Chocolate Cherry Dream Cake Recipe

A Perfect Pairing

Decadent Desserts Featuring Chocolate & Fruit

When it comes to desserts, chocolate delivers richness and depth, while fruit offers fresh and bright flavors. This recipe features the best of both worlds by combining these two classic ingredients.

Photography by Rich Smith

Kaylan Gailmard

Kaylan Gailmard’s Chocolate Cherry Dream Cake

“This recipe is so delicious and decadent! My family eats every last bite of this cake every time I make it!”

Chocolate Cherry Dream Cake

Kaylan Gailmard

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 8

Ingredients

For the cake:

1¾ cups all-purpose flour
1½ cups granulated sugar
⅔ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1½ tsp. baking powder
1½ tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
2 large eggs room temperature
1 cup buttermilk
½ cup vegetable oil
2 tsp. almond extract
1 cup hot coffee
1½ cups fresh cherries pitted and halved + extra, for garnish

For the frosting:

1 cup unsalted butter softened
3½ cups powdered sugar
¼ cup cocoa powder
1 tsp. almond extract
3-4 Tbsp. heavy cream
Pinch of salt

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°. Grease and line two 9-inch cake pans.
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Break up any cocoa clumps.
In another bowl, beat the eggs, then add buttermilk, oil, and that magical almond extract.
Mix until they’re all friendly with each other.
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix just until combined. Don’t overmix.
Stir in the hot coffee, then gently fold in most of the cherries, saving some pretty ones for decoration.
Pour the batter into your prepared pans and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with just a few crumbs.
Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then flip them onto a wire rack to cool completely.
To make the frosting, beat the softened butter until fluffy. Gradually add powdered sugar and cocoa powder, then mix in the almond extract, heavy cream, and salt. Beat until you get clouds of chocolatey goodness.
To assemble, place one cake layer on your serving plate, spread a generous layer of frosting, add the second layer, then frost the top and sides. Decorate with reserved cherries. Enjoy!

Keyword baking, cherry, chocolate, dessert