Chocolate cake with cherries and nuts

A chocolate cake with cherries and nuts is a rich and decadent treat. Here’s a recipe that combines these flavors into a delicious cake:

Ingredients

For the Chocolate Cake:

• 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
• ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup whole milk
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup boiling water

For the Cherry Filling:

• 1 cup pitted fresh or frozen cherries (if using frozen, thaw and drain them)
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch

For the Nutty Chocolate Frosting:

• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• ¼ cup milk (more if needed)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ cup chopped nuts (e.g., walnuts, pecans, or almonds)

For Garnish:

• Additional chopped nuts
• Whole cherries (fresh or maraschino)

Instructions

1. Prepare the Cake:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans or one 9x13-inch pan.
2. In a large bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
3. Add the eggs, milk, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract to the dry ingredients. Beat on medium speed until well combined.
4. Gradually add the boiling water, mixing on low speed until the batter is smooth (the batter will be thin).
5. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans.
6. Bake for 30-35 minutes (for round pans) or 35-40 minutes (for a 9x13 pan), or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
7. Allow the cakes to cool in the pans for 10 minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.

2. Prepare the Cherry Filling:

1. In a medium saucepan, combine the cherries, sugar, lemon juice, and cornstarch.
2. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until the mixture thickens and becomes glossy. This should take about 5-7 minutes.
3. Remove from heat and let it cool to room temperature.

3. Prepare the Nutty Chocolate Frosting:

1. In a large bowl, beat the softened butter until creamy.
2. Gradually add the powdered sugar and cocoa powder, beating until combined.
3. Add the milk and vanilla extract, beating until smooth and spreadable. Adjust the consistency by adding more milk if needed.
4. Stir in the chopped nuts.

4. Assemble the Cake:

1. If using round pans, level the cakes if necessary. Place one layer of cake on a serving plate or cake stand.
2. Spread a layer of cherry filling over the first cake layer.
3. Place the second cake layer on top of the cherry filling.
4. Frost the top and sides of the cake with the nutty chocolate frosting.

5. Garnish and Serve:

1. Garnish with additional chopped nuts and whole cherries on top.
2. Slice and serve.