(From Joanne Fluke’s “Carrot Cake Murder.”)

4 one-ounce squares semi-sweet chocolate (or ¾ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips)

3/4 cup butter

1-1/2 cups white sugar

3 eggs, beaten

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup flour

1/2 cup pecans, chopped

1/2 cup dried cherries, chopped

1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Line a 9-inch by 13-inch cake pan with foil large enough to flap over the sides and spray with Pam.

Melt chocolate squares and butter for 1 minute in the microwave. Stir. If it’s not melted, microwave for an additional 20 seconds and stir again.

Stir the sugar into the chocolate mixture. Feel the bowl. If it’s not so hot it’ll cook the eggs, add them now, stirring thoroughly. Mix in the flavor extract (vanilla or cherry.)

Mix in the flour and stir just until it’s moistened.

Stir in pecans and dried cherries.

Add chocolate chips and give a final stir by hand.

Spread batter out in your prepared pan.

Bake at 350°F for 30 minutes.

Cool the Black Forest Brownies in the pan on a metal rack.

When thoroughly cool, lift the brownies out of the pan by the edges of the foil.

Place face down on a cutting board. Peel the foil off the back and cut into brownie-sized pieces.

Dust lightly with powdered sugar and arrange on a plate.

https://hannah-swensen-mystery.fandom.com/wiki/Black_Forest_Brownies