Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Chocolate Chip Cherry Cake


Mr. Vittles loves cherry & vanilla.

He also loves Cherry Garcia ice cream by Ben & Jerry's.

And he really loves his wife who makes him cakes that combine cherry, vanilla, chocolate, & whipped cream.


Now I already told you his favorite cake is angel food cake with chocolate whipped cream, which is what I made on his birthday.

But his dad and sister both have birthdays have right after his, so we celebrate them all during a family meal.

...where my mother-in-law not only cooks a fabulous meal, but dutifully makes each of their favorite desserts.

This year, I asked her what I could bring, and since she knew Mr. Vittles already got his angel food cake, she suggested an alternate dessert for him.

I knew it was the perfect opportunity to make this cake, which I've been saving in my recipe annals for just such an occasion.

The assembly is a little time consuming, though, so I actually cheated and used a boxed vanilla cake mix.

Just don't tell Mr. Vittles' grandmother.  I already got in trouble on Sunday for the angel food cake I made last year that only had two layers and a level of chocolate whipped cream that had her 'concerned.'

(Thank goodness I made three layers this year, because I bet Nana Vittles could sniff out a liar from a mile away.)

Either way, I think it's safe to say my husband is one of the luckiest guys in the world.

Like... really?  A grandma who's worried he's not getting enough chocolate whipped cream, and a wife who makes him two birthday cakes?

Hmph.  Lucky.


And did I mention he's also pretty special?

'Cause I wouldn't hand-dip maraschino cherries for just anyone :)

Chocolate Chip Cherry Cake

Cake
  • 1 recipe white cake batter (either a cake mix with all its necessary ingredients, or your favorite recipe) 
  • 1 (21-ounce) can cherry pie filling  
  • 1/2 C. mini chocolate chips  

Chocolate-Dipped Cherries
  • 1 1/2 C. chocolate chips (or you can use more of the mini)
  • 1 T. vegetable shortening  
  • 1 (10-ounce) jar maraschino cherries with stems, drained and wiped dry 

Vanilla Buttercream
  • 3 C. confectioners sugar
  • 1 1/2 C. butter (3 sticks) 
  • 1 T. vanilla extract
  • 1 T. heavy cream 
  • 4 drops red food coloring

Whipped Cream
  • 1/2 C. heavy cream
  • 1 - 2 T. sugar

Preheat oven to to temperature required for white cake recipe.  Grease and flour two 9" cake pans, and set aside.

Drain and rinse cherry pie filling under running water. Press cherries between several layers of paper towels until very dry. Chop cherries fine and reserve 1/2 cup (discard remaining cherries, or reserve for other use).

Make white cake batter per instructions.  Gently fold cherries and 1/2 C. mini chips into cake batter, and divide evenly among prepared pans.  Bake on middle rack according to directions for your white cake recipe in two 9" pans.  (Probably 25-30 minutes in 350 degree oven, but check your recipe or cake mix box).

While cake is baking, dip maraschino cherries: Melt remaining 1 1/2 cups chips and shortening in bowl. Holding stems, partially dip dry maraschino cherries into chocolate and place on parchment-lined plate. Refrigerate until hardened, at least 10 minutes.

Once cake has cooled, make buttercream: In standing mixer fitted with whisk attachment, beat butter at medium-high speed until smooth, about 20 seconds. Add confectioners' sugart; beat at medium-low speed until most of the sugar is moistened, about 45 seconds.

Scrape down bowl and beat at medium speed until mixture is fully combined, about 15 seconds; scrape bowl, add vanilla, heavy cream, and red food coloring, and beat at medium speed until incorporated, about 10 seconds.  Then increase speed to medium-high and beat until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes, scraping down bowl once or twice.

Place one layer of cake on a cake plate or platter.  Using an offset spatula, spread buttercream evenly over layer, and top with second layer of cake.  Spread remaining buttercream over top and sides of cake, and smooth out frosting.

Make whipped cream: Place 1/2 C. heavy cream in bowl of stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment.  Add sugar as desired, and whip on on highest speed possible until mixtures stiffens & soft peaks form.  Mound whipped cream in center of cake and pile on chocolate-dipped cherries.  (If desired, you can pipe whipped cream from a pastry bag fitted with a decorative tip).  Serve immediately or refrigerate until serving.

Recipe Adapted from Cooks' Country

17 comments:

  1. Oh my, what an absolutely gorgeous cake! I can only imagine how well this went over!

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  2. Oh my, what an absolutely gorgeous cake! I can only imagine how well this went over!

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  3. Looks decadent and utterly delicious!

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  4. I will gladly take any leftovers off your hands. Lucky guy that Mr. V!!!

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  5. That cake is gorgeous! Lucky husband. I buzzed it!

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  6. Normally I'm not a big cherry person in baked goods (I like to eat them in mass quantities raw though!). But this cake is too pretty not to want to devour!

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  7. My husband love cherry garcia ice cream too! He also likes their peach cobbler too! This is a recipe that I will be making! Thank you for sharing with us!

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  8. Wow this cake is SO gorgeous and I bet tastes absolutely heavenly!! Love this recipe! :)

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  9. This is a beautiful cake! I bet it tastes yummy. :)

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  10. Oh what a beautiful cake! And I love the combo of cherry and chocolate. And those hand dipped cherries just take it over the top!

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  11. Wow, this looks awesome! It sounds so scrumptious - the chocolate dipped cherries, the mini chocolate chips, my mouth is watering! Mr. Vittles really is a lucky guy!

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  12. What a lucky man! It'll be out secret... the boxed cake mix part - not the lucky man part.

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  13. Oh, I see, it isn't an ice cream cake but made to taste like one. Nice!

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  14. I guess Mr. Vittles knows what he likes..and got to say he is luckiest man..Love your cakeeee wonderfully done!!!!

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  15. I just foodgasmed! Gorgeous cake. I buzzed this on foodbuzz!! :)

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  16. My birthday's in August just in case you get the urge to make this cake again! ;) Two birthday cakes is awesome. He is lucky!

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  17. He is a very lucky husband indeed! I love this, cherries and chocolate are spectacular together and this cake looks amaaaaaaaazing.

    Sorry I haven't commented in so long! I have kind of fallen off the blogosphere this summer but, I still have been following and still love your recipes and will be a more devoted follower starting now!

    Thanks for always posting such awesome pieces :)
    -Meg
    @ http://clutzycooking.blogspot.com

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I love reading your comments!

If you have a question or problem you can also feel free to email me at vittlesandbits@gmail.com. Thanks for visiting :)

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