Thick, gooey, buttery brownies loaded with chopped maraschino cherries and white chocolate chips.

White Chocolate Cherry Brownies | themessybakerblog.com

The calendar claims Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. Raise your hands if you celebrate.

White Chocolate Cherry Brownies | themessybakerblog.com

Pardon me while I get a bit cynical, but I don’t participate in Valentine’s Day. Do I like jewelry? You bet your tuckus I do, but I like my jewelry to come year round. One day just isn’t enough.

My feelings: Valentine’s Day is for florists, producers of pink and red, chocolate (which I love), jewelers, and fancy restaurants that require reservations 10 years in advance.

Call me unromantic. Call me a hater. Call me non-festive. But, Valentine’s Day is for the birds.

White Chocolate Cherry Brownies | themessybakerblog.com

Nevertheless, I’m not opposed to baking for the occasion since it’s what I do anyway.

Chocolate and Valentine’s Day are a package deal. kind of like sprinkles and donuts. Could you have one without the other? Sure, but why would you want to?

Here’s my theory behind Valentine’s Day. I think it’s a fairly reasonable story, believable.

Okay… The chocolate companies Face Timed one another… Hold up, Face Time didn’t exist — scratch that. The chocolate companies gathered their oxen and met up on the Oregon Trail. They then created some sap story about a saint by the name of Valentine that was imprisoned for holding marriage ceremonies.

How it relates to chocolate, who knows, but we ate it up and, boom, Valentine’s Day was born.

White Chocolate Cherry Brownies | themessybakerblog.com

Whether you celebrate Valentine’s Day or not, you need this brownie in your life. Also, ladies, as you eat this brownie, you’ll forget men and Valentine’s Day altogether; it’s like they won’t even exist. You’ll no longer need a man because all you’ll want is another brownie. Honestly, romance is overrated.

White Chocolate Cherry Brownies | themessybakerblog.com

The center of this brownie is oozing chocolate studded with sweet cherry flavor. Not only did I add chopped maraschino cherries, but I went ahead and added a little cherry juice as well. If some is good, more has to be better, right? Because layers of chocolate are obviously better, I added a generous amount of white chocolate chips.

The key to perfect brownie squares is accomplished by allowing your brownies to cool completely before cutting them with a serrated knife. Yes, I know waiting isn’t the obvious choice, but sometimes we have to do things we don’t want to do.

Perfect brownie squares=cooling brownies completely. Warm brownies=a blob of chocolate mess. So, cool your brownies.

White Chocolate Cherry Brownies | themessybakerblog.com

Since the people demand festive themes, I topped them with mini heart sprinkles. You’re welcome.

White Chocolate Cherry Brownies

Thick, gooey, buttery brownies loaded with chopped maraschino cherries and white chocolate chips.

Ingredients:

⅔ cup dark chocolate chips

1 cup granulated sugar

2 eggs

10 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

1 tsp. vanilla extract

2 tablespoons maraschino cherry juice

⅔ cup + 2tbs. white whole wheat flour

½ tsp. kosher salt

1/2 cup maraschino cherries, chopped

1/2 cup white chocolate chips

Sprinkles, optional

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9-by-9-inch square pan with parchment that overlaps each side of the pan. Spray the pan with non-stick baking spray.

Melt the chocolate over a double boiler until smooth. Take off the heat and allow the chocolate to cool slightly.

In a large bowl, whisk together the sugar and the eggs until slightly pale in color, about 1 minute. Whisk in the melted butter, vanilla extract, and maraschino cherry juice until combined. Whisk in the chocolate.

Using a rubber spatula, stir in the chopped maraschino cherries.

Fold in the flour and salt until just combined.

Gently fold in the white chocolate chips.

Pour the batter into your prepared brownie pan. Sprinkle with festive sprinkles

Bake for 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean (a few crumbs are okay).

Allow the brownies to cool in the pan for 30 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. When the brownies are completely cool, cut into squares with a serrated knife.

***It’s important that you allow the brownies to cool completely before cutting. If you try to cut the brownies while they’re still warm, they will crumble.

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Today I have partnered with the lovely #HolidayFoodParty group to bring you some epic Valentine’s Day recipes.

Valentine's Day Recipe #HolidayFoodParty

1. Chocolate Dipped Sttrawberry Hi Hat Cupcakes (Gluten Free) from Pineapple and Coconut
2. Frosted Cream Cheese Cutout Cookies from Magnolia Days
3. White Chocolate Mousse with Frangelico from That Skinny Chick Can Bake
4. Chocolate Caramel Pretzel ‘n Chip Tart from Gotta Get Baked
5. White Chocolate Cherry Brownies from The Messy Baker
6. Chocolate Champagne Cupcakes from The Girl in the Little Red Kitchen
7. Sugar-Free Blueberry Yogurt Truffles from What Smells So Good
8. Strawberry Cheesecake Heart Pie from Hungry Couple NYC
9 Red Velvet Heart Sandwich Cookies from Jen’s Favorite Cookies
10. Chocolate Cannoli Cones from Created By Diane
11. Cherry Cheesecake Stuffed Cupcakes from Chocolate Moosey
12. Nutella Brownie Cheesecake No-Churn Ice Cream from Cupcakes and Kale Chips
13. Valentines Smores Hearts from Kelly Bakes
14. Chocolate Hazelnut Cookies from Roxana’s Home Baking