For 13 x 9 Pan - Bake 25 to 30 minutes.
CHOCOLATE FROSTING
1 Cup Granulated Sugar
5 Tablespoons Butter
1/3 Cup Milk
1 Cup Semi Sweet Chocolate Pieces
In a small saucepan, combine sugar, butter and milk. Bring to a boil, boil for 1 minute; stirring constantly. Remove from heat, stir in chocolate pieces and stir until smooth. Pour over bars while they are still warm. Cool completely before cutting.
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