Salted Chocolate Cherry Brownies 

I am super excited it is the cherry season here California! And I decided to make them into cherry brownies. Slightly sweet, moist, dense chocolate brownies that are full of chocolate with a hint of cherry flavor. Unlike most brownies, I added my personal touch of orange blossom water and a dash of sea salt. This way, you get cherry, chocolate, floral, and a hint of saltiness in each bite. Doesn't that sound delicious? I bet this cherry brownies recipe will you be your favorite summer dessert!

Cherry Brownies Ingredients

Brownies

Baking is not exactly my strength, so for this recipe, I did use some help with a boxed brownie mix. Now, before you go ahead and judge me, I am using an organic certified, non-GMO verified, and fair trade chocolate brownie mix! This brownie mix is also vegan-friendly!

The reason why I chose this brownie mix is that the ingredient is super clean and simple. Not mentioning the ingredients are organic certified and non-GMO verified. There are no words you don't recognize, nor do you have to read lines and lines of ingredients. 

Cherries

When it comes to cherries, organic is a must for, and it should be too for you! Cherries are on the EWG dirty dozen list. If you are not familiar with Dirty Dozen List, it means each of these foods tested positive for a number of different pesticide residues and contained higher concentrations of pesticides than other produce.

According to EWG's 2019 Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce™, more than 90 percent of samples of strawberries, apples, cherries, spinach, nectarines, and kale tested positive for residues of two or more pesticides.

Health Benefit of Cherry

• Full of antioxidants
  Studies have shown cherries proved their powerful anti-inflammatory properties due to a high concentration of polyphenols and vitamin C. 
  
  Cherries are pack with anthocyanins—the antioxidant responsible for giving cherries their deep red color. These anthocyanins help protect against heart disease, cancer, and even obesity.
• Promote Healthy Sleep
  Studies show cherries not only help provide improved sleep quality, but they also fight against sleep disorders like insomnia.
• They Reduce Post-Exercise Pain
  One study from the Department of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation at Northumbria University studied the effects of tart cherries on cyclists and found them to be an effective source for accelerating muscle recovery and preventing exercise-induced inflammation. 
  
  Another study from the Sports and Exercise Science Research Center in London found that the antioxidant properties of cherries can help reduce the oxidative damage produced during intensive workouts.
• Cherries Protect Against and Fight Diabetes
  Cherries are rank lower on the glycemic index than many fruits. For diabetics or those at risk, cherries can help regulate blood sugar and insulin levels, preventing spikes and crashes.
• Battle Belly Fat
  Researchers found that tart cherries have significant weight management benefits for animals, including reduced belly fat.

Check Out My Rosewater Salted Chocolate Chip Brownies Recipe

Ingredients

1 Box Foodstirs Brownie Mix
2 Tablespoon Orange Blossom Water (Optional)
1/4-1/3 Cup Organic Cherry
1 Teaspoon Sea salt Or Himalayan salt

Instructions

1. Mix the brownie according to box direction. Mix with orange blossom water (brownie will come out with lighter than it smell).
2. Slice the cherries into quarters and remove the pit. Then add and mix into the brownie batter.
3. Box says you should bake 19-22 minutes. I usually bake it for 25 because of the added cherry and additional blossom water.
4. Once it is baked, sprinkle sea salt (base on personal preference)