Chocolate Cherry Brownie Bites

I don't know if you've noticed from reading this blog, but I am a HUGE Christmas fanatic! For me, Christmas season can't start soon enough. In fact, I was rather disappointed that I had to wait until this weekend to begin decorating for the holidays. I mean, there are only 3 weeks until Christmas people! And I'm not saying this because I'm concerned about gifts or shopping, I'm concerned about tradition. There has to be tree decorating time, and gingerbread house decorating time, Yankee Candle time, Christmas cookie time, Christmas movie nights, snow, hot cocoa, and Bright Nights. And, of course, there has to be Christmas shopping time. Most importantly there has to be study time and homework time AND Riley's birthday time. Somehow, I'm going to have to turn into superwoman this year and keep everything together. This weekend has already been dedicated to decorating, cleaning, and homework. Riley's birthday will have to be small and just family. The main thing is making sure SHE is happy and that I make it through another semester. After that, everything else is just a happy bonus.

Merry Christmas and happy holidays whoever you are and whatever you're doing (you're going to be hearing this a lot). I hope it is filled with togetherness and happniness. And if you're looking for a cute edible gift, mini dessert, or addition to a Christmas cookie tin then look no further. These little babies are adorably cute and festive. The brownies are from Baked, and they are fudgery and sinfully chocolatey. Please give these a try, and if you want to switch it up with another flavor I will be posting "Candy Cane Brownie Bites" very soon. Since this recipe makes a ton (like 80 brownie bites) I suggest doing half plain or half candy cane for variety. Sooo cute and adorable and delicious!

Chocolate Cherry Brownie Bites

1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
2 tbl dark unseeetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp salt
11 ounces dark chocolate (60-72%)
1 cup (2 sticks) salted butter, cut into pieces
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
5 large eggs, at room temp
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
5 drops cherry flavoring
80 glace cherries

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and spray a mini cupcake pan heavily with non-stick spray. This recipe makes 70-80 brownie bites, so use as many pans as you have.

Whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, and salt. Set aside.

In a large bowl set over a pot of simmering water melt the chocolate and butter until smooth. Turn the heat off and whisk in both sugars. Remove from the heat and cool to room temperature. Whisk in 3 eggs until just combined. Whisk in the other 2 until just combined. Add the vanilla extract and cherry flavoring and whisk until combined (don't overmix at this stage). Sprinkle the flour mixture overtop and fold in with a rubber spatula just until no flour is visible.

Fill the mini cupcake tins 1/2 of the way full and place a glace cherry in the middle of each. Bake 10-12 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out with a few moist crumbs.

Source: Adapted from Baked: New Frontiers in Baking.