Decadent Black Forest Fudge Bars: Cherry Chocolate Dessert Recipe

These easy Fudgy Black Forest Bars are loaded with chocolate chunks and puddles of cherry pie filling and finished with a shower of powdered sugar.

Keep in touch! Subscribe to receive Melanie Makes recipes direct to your inbox.

Original content posted June 2018. Updated April 2021.

I had the same babysitter from birth until the summer before fifth grade. At the time I didn’t fully appreciate how meaningful that was. Now, seeing our oldest daughter reach the same age, I’m reminded of how special those steady relationships are.

Shirley and her family were a big part of my childhood. One of the clearest memories I have is the homemade treats she made for us—among them these Fudgy Black Forest Bars.

Recently, while visiting my mom in Missouri, I found the original recipe card in her recipe box—no surprise it had stayed in the same spot since the last time I made this treat years ago. I was thrilled to make the bars again and share them with my own children. Their delighted reactions on the first bite echoed my childhood pleasure.

These bars have a rich chocolate flavor and a moist, dense texture that leans toward fudge—think One-Bowl Chocolate Fudge Brownies, only fudgier. The cherry pie filling creates sweet, glossy puddles across the top, and dark chocolate chunks scattered through the batter add melted surprises in every bite.

After baking, a dusting of powdered sugar finishes the bars, giving them a classic Black Forest look and a pleasant contrast in texture and sweetness.

Black Forest Bar Cake

To make these six-ingredient bars extra decadent, I stir dark chocolate chunks into the batter so every bite is deeply chocolatey. They weren’t part of the original recipe, but they’re worth the addition—my first bite confirmed that immediately.

Once cooled, I sift powdered sugar over the top. It makes the bars stand out on any dessert table and adds a delightful visual and flavor contrast as the sugar settles into the chocolate and cherries.

How to Make Fudgy Black Forest Bars

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. In the bowl of an electric mixer, add the softened butter and sugar. Cream on medium speed until light and fluffy.

3. Add the vanilla and eggs, and beat on medium for two minutes until combined.

4. Add the cocoa and flour and mix on medium speed until just combined.

5. Stir in dark chocolate chunks so they are evenly distributed through the batter.

6. Spoon the batter into a greased 9×13-inch pan and smooth into an even layer.

7. Drop spoonfuls of cherry pie filling over the batter, spacing them into even puddles.

8. Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until the bars are just set. Do not overbake—these are best when fudgy and moist.

9. Allow the bars to cool completely, then sift powdered sugar over the top before cutting and serving.

If you’ve tried these Fudgy Black Forest Bars or any recipe from Melanie Makes, please share your thoughts in the comments below. I love hearing from readers and respond to every comment.