Cherry Cocoa Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Let’s make a delicious cake that’s perfect for anyone who loves the sweet taste of cherries and the rich flavor of chocolate! This cake is really simple to put together. We’ll start by baking a soft and fluffy chocolate cake, then spread a layer of homemade cherry jam in the middle for a juicy surprise. To make it even more special, we’ll whip up a creamy frosting that’s smooth and spread it all over the cake. This cake is not only yummy but also looks so pretty when it’s all done. Whether you’re celebrating something special or just want to treat yourself, this cherry chocolate cake with creamy frosting is the way to go. Let’s get baking!

Cake Base Ingredients:

• 4 eggs
• 150g granulated sugar (about 3/4 cup)
• A dash of salt
• 120g plain flour (roughly 3/4 cup)
• 30g unsweetened cocoa powder (approximately 3 tablespoons)
• 30g cornflour (close to 3 tablespoons)
• 1 tsp leavening agent

Cherry Filling Ingredients:

• 500g fresh cherries, stones removed (equivalent to 3 cups)
• 60g granulated sugar (around 4 tablespoons)

Creamy Frosting Ingredients:

• 600g soft cream cheese (about 2.5 cups)
• 400g thickened cream (around 2 cups), high fat content recommended
• 100g granulated sugar (about 1/2 cup)

Directions:

1. Prepare the Oven and Pan: Warm your oven to 180°C (350°F). Fit a baking tin with parchment paper for easy removal.
2. Mix the Cake: Whisk eggs, sugar, and a pinch of salt in a bowl until it’s fluffy. Sift in flour, cocoa, cornflour, and baking powder, folding gently to keep the air in.
3. Bake: Pour the batter into your prepared tin, leveling the top. Cook in the oven for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow it to cool down on a cooling rack.
4. Make the Cherry Filling: Heat cherries and sugar in a saucepan over medium flame, stirring now and then, until it thickens into a jam-like consistency. Cool it down.
5. Whip the Frosting: Beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. In another bowl, whip the cream to stiff peaks, then fold into the cream cheese mix.
6. Assemble the Cake: Cut the cake horizontally into two layers. Spread cherry filling on the bottom layer, add some cream, then top with the second layer. Cover the entire cake with the remaining cream.
7. Chill: Let the cake set in the fridge for a couple of hours before slicing.

Enjoy your homemade Cherry and Chocolate Delight Cake, a perfect blend of juicy cherries and rich chocolate, all wrapped up in a luscious creamy frosting!