For a richer chocolate flavor, use a dark chocolate or extra-fudgy cake mix and swap semi-sweet chips for dark chocolate chips. If you like a little crunch, sprinkle 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans over the top along with the chocolate chips (this does add a 5th ingredient, but only if you choose). You can also change the personality of the bars by using white chocolate chips instead of regular chocolate, which gives a pretty contrast against the cherries. For a slightly lighter texture, beat the eggs separately until frothy before stirring them into the cake mix, then fold in the cherry pie filling gently. If you’re baking for two and don’t need a full pan, you can halve the recipe and bake it in an 8×8-inch foil-lined pan; start checking for doneness around 22 minutes. These bars also freeze well: cool completely, cut, wrap individually, and tuck into a freezer bag for an easy date-night dessert—just thaw on the counter and warm slightly before serving.
