Meet your new dessert obsession: Chocolate Chip Cherry Bars! These bars are a glorious marriage of gooey chocolate, sweet cherries, and chewy blondie, all baked to golden perfection in a single pan. If you love classic chocolate chip cookies and juicy summer cherries, this is the treat that brings their best qualities together in every irresistible bite.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Bursting With Flavor: Every bite blends gooey chocolate, tart-sweet cherries, and rich, buttery blondie for a deliciously decadent treat.
- One-Bowl Wonder: No need for fancy equipment—just a single bowl, a spatula, and a pan to whip these bars up in minutes.
- Customizable & Versatile: Swap in your favorite fruit, chocolate, or even nuts to make these bars uniquely yours, no matter the season.
- Crowd-Pleasing Simplicity: Whether it’s a picnic, potluck, or cozy night in, Chocolate Chip Cherry Bars always disappear fast!
Ingredients You’ll Need
You only need a handful of pantry staples and a few fresh ingredients to make Chocolate Chip Cherry Bars, but each one plays an essential role in achieving the perfect chewy texture, rich flavor, and those dreamy pops of cherry. Here’s why every ingredient counts:
- Unsalted Butter (½ cup, melted): Gives luscious richness, helps create the signature fudgy chew, and blends smoothly into the batter.
- Light Brown Sugar (1 cup, packed): Adds sweetness with a touch of caramel depth, helping the bars stay moist and tender.
- Large Egg (1): Binds everything together, lending structure and a little extra moisture.
- Vanilla Extract (2 teaspoons): Enhances both cherry and chocolate flavors, adding warm, aromatic notes.
- All-Purpose Flour (1 cup): Provides just the right amount of structure for a soft, chewy bar that isn’t dense.
- Salt (¼ teaspoon, optional): Balances and brightens the sweetness—highly recommended for flavor complexity!
- Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips (¾ to 1 cup): Melty puddles of chocolate throughout every bite—use more or less to suit your mood!
- Cherries (1 cup, fresh or frozen): The star of the show—their juicy bursts and vibrant color make these bars irresistible. (No need to halve; keep them nice and chunky!)
Variations
The beauty of Chocolate Chip Cherry Bars is how endlessly adaptable they are, making it fun and easy to tailor them to your taste, occasion, or whatever you have on hand!
- Nutty Crunch: Stir in ½ cup of chopped walnuts, pecans, or almonds for a crunchy contrast.
- White Chocolate Cherry Bars: Swap the semi-sweet chips with white chocolate chips for an extra sweet and creamy twist.
- Berry Good: Replace cherries with blueberries, raspberries, or a mix of your favorite berries—fresh or frozen both work beautifully.
- Gluten-Free Version: Use your favorite 1:1 gluten-free flour blend in place of regular flour for a GF-friendly treat.
- Cherry Almond: Add ½ teaspoon almond extract and sprinkle sliced almonds on top before baking for that classic cherry almond combination.
How to Make Chocolate Chip Cherry Bars
Step 1: Prep Your Pan & Ingredients
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with aluminum foil and give it a quick spritz with nonstick cooking spray. This ensures easy removal (and virtually no cleanup!). Remove any cherry pits if using fresh cherries—leave them whole for juicy chunks.
Step 2: Melt the Butter
Place your butter in a medium microwave-safe bowl and melt it—about 60 seconds should do the trick. Let it cool slightly so it’s warm but not scorching, which helps avoid scrambling your egg later.
Step 3: Mix Wet Ingredients
Stir the brown sugar into the melted butter until completely combined and glossy. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract, making sure everything is evenly mixed for a silky batter foundation.
Step 4: Add Dry Ingredients
Gently fold in the flour and salt, stirring just until you can’t see streaks of flour—don’t over-mix, or you’ll risk tough bars. The goal is a thick, slightly sticky batter that smells heavenly.
Step 5: Fold in Chocolates & Cherries
Add your chocolate chips and whole cherries to the batter, folding them in gently to distribute. Every scoop should have a bit of each for maximum deliciousness!
Step 6: Bake and Cool
Spread the batter evenly in your prepared pan, smoothing the top. Bake for 27–32 minutes, or until the edges start to pull away from the pan and the center looks set. Let them cool in the pan for at least 1 hour before slicing—this is the secret to perfect, tidy squares.
Pro Tips for Making Chocolate Chip Cherry Bars
- Cherry Choice: If using frozen cherries, don’t thaw—add them straight into the batter for less color bleeding and perfect texture.
- Don’t Overbake! Slightly underbake for gooier bars—the centers should look just set, as they’ll firm up as they cool.
- Lining the Pan: Lining with foil and spraying with nonstick spray ensures you can lift the cooled bars out easily for clean slicing.
- Chunky Cherries: Keeping cherries whole means every bite gets a juicy fruit pop—no need to halve!
How to Serve Chocolate Chip Cherry Bars
Garnishes
For an elegant touch, dust the bars with a little powdered sugar just before serving, or drizzle with melted chocolate for extra decadence. A sprinkle of toasted sliced almonds also adds eye-catching crunch!
Side Dishes
Chocolate Chip Cherry Bars pair beautifully with a scoop of vanilla or cherry ice cream, a dollop of whipped cream, or a cup of rich coffee or black tea for an afternoon treat.
Creative Ways to Present
Try cutting the bars into mini squares for bite-sized party treats, layering them between scoops of ice cream for a playful sundae, or even stacking them on a pretty cake stand for a stunning dessert centerpiece at your next gathering.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Keep leftover Chocolate Chip Cherry Bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days, or refrigerate for up to a full week—they stay chewy and flavorful the whole time!
Freezing
These bars freeze beautifully! Once completely cooled, wrap individual squares in plastic wrap and pop them in a freezer bag for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature whenever a craving hits.
Reheating
If you like your Chocolate Chip Cherry Bars slightly warm and gooey, microwave a single bar for 10–15 seconds—just until the chocolate turns melty again and the cherry flavor comes alive.
FAQs
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Can I use canned cherries instead of fresh or frozen?
Yes! Just be sure to drain canned cherries very well and pat them dry with a paper towel before adding them to the batter, so you don’t end up with soggy spots in your bars.
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Can I double the recipe for a bigger batch?
Absolutely—double the ingredients and bake in a 9×13-inch pan, checking for doneness around the 30–35 minute mark. Perfect for parties and potlucks!
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Do I need to thaw frozen cherries before baking?
Nope! Add frozen cherries straight to the batter—they’ll bake up perfectly, and this prevents them from staining the batter or watering it down.
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How do I keep Chocolate Chip Cherry Bars from sticking to the pan?
Lining your pan with foil and spraying with nonstick spray makes it super easy to lift out the bars and slice them neatly once cool.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for a treat that combines nostalgia and wow-factor, Chocolate Chip Cherry Bars really deliver. I hope these become a staple in your baking repertoire—don’t wait for cherry season to give them a whirl. Happy baking, and don’t forget to share a square with someone you love!
Print
Chocolate Chip Cherry Bars Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 9 bars 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These Chocolate Chip Cherry Bars are a delightful combination of sweet and tart flavors in a chewy, decadent bar. With a buttery base studded with chocolate chips and juicy cherries, these bars are perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
For the Bars:
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted (1 stick)
- 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt (optional)
- 3/4 to 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup cherries, fresh or frozen*
Instructions
- Preheat oven and prepare the pan: Preheat oven to 350F. Line an 8-by-8-inch pan with aluminum foil, spray with cooking spray; set aside.
- Melt the butter: In a medium microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter, about 60 seconds.
- Mix the wet ingredients: To the melted butter, add the brown sugar and stir to combine. Add the egg, vanilla, and stir to combine.
- Add the dry ingredients: Add the flour, salt, and stir until just combined, taking care not to over mix.
- Fold in the mix-ins: Fold in chocolate chips and cherries. Pour batter into prepared pan.
- Bake: Bake for 27 to 32 minutes until set.
- Cool and slice: Allow bars to cool for at least 1 hour before slicing and serving.
Notes
- You can use fresh or frozen cherries for this recipe.
- Store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator for up to 1 week, or freeze for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 240
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 90mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 35mg
