Black Forest Chocolate-Cherry Cobbler with Quick Vegan Chocolate Sauce

This is bit of a departure from all the candy recipes I've been posting. After wearing ourselves out making fancy treats all week, here's a nice easy dessert to serve on Valentine's Day itself.  It seems very rich and decadent, but it's actually very fast and easy, and not too bad for you either. It's a good dessert to make the day after making vegan chocolate covered cherries because you can use up the rest of your can of pie filling.
Both the cobbler and the sauce work very well sugar-free, by the way.

Black Forest Cobbler

Black Forest Chocolate-Cherry Cobbler

3/4 cup all purpose flour
2/3 cup sugar (or sweetener)
1/2 cup cocoa or carob powder
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup soymilk
3 tbsp oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp instant coffee or coffee substitute (optional)

1 can cherry pie filling (I used low sugar)

Preheat oven to 350F.

Combine flour, sugar, cocoa or carob powder, instant coffee, baking powder and salt. Mix together soy milk, oil and vanilla and add to dry ingredients. Try not to over-mix.

Pour pie filling into 8 inch square baking pan. Dollop chocolate batter over pie filling, trying to distribute evenly.

Bake for 20-30 minutes, until topping looks firm and dry and filling is thick and bubbly. Serve warm with a spoonful of chocolate sauce.

Makes 9 servings (and the leftovers are even better!)


Quick Chocolate Sauce:

Quick Vegan Chocolate Sauce

1/2 cup water
1/2 cup sugar or sweetener
3 Tbsp cocoa or carob powder
1 Tbsp cornstarch
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp oil (optional)
1 Tbsp chocolate or carob chips (optional)
a dash of cinnamon (optional)
1/4 tsp instant coffee or coffee substitute (optional)

Cook first four ingredients together in microwave or on the stovetop until thickened. This takes about a minute in the microwave.

Stir in vanilla, and rest of ingredients if using. The oil and chocolate chips add richness; leave them out for a fat free sauce.

Use immediately.  If you have to make it ahead of time, decrease the cornstarch to 1/2 Tbsp because the sauce will continue to thicken as it sits.

Cobbler with a dollop of chocolate sauce