Chocolate Cherry Cake is a delicious rich cake with a delectable chocolate glaze that comes together quickly utilizing a devil’s food boxed cake mix and cherry pie filling. With the delicious flavors of chocolate and cherry, this beauty is perfect for potlucks, holiday parties, and Valentine’s Day.
I will start by saying that this is not a made-from-scratch cake. Although it really tastes as good or better than one. Sometimes life calls for shortcuts, and that is where this cake comes in. I mean, I am sure there are days when you could use a couple of clones of yourself. I know I could, and today is no exception to that idea. This Chocolate Cherry Cake utilizes a boxed devil’s food cake mix. So if Junior asks you how much longer the earth can sustain the heat of the sun. Princess is shoving paperwork from school up your nose. Hubby is asking you if you had time to pick up his toothpaste than maybe this beautiful, delectable cake is just what you need for that neighborhood gala you are supposed to attend this weekend.
How to make Chocolate Cherry Cake
First, stir together your cake mix, eggs, oil, and almond extract. Once you have that all mixed together, fold in your can of cherry pie filling. Then pour the mixture into a greased bundt pan and bake. Remove from the oven and let cool on a wire rack for a few minutes before inverting onto a serving plate.
For the chocolate glaze, heat butter and corn syrup in the microwave. Add the chocolate chips and slowly heat, stirring well between each interval. Finally, drizzle over the cooled cake and garnish with maraschino cherries. For an over-the-top treat, serve with fresh whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
How to melt chocolate properly
Melting chocolate can be easy if you are patient and follow some simple guidelines. If heated too fast, the chocolate will seize. Once that happens, it is difficult to bring it back to a good consistency.
- My preferred method is the microwave. Place the chocolate in a microwave bowl. Microwave at fifty percent power for one minute. Remove from the microwave and stir gently to melt the chocolate using the residual heat. If necessary, microwave for fifteen-second intervals stirring each time until the bowl no longer feels warm.
- Use a double boiler or a bowl that fits over the pan. Fill the pan with a couple of inches of water. Make sure the bowl does not reach into the water. Bring the water to a simmer. Turn off the heat and add half of the chocolate to the bowl stirring gently to melt. Add the rest of the chocolate in two to three increments stirring gently until the chocolate is fully melted.
- The slow cooker set on low works really well for melting chocolate. Stir occasionally and make sure it does not overheat. Cook just until melted, and then turn it off. Your chocolate is ready for use.
This Quick and Easy Chocolate Cherry Cake combines devil’s food cake mix and premium brand cherry pie filling for an outrageously divine dessert. It is then drizzled with a rich chocolate glaze and garnished with maraschino cherries, so it looks just as impressive as a bakery cake at a fraction of the price.
Helpful tips
- If possible, purchase premium-quality cherry pie filling.
- Grease well or spray your bundt pan with nonstick baking spray. I use Baker’s Joy. I really love it, and it works well.
- Load your cake on the center rack in the middle of the oven.
- If you convert this cake to a 9×13-inch pan, be careful not to fill the baking pan too high and switch to a chocolate frosting instead of a chocolate glaze.
- Cool the cake completely before drizzling it with the glaze.
- Because the cake has cherries in it, once completed, store it in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Store leftovers in the refrigerator as well.
So if cherries are your thing and time is not on your side, put this lip-smacking Quick and Easy Chocolate Cherry Cake on your list. No one at your soiree needs to know that it started with a box mix.
Other Cherry Recipes you will love!
Easy Chocolate Cherry Cake Recipe
This outrageously delicious cake comes together easily and quickly with devil’s food cake mix and cherry pie filling. Perfect for busy families or anyone that needs a delectable chocolate cake recipe in a pinch.
- Prep Time: 20
- Cook Time: 45
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 12
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Cake
- 1 box (15.25 ounce) devils food cake mix
- 3 large eggs
- 1/4 cup canola oil
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 1 can (21 ounce) cherry pie filling
Chocolate Glaze
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons corn syrup
- 3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Optional Garnish maraschino cherries
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a bundt pan with nonstick baking spray.
- In a large bowl, stir together cake mix, eggs, oil, and almond extract just until incorporated. Fold in cherries.
- Bake for 40-45 minutes. Cool for 15 minutes and invert onto a cake plate. Cool cake completely; approximately 2 hours.
- In a microwavable bowl or Pyrex measuring cup, microwave butter, and corn syrup for 45 seconds at 50% power. Add chocolate chips and microwave for 45 seconds at 50% power. Remove from microwave and continue stirring until chips are melted. If necessary, you can microwave for 15-second intervals at 50% power until the chips are melted. Stir in the vanilla and drizzle over the cake. If desired, cut maraschino cherries in half and arrange them on top of the cake or at the base of the cake.
Notes
- If possible, purchase premium-quality cherry pie filling.
- Grease well or spray your bundt pan with nonstick baking spray. I use Baker’s Joy. I really love it, and it works well.
- Load your cake on the center rack in the middle of the oven.
- If you convert this cake to a 9×13-inch pan, be careful not to fill the baking pan too high and switch to a chocolate frosting instead of a chocolate glaze.
- Cool the cake completely before drizzling it with the glaze.
- Because the cake has cherries in it, once completed, store it in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Store leftovers in the refrigerator as well.
Keywords: how to make a chocolate cherry cake, cherry chocolate cake, chocolate cake with cherry pie filling
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Sandra
This is so good!! I loved it! I will make it again and again!
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Sandra! So glad that you liked it!
Sandra
Such a great treat!! I love everything about this cake!
★★★★★
Erin
Great cake recipe. It was moist and full of flavor! I will make it again and again.
Beti
This is SO delicious! Everyone loved it! I can’t wait to make it again and again!
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Beti! So glad that you liked the cake!
katerina
Great chocolate cake! It was easy to make and absolutely delicious!
★★★★★
Amanda
Chocolate and cherries are my all time favorite flavor combination. This recipe hit it out of the park. It was so delicious!
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Amanda! I am so glad that you liked it!
Catalina
Chocolate and cherries are so good together! This is a delicious and moist cake!
★★★★★
Erin
Delicious cake and so easy to prepare. I will most definitely make this again!.
Deb
What can I substitute for almond extract?
Beth Pierce
There really is no substitute for almond extract. You can do vanilla extract but the cake will not have that almond hint.
Andrea
Can I use vegetable oil?
Beth Pierce
Yes, you sure can!
Pamelia
Family favorite I add a small packet of expresso, really bolsters the flavor!
Beth Pierce
Thanks for the tip!
Gloria
Do you think strawberry pie filling could be substituted in this recipe
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Unfortunately I do not know the answer to that. Please let us know if you try and what the results are.
Deb
Great recipe, I’m wondering how this would work in a mini fluted cake pan (like bundt). Also, will these freeze well with the glaze on?
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
I think they would work great in the mini fluted pans although the baking time will be a lot less. The glaze will not freeze solid so it is best to glaze them when you are ready to serve or give as gifts.
Julia
Simple and delicious. I love chocolate and cherries together and Black Forest Cake is my favourite. This one is easier but just as good!
★★★★★
Betsy
So delicious! I love this cake! I’m not a huge chocolate cake fan, but the addition of the cherries just makes it absolutely perfect! Everyone loved it!
★★★★★
Kristyn
In my opinion, chocolate & cherry are the best together! This cake is so soft & really is super easy to make! I love the glaze!
★★★★★
Cathy
The cherry pie filling takes this to the next level!
Tara
My dad loves chocolate cherry cake and he was not disappointed with this one! The cake was so moist and delicious!
★★★★★
Toni Dash
This cake is really impressive! Everyone at my house loved it!
★★★★★
Sara
Such a rich and decadent cake; was the perfect end to my evening last night! Easily, a new favorite dessert!
★★★★★
Erin
This Chocolate Cherry Cake is looks absolutely delicious! Yummy!
★★★★★
Vikki
This cake is so rich and delicious, everyone loved it! Definitely making it again
★★★★★
Amanda
Cherries and chocolate is my favorite combination, I can’t wait to try this!
Kimberly
Just put this cake in oven. Can I use honey instead of corn syrup in frosting mix?
★★★★
Beth Pierce
Sorry just got back from surgery. Honey might crystallize so perhaps a completely different type of chocolate glaze might be in order. Maybe something like The Best Chocolate Glaze or something like this Easy Chocolate Bundt Cake Glaze
Joyce
Made this recipe years ago but could not find the recipe again love the moisture of this cake
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Me too! It is so easy and delicious! I am glad that you found it again!
Sommer
Love chocolate and cherries together!
★★★★★
Erin
I want this ganache on everything! Such a great cake.
★★★★★
Liz
Besides being gorgeous, this was SO delicious and easy to make!
★★★★★
Brenda levan
I like the receipt of the cake or pie thing that are ease and good to make any kind of recipe
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much Brenda!