Black Forest Brownies

Today is my birthday! To celebrate I make my favorite treat, Black Forest Brownies. With chocolate, cherries and pecans it has to be good. I clipped this recipe from a Taste of Home Magazine it was submitted by Toni Reeves from Medicine Hat, Alberta. Thank you Toni, we have enjoyed this recipe for years.

Black Forest Brownies
1 1/3 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter
1 cup cocoa
4 eggs, beaten
2 cups sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 cup chopped maraschino cherries, well drained
1/2 cup nuts

Icing:
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups confectioners' sugar
6 tablespoons cocoa
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup chopped nuts

Combine flour , baking powder and salt; set aside. In a large saucepan melt butter. Remove from heat and stir in cocoa until smooth. Blend in eggs, sugar and extracts. Gently stir in flour mixture, cherries and nuts. Pour in greased 9x13 baking pan. Bake at 350 for 35 minutes. For icing blend all ingredients until smooth; spread over hot brownies. Cool.