Last Updated on March 25, 2022
No matter the occasion, this delicious chocolate cherry cake from scratch is the perfect dessert. The combination of tender chocolate cake with juicy cherries is hard to resist. You will love sharing this amazing recipe with all your friends and family.
This recipe doesn’t need any prior baking experience, which is great if you are new to making cakes. It is packed full of flavor, making it a wonderful dessert. It is great for serving at BBQs, dinner parties, or potlucks.
What You Will Need
Ingredients
- 2 1/4 cups sugar
- 2 tablespoons cherry brandy, such as kirsch
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 1/2 pounds frozen black cherries (around 3 1/3 cups)
- 1/2 cup Dutch-process cocoa powder, sifted
- 1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) at room temperature, unsalted butter.
- 1/2 cup hot water
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 3 ounces chopped dark chocolate, melted and cooled slightly (1/2 cup)
- 1 1/2 cups cake flour, sifted
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
- 3 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon gelatin
Equipment
- 9×13-inch baking pan
- Parchment paper
- Medium saucepan
- Two medium mixing bowl
- Large mixing bowl
- Electric mixer
- Wire rack
- Small saucepan
USA Pan Bakeware Rectangular Cake Pan, 9 x 13 inch, Nonstick & Quick Release
Step by Step Instructions
Step One: Make Cherry Filling
In a medium saucepan, whisk together 1/3 cup sugar, cherry brandy, and cornstarch. Pour in the cherries and their juices. Bring the mixture to a boil and stirring constantly over medium-high heat.
After about four minutes, once the mixture is thickened, remove from heat. Let the mixture cool to room temperature.
Step Two: Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Farenheit. Rub butter on the bottom of the pan, then adds a layer of parchment paper, allowing it to lay two inches over the side. Butter the parchment paper.
Step Three: Mix Together Hot Water, Cocoa Powder, Sour Cream, and Melted Chocolate
In a medium bowl, whisk together hot water and cocoa powder until smooth. Then, add in the sour cream and melted chocolate.
Step Four: Mix Together Dry Ingredients
In a different medium bowl, mix together the cake flour, baking soda, and salt.
Step Five: Beat Butter and Sugar
In a large bowl with an electric mixer, beat the butter and 1 2/3 cups of sugar. Beat on medium speed for about 3-4 minutes and until light and fluffy.
Step Six: Add in Eggs and Vanilla
Add eggs one by one and beat them well after each addition. Mix in the vanilla extract.
Step Seven: Add Flour Mixture and Chocolate Mixture
With the mixer on low speed, alternate adding the flour mixture and chocolate mixture. Beat until well combined.
Step Eight: Add in Cherries
Fold in 1 1/4 cups of the cherry mixture into the cake batter. Save the remaining cherry mixture for later.
Step Nine: Bake the Cake
Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake the cake for 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean. Allow some time for the cake to cool on a wire rack.
Step Ten: Make the Frosting
In a small saucepan, heat the gelatin and water over low heat. Stir the mixture constantly for about three minutes until the gelatin is melted.
In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat together the heavy whipping cream and remaining sugar on medium speed. Once the soft peaks begin to form, slowly add in the gelatin.
Step Eleven: Decorate the Cake
Decorate the cake with the frosting and then cover with the remaining cherry mixture. Slice and serve the cake.
Servings and Preparation Time
Tips and Tricks Chocolate Cherry Cake Recipes From Scratch
Store this homemade chocolate cherry cake in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days. When serving, avoid placing this cake in the sun, as the frosting may begin to melt. Though the frosting won’t freeze well, you can freeze just the cake itself.
To freeze the cake, wrap it in plastic wrap and then cover it with aluminum foil. The cake can last about 3-6 months in the fridge. Allow it to thaw overnight in the fridge or on the counter for two hours, then decorate with frosting and cherries.
Delicious Chocolate Cherry Cake From Scratch
Equipment
- 9x13-inch baking pan
- Parchment paper
- Medium saucepan
- Two medium mixing bowl
- Large mixing bowl
- Wire rack
- Small saucepan
Ingredients
- 2 1/4 cups sugar
- 2 tablespoons cherry brandy such as kirsch
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 1/2 pounds frozen black cherries around 3 1/3 cups
- 1/2 cup Dutch-process cocoa powder sifted
- 1 1/2 cups 3 sticks at room temperature, unsalted butter.
- 1/2 cup hot water
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 3 ounces chopped dark chocolate melted and cooled slightly (1/2 cup)
- 1 1/2 cups cake flour sifted
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
- 3 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon gelatin
Instructions
- Make Cherry Filling - In a medium saucepan, whisk together 1/3 cup sugar, cherry brandy, and cornstarch. Pour in the cherries and their juices. Bring the mixture to a boil and stirring constantly over medium-high heat.
- After about four minutes, once the mixture is thickened, remove from heat. Let the mixture cool to room temperature.
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan - Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Farenheit. Rub butter on the bottom of the pan, then adds a layer of parchment paper, allowing it to lay two inches over the side. Butter the parchment paper.
- Mix Together Hot Water, Cocoa Powder, Sour Cream, and Melted Chocolate - In a medium bowl, whisk together hot water and cocoa powder until smooth. Then, add in the sour cream and melted chocolate.
- Mix Together Dry Ingredients - In a different medium bowl, mix together the cake flour, baking soda, and salt.
- Beat Butter and Sugar - In a large bowl with an electric mixer, beat the butter and 1 2/3 cups of sugar. Beat on medium speed for about 3-4 minutes and until light and fluffy.
- Add in Eggs and Vanilla - Add eggs one by one and beat them well after each addition. Mix in the vanilla extract.
- Add Flour Mixture and Chocolate Mixture - With the mixer on low speed, alternate adding the flour mixture and chocolate mixture. Beat until well combined.
- Add in Cherries - Fold in 1 1/4 cups of the cherry mixture into the cake batter. Save the remaining cherry mixture for later.
- Bake the Cake - Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake the cake for 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean. Allow some time for the cake to cool on a wire rack.
- Make the Frosting - In a small saucepan, heat the gelatin and water over low heat. Stir the mixture constantly for about three minutes until the gelatin is melted.
- In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat together the heavy whipping cream and remaining sugar on medium speed. Once the soft peaks begin to form, slowly add in the gelatin.
- Decorate the Cake - Decorate the cake with the frosting and then cover with the remaining cherry mixture. Slice and serve the cake.
Notes
Tasty Chocolate Cherry Cake Recipe From Scratch
This chocolate cherry cake is great for any occasion. It is relatively simple to make, making it great for all experience levels. Your friends and family are sure to love it, as it is a great combination of chocolate and cherry flavors.
Did you enjoy this chocolate cherry cake from a scratch recipe? If you did so, please share your thoughts in the comments below and share the post with your friends and family.
Ever since she was a young girl, Anna has been a lover of desserts. As an adult, she enjoys
baking a variety of desserts from cakes, cookies, brownies, bread, and more from scratch. She
enjoys sharing her passion for baking with others who also have a sweet tooth. From properly
measuring ingredients to making sure they are the correct temperature, Anna knows the
importance small details can make in baking. She wants to share her experience with others in
hopes they can make the most delicious baked goods. When she’s not busy blogging, Anna
enjoys trying new recipes in the kitchen.
