Description
Rich chocolate and luscious cherries meld perfectly in this Chocolate Cherry Cake, creating a divine dessert that promises pure indulgence. Sweet and deep chocolate layers complemented by tart cherry notes will delight passionate bakers seeking an extraordinary treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake Ingredients:
- 1.5 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 0.5 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 0.5 teaspoon baking powder
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 0.5 cup vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 0.75 cup hot water
Liquid Ingredients:
- 1 cup heavy cream
Filling and Garnish Ingredients:
- 1 cup cherry pie filling
- Maraschino cherries
Chocolate Ingredients:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) dark chocolate, chopped
Instructions
- Prepare workspace by warming oven to 350F and prepping two 9-inch cake pans with grease or parchment paper.
- Combine all dry ingredients in large mixing bowl, thoroughly blending flour, sugar, cocoa powder, leavening agents, and salt.
- Incorporate wet ingredients into dry mixture, whisking buttermilk, vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla extract until fully integrated.
- Slowly stream hot water into batter, stirring continuously to create a silky, thin consistency.
- Distribute batter evenly between prepared cake pans, ensuring balanced layers.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes in preheated oven, testing cake’s doneness with a clean toothpick inserted into center.
- Allow cakes to rest in pans for 10 minutes before transferring to cooling racks for complete temperature reduction.
- Create chocolate ganache by gently heating heavy cream until microscopic bubbles form around pan edges.
- Pour heated cream over chopped dark chocolate, letting mixture rest briefly before whisking into a glossy, smooth sauce.
- Position first cake layer on serving plate, generously spreading cherry pie filling across surface.
- Carefully position second cake layer, then cascade warm ganache over top, allowing delicate drips to flow down sides.
- Decorate with vibrant maraschino cherries, artfully placing around cake’s perimeter and crown.
- Slice, serve, and savor this rich chocolate cherry masterpiece.
Notes
- Adjust cocoa powder for richer or lighter chocolate intensity, experimenting with different brands to find your perfect flavor profile.
- Ensure buttermilk is at room temperature to help ingredients blend smoothly and create a more tender cake texture.
- Replace vegetable oil with Greek yogurt or applesauce for a healthier version that maintains moisture and reduces fat content.
- Swap cherry pie filling with fresh cherries or homemade compote for a more natural, less sweet alternative that elevates the cake’s sophistication.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30-35 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 21 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg