Black Forrest Inspired Valentines using homemade whip cream, cherry sauce and chocolate brownies.
Decadent chocolate Brownies with homemade whip cream and cherry sauce transforms this German classic into easy and delicious valentines. The richness of the brownie is perfectly complemented by the airy whip cream and slightly tart cherry sauce. So get thee into the miracle room and whip up a batch!
I’ll admit, Valentine’s Day is not my favorite holiday. As a kid I thought it awkward to hand out ‘Be Mine’s’ to all of the kids in the class, like they made us. What if one of the boys got the wrong message. Does this valentine obligate me to accept a date proposal? A kiss? The dilemmas I dealt with in 4th grade were quite traumatic. I may need therapy due to this confusing holiday. My favorite holiday is April Fools Day, What’s yours? Leave a comment:)
High quality brownie mix saves some time and keeps your shopping list a little shorter. I look for the most expensive decadent looking mix and have never been disappointed. If you are a diehard, from-scratch baker, no worries, just whip up your own brownie mix. Just bake the brownies 10 minutes less than you normally would since we are making a thinner cake.
I used a 30 cm tart pan which made about 1/2 inch brownies. I liked this thickness but feel free to experiment with a different thickness.
While the brownie is in the oven, make your whip cream. I used gelatin to stabilize the whipped cream, a little insurance, but it is optional.
You can make double decker valentines for a really impressive look or stick with the single decker. With the single decker you get more valentines and they are easier to eat.
For the double decker just frost in between the layers with whip cream and top with whip cream and cherry sauce, garnish with powdered sugar.
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Have fun with the possibilities!
Black Forrest Inspired Valentines
A German classic gets a valentine transformation and yields some decadent desserts for some lucky friends.
Ingredients
- 1 box Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Brownie Mix (oil & eggs are needed for this sub recipe)
- 1 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1/4 cup sugar + 3 Tbs sugar divided
- 2 tsp gelatin mixed with 3 Tbs cold water
- 12 oz frozen dark sweet cherries
- 3 Tbs water
- 2 Tbs butter
- 2 Tbs corn starch
- Heart shaped cookie cutters.
- Optional powdered sugar garnish.
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325.
- Mix brownie mix according to directions.
- Grease tart pan with cooking spray or butter.
- Pour brownie mix into 30cm tart pan and bake at 325F for 30 minutes (not 40-45 like the box says), until the middle is slightly undercooked, it sets as it cools.
- Dissolve gelatin into water and warm slight on the stove if necessary.
- Meanwhile, whip up the cream in a mixer by adding cream, 1/4 cup sugar and gelatin water until stiff peaks have formed, this may take about 5 minutes, careful not to over whip, unless you want sweet butter, set aside.
- In a medium sauce pan, simmer cherries, 3 Tbs water, butter and corn starch for 3 minutes, set aside.
- Cut out heart shaped brownies with cookie cutter.
- Assemble valentines per your desire, be creative! I liked the look of the double decker as per the picture above but found the single decker easier to eat, and you get more of them. Whether the cream or the cherry sauce is on top is up to you. Sprinkle with powdered sugar if desired however the cherry sauce absorbs it so the dusting won't last long, looks nice on the brownie though. Enjoy!