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    Home » Recipes » Cakes and Cupcakes

    Cherry Layer Cake {with Cherry Cream Cheese Frosting}

    Published: Jun 22, 2022 Modified: June 22, 2022 by Nina

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    If you love cherry desserts, you will love this bursting with cherry flavour, cherry layer cake. The cake is tinted pink with cherry juice from none other then a maraschino cherry jar. Maraschino cherries are mixed into the cake batter to make sure the cherry flavour shines. A tart cherry cream cheese frosting finishes off this cake that is perfect for any occasion!

    A slice of cake on a white plate.  The rest of the cake is partially seen in the background.
    Jump straight to the recipe!
    • 🍒An old fashioned cake, but a goody!
    • 🥘Ingredients
    • 🔪Instructions
    • ✔️Expert tips
    • 💭FAQs
    • 🔖Related recipes
    • 📋 Recipe

    🍒An old fashioned cake, but a goody!

    This cherry layer cake is perfectly vintage and reminds me of a cake that would be served at a 1950's diner. I can see a waitress in a poodle skirt carrying this to a customer...anyways, back to the cake!

    Because we use maraschino cherry juice in the cake and the cream cheese frosting, the cake has a pretty pink hue to it. And lots of cherry flavour! This cherry layer cake can be made any season, and would be perfect to serve anytime!

    If you like cherry desserts, try my classic cherry pie, or black forest trifle, which has a homemade cherry pie filling.

    🥘Ingredients

    Cherry cake layers

    Ingredients needed to make cherry layer cake.

    Cherry cream cheese frosting

    Cherry Layer Cake frosting ingredients.

    Ingredient notes

    • Maraschino cherries - You will need two 10oz (or 375ml) jars of maraschino cherries. 1 full jar for the cake and 1 jar needed for the juice for the frosting, and some cherries to decorate. You will have some leftover cherries. Use them on top of ice cream with whipped cream!
    • Cream cheese - Use the block cream cheese, which is the kind for baking. Use full fat for best taste. A lighter cream cheese will still taste great though!

    🔪Instructions

    Cherry cake layers

    Grease and line three 8" or 9" round cake pans with parchment paper. I used 8" cake pans. If you use 9", the cake layer will be a little thinner and will not take as long to bake. Start checking them at 22 minutes.

    In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt together. In another medium bowl, whisk egg whites, cherry juice, milk, and vanilla together.

    Beat butter and sugar together in a large bowl. Add sour cream and mix until combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.

    Cherry cake batter in a large aluminum bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the beater attachment.

    Mix in half the dry ingredients until combined. Mix in all the egg white mixture until combined, then the rest of the dry ingredients. If you like your frosting smoother, whisk it until smooth.

    Mix cherries with 2 tablespoons of flour until coated, then fold into cake batter. Pour batter evenly into the prepared cake pans.

    Bake for 25-28 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let the cakes cool in their pans for 5 minutes, and then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

    Cherry cream cheese frosting

    Beat butter and cream cheese together in a large bowl. Add cherry juice and mix until combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. Mix in powdered sugar until fully combined.

    Recipe steps for cherry layer cake.

    To assemble, place one cake layer on a cake decorating plate, or a serving plate, and top with some frosting, about half a cup. Place another cake layer on top, and frost, then another cake layer, and more frosting.

    Frost the sides of the cake, and decorate the top with piped frosting and cherries. Store in the refrigerator until ready to eat. Leftovers will keep for 3 days.

    For more step by step photos, see the web story for Cherry Layer Cake!

    A slice of cake on a white plate. The rest of the cake is partially seen in the background.

    ✔️Expert tips

    • You will need two 10oz (or 375ml) jars of maraschino cherries for this recipe. 1 full jar for the cake and 1 jar needed for the juice for the frosting, and some cherries to decorate.
    • Mix the cake ingredients until just combined.
    • To ensure a cake is moist, you can brush each layer with a simple syrup. Heat ½ cup granulated sugar and ½ cup water in a small saucepan over medium heat. Heat until the sugar has dissolved. Let cool at room temperature before using.
    • If the frosting is too thin, add more powdered sugar.

    💭FAQs

    Can I make this ahead?

    You can make the cake layers ahead of time and freeze for up to 3 months. Wrap each layer with plastic wrap and store in freezer bags. Decorate the cake with the frozen cake layers. If you really want them at room temperature, thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

    How do you keep cherries from sinking in a cherry cake?

    Toss the cherries with a bit of flour before folding them in the cake batter. The flour will help the cherries "stick" to the batter, so they won't sink to the bottom of the cake pan.

    A partial view of the cake. The cake is sitting on a white cake stand. Maraschino cherries are used as decoration on top of the cake.

    🔖Related recipes

    • Classic Cheesecake with Fresh Fruit
    • White Cake with Strawberry Filling
    • Cheesecake Factory Craig's Crazy Carrot Cake Cheesecake
    • Olive Garden Sicilian Cheesecake {with strawberry topping}

    Let's Bake Together!

    Step-by-step instructions are all written in my recipe below. If you liked it, please rate me 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐!

    If you tried this recipe, be sure to tag me on Instagram. You can also find me on Facebook and Pinterest.

    📋 Recipe

    A slice of cake on a white plate.

    Cherry Layer Cake {with Cherry Cream Cheese Frosting}

    Nina
    This cherry layer cake is tinted pink with cherry juice from none other then a maraschino cherry jar. Maraschino cherries are mixed into the cake batter to make sure the cherry flavour shines. A tart cherry cream cheese frosting finishes off this cake that is perfect for any occasion!
    4.43 from 7 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Prep Time 25 mins
    Cook Time 28 mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine North American
    Servings 14 slices
    Calories 808 kcal

    Equipment

    • Three 8" or 9" round cake pans

    Ingredients
      

    Cherry Cake Layers

    • 2½ cups all purpose flour + another 2 tablespoons for dusting cherries
    • 3 teaspoons baking powder
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 6 large egg whites room temperature
    • ⅔ cup maraschino cherry juice
    • ¾ cup whole milk room temperature
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • ¾ cup unsalted butter softened at room temperature
    • 1½ cups granulated sugar
    • ½ cup sour cream room temperature
    • 20 maraschino cherries

    Cherry Cream Cheese Frosting

    • 1 cup unsalted butter softened at room temperature
    • 16 ounces cream cheese room temperature
    • 2 tablespoons maraschino cherry juice
    • 8 cups powdered sugar

    Instructions
     

    Cherry Cake Layers

    • Preheat oven to 350° (180°C). Grease and line three 8" or 9" round cake pans with parchment paper.
    • In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt together.
    • In another medium bowl, whisk egg whites, cherry juice, milk, and vanilla together.
    • Beat butter and sugar together in a large bowl. Add sour cream and mix until combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
    • Mix in half the dry ingredients until combined. Mix in all the egg white mixture until combined, then the rest of the dry ingredients.
    • Mix cherries with 2 tablespoons of flour until coated, then fold into cake batter. Pour batter evenly into the prepared cake pans.
    • Bake for 25-28 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let the cakes cool in their pans for 5 minutes, and then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

    Cherry Cream Cheese Frosting

    • Beat butter and cream cheese together in a large bowl. Add cherry juice and mix until combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. Mix in powdered sugar until fully combined.

    Assembly

    • Place one cake layer on a cake decorating plate, or a serving plate and top with some frosting, about half a cup. Place another cake layer on top, and frost, then another cake layer, and more frosting.
    • Frost the sides of the cake, and decorate the top with piped frosting and cherries. Store in the refrigerator until ready to eat. Leftovers will keep for 3 days.

    Notes

    • You will need two 10oz (or 375ml) jars of maraschino cherries for this recipe. 1 full jar for the cake and 1 jar needed for the juice for the frosting, and some cherries to decorate.
    • Mix the cake ingredients until just combined.
    • To ensure a cake is moist, you can brush each layer with a simple syrup. Heat ½ cup granulated sugar and ½ cup water in a small saucepan over medium heat. Heat until the sugar has dissolved. Let cool at room temperature before using.
    • If the frosting is too thin, add more powdered sugar.

    YOUR OWN NOTES

    Click here to add your own private notes

    Nutrition

    Serving: 14gCalories: 808kcalCarbohydrates: 116gProtein: 7gFat: 37gSaturated Fat: 22gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 101mgSodium: 311mgPotassium: 152mgFiber: 1gSugar: 96gVitamin A: 1231IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 124mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe? Follow me on Instagram!Mention @ninakneadstobake or tag #ninakneadstobake!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Amy Powell

      July 22, 2022 at 8:36 pm

      5 stars
      Made this for a friends birthday, it was perfect! I’ve never had a cake cook so perfectly before! Will definitely be making this again!!!

      Reply
      • Nina

        July 28, 2022 at 2:28 pm

        Hi Amy! That's awesome! I'm so glad it was a hit 🙂

        Reply
    2. Kay

      July 19, 2022 at 8:32 am

      2 stars
      Wow this cake is way too dense!

      Not enough cherries and lacking cherry flavor in the cake.. The frosting was very good. I made 2 layers and the recipe for the frosting should be cut in half.

      Reply
      • Nina

        July 21, 2022 at 6:51 am

        Hi Kay! I wonder if you mixed the cake batter too long. That would result in a dense cake. Also check the date of your baking powder. An expired baking powder would make the cake not rise enough.
        If you like a strong cherry flavour, you could try adding a cherry extract. I think the balance of the cherries, maraschino cherry juice, and the cherry frosting balances wonderfully though. The frosting is the correct amount for a three layer cake.

        Reply
    3. Katt D

      July 04, 2022 at 7:57 am

      4 stars
      Would you think there is a way to use real cherries somehow? Like frozen/thawed ones chopped up? Not really a maraschino fan, but cherry cake sounds awesome...Thanks for any thoughts....

      Reply
      • Nina

        July 04, 2022 at 7:52 pm

        Hi Katt! I think the substitution would work. You could use cherry juice instead of maraschino cherry juice in the cake batter and the frosting. It might make the cake a darker pink though. Let me know if you try it!

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Nina! I am a self-taught baker and have a love for baking and trying new techniques. Here you will find easy step-by-step sweet and savoury recipes, with lots of tips.

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