Cherry Chocolate Chip Blondies

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Soft, chewy, gooey, and full of cherries and melty chocolate chips.

Hey there!

Let me introduce you to your new favorite bar dessert: Cherry Chocolate Chip Blondies. These are everything you love about a classic blondie—sweet, buttery, a little caramel-y—but we’re loading them up with juicy cherries and chocolate chips. The combo is so good, it’s like a chocolate-covered cherry in blondie form.

It’s a one-bowl recipe, no mixer needed, and comes together super fast. Let’s bake.

🍒 Servings & Time

Servings: 12 bars
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Bake Time: 25–28 minutes
Total Time: About 45 minutes

❤️ Why I Love This Recipe

This recipe came out of a moment of “what can I do with these leftover cherries and half a bag of chocolate chips?” And wow—I wasn’t expecting them to be this good. The blondie base is buttery and rich, and the cherry-chocolate combo adds little pockets of sweetness and tartness in every bite.

One bowl, no mess
Cherries stay juicy and vibrant
Perfect combo of chewy and gooey
They freeze well for later
Fancy flavor with barely any work

🔬 Why This Recipe Works (Quick Science)

Brown sugar keeps the blondies moist and chewy
Melted butter = rich texture and easy mixing
Eggs bind everything and help it rise slightly
Tossing the cherries in flour helps keep them from sinking
Chocolate chips melt into the batter for those perfect gooey bits

🧠 Meal Plan Ideas

Bake a pan and portion out for dessert all week
Bring to potlucks, picnics, or casual dinner parties
Freeze slices and reheat for emergency sweet cravings
Serve warm with a scoop of ice cream for dessert

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

Overbaking – they’ll turn dry instead of chewy
Using wet cherries – pat them dry or the bars will be soggy
Skipping parchment paper – makes them hard to lift and slice cleanly
Overmixing the batter – leads to tough texture

🍽 What You’ll Need

Dry:

1¼ cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt

Wet:

½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
1 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Add-ins:

1 cup fresh cherries, pitted and chopped
½ tablespoon flour (for tossing the cherries)
½ cup chocolate chips

🧰 Tools You’ll Need

Mixing bowl
Whisk and spatula
8×8-inch baking pan
Parchment paper
Measuring cups and spoons
Knife and cutting board (for cherries)

🔁 Substitutions & Variations

Cherries: Use frozen (thawed and drained) or dried cherries
Chocolate chips: Use dark, milk, or white chocolate
Add nuts: Chopped pecans or walnuts for crunch
Make it gluten-free: Use a 1:1 GF flour blend

⏳ Make-Ahead Tips

Make and freeze the whole batch—wrap slices individually
Store baked blondies at room temp for 2–3 days or refrigerate for up to a week
Prep your cherries ahead and keep them pitted in the fridge

👣 Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Melt butter and mix with sugar

In a large bowl, whisk together melted butter and brown sugar until glossy and smooth.

melted butter being whisked with packed brown sugar in a large glass bowl, mixture turning golden and glossy, whisk resting in bowl,

Step 2: Add egg and vanilla

Whisk in the egg and vanilla extract until fully combined.

one egg and vanilla extract being whisked into the butter-sugar mixture, thick smooth batter forming, rich golden color,

Step 3: Add dry ingredients

Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt just until no streaks remain.

flour, baking powder, and salt being folded into wet batter with a spatula, texture thickening into classic blondie batter,

Step 4: Prep and fold in cherries

Toss the chopped cherries with ½ tablespoon flour. Fold them into the batter along with the chocolate chips.

floured chopped cherries and chocolate chips being gently folded into thick golden blondie batter with a spatula, mix evenly distributed

Step 5: Pour into pan

Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment. Pour the batter in and spread evenly to the edges.

cherry chocolate chip blondie batter being spread evenly in a parchment-lined square baking pan, cherries and chocolate visible throughout the batter, spatula smoothing the top

Step 6: Bake

Bake at 350°F for 25–28 minutes, or until the top is golden and a toothpick comes out mostly clean (a few moist crumbs are okay!).

blondies baking on the center rack of a modern stainless steel double oven, golden brown top forming, cherries and chocolate

Step 7: Cool and slice

Let blondies cool in the pan for at least 15–20 minutes before slicing into squares.

golden cherry chocolate chip blondies fully cooled in a square pan, cut into 12 even bars with one piece pulled out to show gooey inside

🧊 Leftovers & Storage Tips

Store blondies in an airtight container at room temp for 2–3 days
Refrigerate for up to 1 week
Freeze individually wrapped bars for up to 3 months
Reheat in microwave for 10–15 seconds for that gooey chocolate again

🔢 Exact Macros (Per blondie, based on 12 servings)

Calories: 210
Protein: 2g
Fat: 10g
Carbs: 29g
Fiber: 1g
Sugar: 18g

☕ What to Serve With

A scoop of vanilla or cherry ice cream
Hot coffee or a latte
A glass of cold milk
A drizzle of chocolate or cherry syrup
Fresh cherries on the side for extra flair

❓ FAQ

Can I use frozen cherries?
Yep! Just thaw them and pat them dry before using.

Can I make this recipe dairy-free?
Use a dairy-free butter substitute and dairy-free chocolate chips.

Can I double the recipe?
Yes—bake in a 9×13 pan and increase bake time to 30–35 minutes.

Can I use a different fruit?
Absolutely! Try raspberries, blueberries, or even dried cranberries.

Get Ready for a Gooey Good Time 🍒🍫

These Cherry Chocolate Chip Blondies are simple, sweet, and seriously satisfying. Whether you bake them for a get-together or just want something extra with your coffee, they hit the spot every time. Give them a go and let me know how they turned out—or what twist you tried! 💬🍪