Description
This Cherry Chip Cake is a moist and flavorful layered cake featuring maraschino cherries folded into a tender vanilla batter, topped with a rich cherry-infused buttercream frosting. Perfect for celebrations, this cake offers a delightful balance of sweet cherry taste and smooth almond undertones.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake
- 2 1/2 cups plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour (divided)
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups butter, room temperature
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large egg whites, room temperature
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon almond extract
- 1/2 cup maraschino cherry juice
- 1 1/4 cups buttermilk
- 3/4 cup maraschino cherries, drained and finely chopped
Frosting
- 2 1/2 cups butter, room temperature
- 9 cups powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup maraschino cherry juice
- 2 teaspoons almond extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3–4 tablespoons buttermilk
- Maraschino cherries with stems for decorating
Instructions
- Preheat the oven and prepare pans: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease two 8-inch round cake pans with nonstick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together 2 1/2 cups flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until thoroughly combined. Set aside.
- Cream butter and sugar: In a large bowl, beat 1 1/2 cups butter and 2 cups granulated sugar on high speed with a hand mixer until smooth and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
- Add wet ingredients: Beat in the 4 egg whites, vegetable oil, almond extract, and 1/2 cup maraschino cherry juice until the mixture is well combined, about 2 minutes.
- Combine dry and wet ingredients alternately: Add the dry flour mixture and buttermilk progressively in thirds, beginning and ending with the flour. Beat gently between additions just until combined to maintain batter lightness.
- Prepare cherries: Toss the finely chopped maraschino cherries with 1 tablespoon of flour to prevent sinking will be mixed into the batter.
- Fold in cherries: Gently fold the floured cherries into the cake batter until evenly distributed.
- Divide batter and bake: Evenly pour the batter into the two prepared cake pans. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with moist crumbs, and the cake springs back when pressed gently.
- Cool cakes: Let cakes cool in pans for 5 minutes, then turn out onto wire racks to cool completely before frosting.
- Make frosting: Beat 2 1/2 cups butter in a large bowl on medium speed until smooth. Gradually beat in 9 cups powdered sugar, cherry juice, almond extract, and salt until well incorporated. Add buttermilk one tablespoon at a time until desired creamy consistency is reached.
- Level cakes: If needed, trim the tops of the cooled cakes with a cake knife or leveler to make flat surfaces for stacking.
- Assemble the cake: Place one cake layer cut side down on a serving plate and spread 1-2 tablespoons of frosting to secure it. Add a thin even layer of frosting on top about 1/4 inch thick, then place the second cake layer cut side down on top, pressing lightly to adhere.
- Frost the cake: Spoon a large scoop of frosting on top and smooth it over the top and sides with an angled spatula, adding more frosting as needed to achieve a smooth finish.
- Decorate: Transfer remaining frosting to a piping bag fitted with a Wilton 1M tip and pipe tall swirls around the top edge. Dry maraschino cherries thoroughly before placing one atop each swirl for garnish.
Notes
- Ensure all the wet ingredients like egg whites and butter are at room temperature for the best mixing and texture.
- Flouring the chopped cherries prevents them from sinking to the bottom of the cake during baking.
- You can substitute maraschino cherry juice with a cherry-flavored syrup if preferred.
- If you don’t have almond extract, vanilla extract can be used, but the almond flavor complements the cherry beautifully.
- Make sure to dry the maraschino cherries well before decorating to avoid watery frosting.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: cherry chip cake, cherry cake, layered cherry cake, cherry buttercream frosting, holiday cake, celebration cake
