Chocolate and cherries is a classic combination, but I’m giving it a twist in this Chocolate Chip Cherry Cobbler. Fruit cobblers don’t typically include chocolate, which ensures that the fruit is the star of the show. Here, chocolate is added to the filling and the cobbler topping to create a dessert that delivers just the right amount of chocolate with its cherries.

Every cobbler starts with a good fruit filling. This one is extremely simple and is made with lots of cherries, some sugar and a bit of cornstarch that helps the fruit juices thicken nicely while the cobbler bakes. I added a splash of kirsch, a cherry liqueur, to the filling to amp up the cherry flavor. I recommend picking up a mini-sized bottle for recipes like this one (and other baked goods!) because a little goes a long way and you won’t use it that often unless you bake a lot of black forest cakes. I recommend using jarred (and drained) or frozen cherries because they’re easy to work with, but fresh cherries can be used if they are in season and you don’t mind pitting them before you start.

The topping is a buttery biscuit-like dough that is studded with chocolate chips. Butter is cut into the dry ingredients, then buttermilk and vanilla are added before bringing the dough together. Once you’ve made the dough, it should be broken up into little chunks and dropped onto the filling, giving the dessert a “cobbled together” look that fits its name. You want to cover most of the filling, but should be able to see some of the cherries and juice between the cracks.

The cobbler topping isn’t overly sweet on its own, but it’s perfect when combined with the cherries and chocolate. Serve this dessert warm and pair it with ice cream or whipped cream for a dessert that is even more decadent.

Chocolate Chip Cherry Cobbler
Filling
36-40-oz cherries (jarred, frozen or fresh)
3/4 cup sugar
2 1/2 tbsp cornstarch
2 tbsp kirsch, optional
2-3 tbsp chocolate chips

Topping
1 1/3 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup butter, cold and cut into 4-5 pieces
3/4 cup buttermilk
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup chocolate chips
coarse sugar, for topping

Preheat oven to 375F. Take out an 8×8-inch square baking dish.
Make the Filling: In a large bowl, stir together all filling ingredients except the chocolate chips. Allow mixture to sit for 5 minutes, then pour into prepared pan and sprinkle with chocolate chips. Set aside while you make the topping.
Make the Topping: In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. Add in butter and cut into the flour mixture using a pastry blender or your fingertips, making sure no piece of butter is larger than a big pea.
Combine buttermilk and vanilla in a measuring cup and pour into dry ingredients. Add in chocolate chips. Bring dough together using a spatula, folding gently to ensure that dough is uniform and no clumps of dry ingredients remain.
Break dough into 1 or 2-inch pieces and arrange over the top of the filling, covering most of the cherries. Sprinkle topping with coarse sugar.
Bake for about 40-45 minutes, until cherry filling is bubbling thickly and topping is golden brown. Allow cobbler to cool slightly before serving.

Serves 6-8

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