Description
This Easy Homemade Cherry Chip Cake is a moist, flavorful, and fun dessert perfect for any occasion. Made with maraschino cherries and a luscious cherry-infused buttercream frosting, this cake layers soft, tender crumb with sweet cherry bites, creating a delightful treat that’s both beautiful and delicious.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake
- 1 1/2 cups (300g) granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup (170g) salted butter, softened
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 4 large egg whites, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups (353g) all-purpose flour
- 4 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 cup maraschino cherry juice
- 3/4 cup full-fat sour cream, room temperature
- 1/4 cup whole milk, room temperature
- 3/4 cup chopped maraschino cherries (about 1 cup before chopping)
Frosting
- 1 1/2 cups (341g) salted butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups (341g) vegetable shortening
- 12 cups (1,440g) powdered sugar
- 6–8 Tablespoons maraschino cherry juice
- Additional maraschino cherries with stems for decorating
Instructions
- Prepare cake pans: Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C). Line the bottoms of three 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper circles and spray the sides with baking spray to prevent sticking.
- Cream butter and sugar: In a large bowl, use a mixer to cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar on medium speed for 2-3 minutes until the mixture becomes light and fluffy.
- Add eggs and vanilla: Add the large egg, egg whites, and pure vanilla extract. Mix thoroughly, scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl to ensure even incorporation.
- Add dry ingredients (part 1): Add half of the all-purpose flour and baking powder mixture. Mix on low speed just until combined; it’s okay if a few streaks of flour remain.
- Add sour cream and cherry juice: Mix in the full-fat sour cream and maraschino cherry juice until fully incorporated for added moisture and cherry flavor.
- Add remaining dry ingredients and milk: Add the remaining flour mixture and stir just until combined. Then add the whole milk, mixing gently and scraping sides and bottom between additions to avoid overmixing.
- Fold in cherries: Gently fold in the chopped maraschino cherries evenly throughout the batter.
- Bake: Divide the batter evenly among the three prepared pans. Bake in the preheated oven for 24 to 26 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs. Remove and let cool completely on wire racks.
- Prepare frosting base: In a large bowl, beat together the softened salted butter and vegetable shortening on medium speed until smooth and creamy.
- Add powdered sugar and cherry juice (part 1): Add 4 cups of powdered sugar to the butter mixture and beat until smooth. Then add 3 tablespoons of maraschino cherry juice and mix to fully incorporate the flavor.
- Add powdered sugar and cherry juice (part 2): Repeat by adding another 4 cups of powdered sugar followed by 3 tablespoons of cherry juice, beating well each time to maintain a smooth texture.
- Finish frosting: Add the remaining powdered sugar and mix until the frosting is smooth. Adjust the cherry juice amount as needed until the frosting is thick yet spreadable and slightly sticky to the touch.
- Assemble cake: Level each cooled cake layer by trimming any domed tops to create flat surfaces.
- Layer and frost: Place one cake layer on a serving plate and spread about 1 1/2 cups of frosting evenly over it. Repeat with the second layer and frosting. Top with the final cake layer and frost the top and sides with most of the remaining frosting.
- Decorate: Reserve about 1 cup of frosting for piping decorations on top of the cake. Garnish with additional maraschino cherries with stems for a festive look. Slice and serve!
Notes
- You will need a 16-ounce jar of maraschino cherries for the cake batter itself.
- Consider purchasing an extra jar of maraschino cherries with stems for decorative garnishing.
- Make sure all dairy ingredients and eggs are at room temperature for best mixing results.
- Do not overmix the batter after adding flour to ensure a tender crumb.
- The frosting consistency can be adjusted with cherry juice for the desired spreadability.
