Cherry Garcia Brownies

I married my dad.

Gross, right?!

Don't worry- I didn't really. 

Now that we have that out of the way...let's talk about how similar these two men in my life, are, shall we?

• They both tell dad jokes.
• They both like to do surprise drop in visits on people.
• They both drink their coffee like girls (have a little coffee with your cream and sugar!)
• They both are very wise.
• They both order boring food when they go out to eat- I'm talking chicken parm or steak with mashed potatoes boring)
• and....they both love cherry ice cream.

One time, I texted my husband that he would be my favorite if he picked up some ice cream on his way home.

So he comes home with Ben & Jerry's...........Cherry Garcia.

Now, I don't want to bash all you fruity ice cream loving peeps out there...but SERIOUSLY?!

This is Ben and Jerry's for crying out loud!!!!

Out of all their millions of chocolatey, gooey, caramel-y, chunky, candy filled types of ice cream they have, CHERRY GARCIA is the one he brings home!!!

It was a pretty major letdown I'll tell ya..

He was really proud of himself though for getting me ice cream, cause I really wasn't expecting him to take my text seriously, so I just smiled, gave him a big hug and smooch, thanked him and sat on the couch with my pint crying on the inside.

Now. Your probably thinking 'why is she posting about Cherry Garcia Brownies after such a sad story??'

Because, I like cherries, and I like love chocolate, just not so much in ice cream form....My thing is, if you're going to splurge on something sugary and saturated fat laden, go for the gold! Make it rich, and chunky, with all kinds of fun stuff going on in your mouth!

But these brownies will do it for you...my husband loves me more today than he ever did for them. And I'm pretty sure if I brought some over to my dad right now he would declare me favorite child.

The brownie recipe I used was so good I had to put soap in the bowl as soon as I poured the batter in the pan cause I would have licked it clean. Which isn't a big deal- but I had already probably consumed a 1/2 cup of batter in the name of 'taste testing'. Same thing with the cherry filling. Gosh darn it. I have NO self control. 

You really need these in your life today.

Cherry Garcia Brownies

For the brownie layer:

Your favorite Brownie mix, or, I highly recommend this recipe, Minus the frosting part.

Bake and let cool completely.

For the cherry chocolate layer:

2 Sticks of butter, slightly softened

3 1/2 cups powdered sugar

1/2 cup (or more) semi-sweet chocolate chunks

1, 6-10 oz jar maraschino cherries

In the bowl of a mixer, combine butter and 4-5 Tablespoons of the cherry juice. Beat until smooth.

Slowly add powdered sugar and beat until combined. Turn mixer up to high and whip for 2 minutes. 

While that's mixing, give cherries a rough chop.

Fold in cherries and chocolate chunks to mixture.

Taste test and die.

Spread evenly onto cooled brownies, and put in the freezer. You want  the cherry layer to harden a bit so you can spread the chocolate layer on easily.

For the chocolate glaze layer:

2 Cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

3/4 Stick of butter

Melt at 30 second intervals, stirring well, until completely smooth.

It should only take 2 heatings.

Spread over cherry layer.

Refrigerate to set up the chocolate. 

Dig in!

Enjoy!