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Don't these cherry brownies look absolutely gorgeous? Get this - they are vegan and gluten-free!
Now look at these vegan cherry brownies again. Did you ever think a vegan brownie recipe could turn out so rich and chocolatey? Trust me, these babies are just as flavourful, if not better than the ones made with butter and milk.
You can make a large batch of these brownies in just under an hour. Plus you don't need to be a top chef to make this recipe at home.
Consider these cherry brownies a ' healthy & approved' dessert, as it contains super healthy ingredients such as fresh cherries, coconut oil, almond milk, stevia, coconut sugar, and more.
Above all, thanks to the high quality cherries which I've used in this cherry brownies recipe, they are moist and have the perfect balance of flavours.
Don't believe me? Try out these cherry brownies and see for yourself how fast they disappear off the plate. Best of all, feel free to nibble away at these totally guilt-free.
Want another guilt free recipe, check out these Nut Free Cookies, it's not only nut free but also dairy, gluten and guilt free!
health benefits of cherries
Did you know that roughly 14 cherries make up your vital 5-a-day? If you think about it, cherries are extremely nutritious. In fact, cherries are so beneficial and healthy, you should actually try and eat them everyday while they are in season. Here are just a few health benefits of eating cherries regularly:
- Firstly, cherries contain loads of antioxidants.
- High in vitamin C as well as fibre.
- They can actually lower your cholesterol because they contain phytosterols.
- If you travel a lot, you should eat cherries. They are a source of melatonin, so they help prevent jet lag. In addition, they can also potentially improve the quality of your sleep.
- They contain anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, they are excellent after a heavy workout at the gym to relieve or reduce muscle soreness.
- Cherries also aid in the production of serotonin.
- Excellent source of anthocyanins for proper and healthy brain function.
- Lastly, they also contain potassium which regulates high blood pressure.
So, you don't need to feel the slightest bit of guilt when you are making these cherry brownies. Why should you pass on the opportunity to enjoy a dessert? It's all about eating healthier and keeping an eye out for healthy ingredients.
fudgy cherry brownies
One thing I really like about this recipe that you can top the brownies with a homemade chocolate fudge sauce. It's to die for!
chocolate covered cherry brownies
If you'd like to add more chocolate and intensity into this cherry brownie recipe, then feel free to add a dark chocolate glaze. Dark chocolate and cherries go hand in hand. In fact, it's one of my favourite combinations.
Try sourcing a vegan dark chocolate and melt it down with a hint of the remaining almond milk. Next, just drizzle the melted chocolate glaze over.
You can also use your leftover vegan chocolate chips for this step.
adult-only cherry brownies
Feeling like you would like to spice things up? There is no reason why you can't add a hint of rum to these cherry brownies. Recently, I've added Amarula liqueur to my amazing Amarula cheesecake recipe.Of course, this brownies recipe should then only be served to adults of legal drinking age.
dried cherry brownie
If you've purchased a large batch of cherries for these cherries brownies, no need to panic. You can dry them and make dried cherry brownies at a later stage.
Firstly, wash the remaining fresh cherries and remove their stems. Proceed to pit them and then cut them in halves. Next, place the fresh cherries skin side down onto a dehydrator tray. Dry them at 140°F from 6 to 12 hours.
Be careful not to over-dry the cherries. You are looking for a leathery texture, which should be somewhat sticky too. Lastly, store them in a container and keep them in a dark cooled place in your kitchen.
You'll see, they make an excellent substitute recipes calling for dried currants, lingonberries or raisins.
toppings
You can top the cherry brownies with the following ingredients:
- even more fresh cherries
- chocolate fudge sauce- as mentioned above
- a silky smooth ice cream like this one
- custard
cherry recipes
If you've got leftover cherries, there are plenty of recipes you can use them for. For instance, in addition to the cherry brownies try making:
- cherry bakewell cake (in fact you can even reuse the chocolate fudge sauce) for the topping. No need for excess sugar.
- cherry crumble pie - never a bad idea
- cherry muffins - if you fancy a healthy snack at work
- baked chocolate cheesecake with cherry coulis
By the way, if you love all things chocolate, check out this Chocolate Concrete recipe - a retro recipe!
📖 Recipe
Cherry Brownies
- Author: Michelle Minnaar
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 16 squares 1x
Description
Love cherries? Then you'll adore these cherry brownies. Made with fresh cherries and chocolate, this vegan recipe is gluten free and dairy free. Lower in calories too!
Ingredients
UnitsScale
- 30ml (2 tbsp) chia seeds
- 170g (1 ½ cup) gluten free flour
- 35g (â…“ cup) cocoa powder
- 2.5ml (½ tsp) baking powder
- 1.25ml (¼ tsp) baking soda
- 60ml (¼ cup) stevia
- 60ml (¼ cup) coconut sugar
- 1.25ml (¼ tsp) salt
- 2.5ml (½ tsp) instant coffee granules
- 125ml (½ cup) coconut oil, melted
- 125ml (½ cup) almond milk
- 5ml (1 tsp) vanilla extract
- 55g (â…“ cup) vegan chocolate chips
- 128g (1 cup) cherries, washed, pitted and sliced into small pieces
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180°C / 160°C fan / 390°F / gas mark 4.
- In a small bowl, mix the chia seeds with 90ml (6 tbsp) water. Set to one side while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.
- Place the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, stevia, sugar, salt and coffee in a large bowl and mix well, ensuring all the ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Once the chia mixture is set, mix the milk, oil, vanilla and chia mixture in a separate bowl.
- Mix the wet mixture in with the fry ingredients and mix well.
- Fold in the chocolate chips and cherries.
- Pour the brownie batter in a greased, square 23cm (9in) tin.
- Bake for 20 minutes.
- Let the brownies cool down completely before slicing.
- Serve with your favourite fruit, sauce or ice cream.
Notes
- Alternatively, instead of gluten free flour you can use wholemeal spelt flour.
- You can substitute the coconut sugar with brown or white sugar.
- Any type of chocolate chips will do if you have no food intolerances.
- When mixed with water, chia seeds form a thick gel which acts as a binding agent. It lends extra moisture to the brownie as well.
- If you can’t get hold of coconut oil, you can use just about any oil at your disposal.
- Not vegan? You can use standard milk. Otherwise, other plant-based milk will also work.
- If you can’t get hold of coconut oil, check out thesecoconut oil substitutes.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: cherry brownies, chocolate cherry brownies recipe, fresh cherry and chocolate brownies, vegan brownie recipe, gluten free dairy free brownie recipe
P.S. This is a sponsored post.
