Frosted Chocolate Cherry Bars
These rich and fudgy Chocolate Cherry Bars are an irresistible treat made with just a handful of pantry staples. Moist chocolate cake mix combines with sweet cherry pie filling to create a decadent dessert that’s topped with a luscious chocolate frosting. Whether you’re baking for a holiday party or craving an easy homemade dessert, this simple bar recipe delivers big flavor with minimal effort.
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Why you’ll love this recipe
These frosted chocolate cherry bars are moist and delicious with a slightly sweet frosting. The frosting sets up in a couple of hours. These frosted chocolate cherry bars are especially perfect for the holidays because the fruity cherry flavor pairs so beautifully with the deep chocolate cake.
- Only a few ingredients – Using a cake mix and canned pie filling keeps prep quick and easy.
- Crowd Pleasing – A great go-to dessert for the busy holiday season.
- Rich and indulgent – The chocolate-cherry combination is both classic and crowd-pleasing. The frosting takes these bars over the top.
- Make Ahead – Make these bars no more than a day in advance of your party.
- Perfect for potlucks and parties – These bars cut cleanly and travel well.
- Great for gifting – Wrap them in festive boxes or tins for a homemade holiday treat.
Cherry Cake Bar Ingredients
Cherry chocolate bars come together quickly. After you read through the ingredients, you’ll understand why. This is an economical recipe too, because you don’t need an egg, and it’s just seven ingredients between the cake and frosting.
- Devil’s Food Cake Mix
- Cherry Pie Filling
- Pure Vanilla Extract – or you could substitute a teaspoon almond extract
For the frosting:
- Sugar
- Milk
- Butter
- Bag of Chocolate Chips – I used semi-sweet chocolate chips, but you only need 1 cup.
Don’t be surprised when the pan comes out of the oven and looks dimpled. The frosting will cover it up.
What can I serve with Chocolate Cherry Bars?
There are so many beverages to serve with this chocolate cherry bars recipe. Since these can be made any time of year, you can serve both hot and cold drinks. Everything from milk to hot chocolate, caramel coffee, mulled wine, or frozen cappuccino.
How can I serve Cherry Chocolate Bars?
Once the pan has cooled, cut into bars and serve at room temperature.
If you want to make this dessert extra decadent, serve it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Consider adding these bars to a holiday dessert board. Cut them into smaller squares and place them in holiday-themed cupcake liners to serve. You could add a small dollop of whipped cream to the top for a finishing touch.
How Do You Store Chocolate Bars?
Store the cut bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Any longer and they will get soggy. Serve them chilled or bring them to room temperature. A small scoop of vanilla ice cream on the plate next to a slice is an extra special treat. It’s totally optional, though, also totally decadent.
More Chocolate Cherry Recipes
If you love the chocolate and cherry flavor combination, try Black Forest cookies, cherry thumbprint cookies with a white chocolate drizzle, or a Black Forest Bundt.
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Cherry Chocolate Bars
Ingredients
Bars
- 1 15.2 ounce package Devil’s food cake mix
- 1 can 21-ounces cherry pie filling
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Frosting
- 1 cup sugar
- ⅓ cup milk
- 5 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350℉. Spray a 9 x 13" pan with baking spray with flour.
- In a medium bowl combine the Devil's food cake mix, cherry pie filling, and vanilla extract. Mix until all of the cake mix is moistened. Spread batter into the prepared baking pan.1 15.2 ounce package Devil’s food cake mix, 1 can 21-ounces cherry pie filling, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Bake for 25 – 30 minutes until the top springs back when touched. Make the chocolate frosting and spread it over warm cake.
CHOCOLATE FROSTING
- Combine sugar, milk, and butter in a saucepan. Bring to a boil and boil for one minute, stirring constantly.1 cup sugar, ⅓ cup milk, 5 tablespoons butter, 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Remove from heat and stir in chocolate chips until melted.
- Cut into bars for serving.
You seem to have left out the eggs and put the pie filling in twice.
Hi Mary, There are no eggs in this recipe. It comes together with just the cake mix, cherry pie filling, and vanilla. I took out the additional instance of the pie filling to make the recipe more clear. I hope you enjoy it.