Description

Have you ever wished you could bake a cake that looks like it came from a fancy bakery but is actually super easy to make? If you said yes, you’re going to love what’s coming next. Today, we’re diving into one of the prettiest, easiest, and most delicious cakes you’ll ever bake — the Maraschino Cherry Cake! It’s colorful, soft, full of sweet cherry flavor, and topped with a creamy frosting that’s so good you’ll want to lick the spoon.

Ingredients

Vanilla Cake Mix: A great shortcut to make the cake light, fluffy, and easy. You can use white cake mix if you want an even brighter pink color
Maraschino Cherries and Juice: These add that bright color and a sweet cherry flavor. No fresh cherries needed here
Eggs: Help make the cake rich and help it rise
Oil: Keeps the cake super moist
Water: Thins the batter just right
Almond Extract: Adds a tiny hint of nutty, sweet flavor that makes the cherries pop even more
Cream Cheese and Butter: For a rich and creamy frosting that’s not too sweet
Powdered Sugar: Makes the frosting smooth and perfect for spreading

Substitutions and Variations

Cake Mix: Try a strawberry or cherry chip cake mix for even more fruity flavor
Oil: Use melted butter if you prefer a richer taste
Almond Extract: Swap for vanilla extract if you don’t like almond
Dairy-Free: Use plant-based butter and cream cheese for the frosting

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Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Oven and Pan

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray so the cake won’t stick.

Step 2: Make the Cake Batter

In a large bowl, add 3 large eggs, ½ cup oil, ¾ cup water, ¼ cup maraschino cherry juice, and ½ teaspoon almond extract. Mix them together with an electric mixer or a stand mixer until smooth. Slowly add the vanilla cake mix into the wet ingredients. Mix everything until there are no dry lumps. Scrape the sides of the bowl to make sure everything is mixed well.

Step 3: Add the Cherries

Gently stir in the quartered maraschino cherries. Try to spread them out evenly in the batter.

Step 4: Bake the Cake

Pour the batter into your prepared pan. Bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool completely before frosting.