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Home » Recipes » Dessert Recipes » Cake Recipes » Chocolate Cherry Cake Recipe

Chocolate Cherry Cake Recipe

By Lynette on December 10, 2018 · 53 Comments

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chocolate cherry cake

Easy million dollar chocolate cherry cake recipe!  Made from scratch with chocolate cake mix, chocolate chips and cherry pie filling, it’s no wonder this was a Pillsbury winner!

chocolate cherry cake

Let me just tell you how smart I thought I was.  I’ve been digging into recipe boxes that were given to me when I got married.  They are filled with handwritten notes and I was looking for a chocolate cake recipe.  So when I stumbled upon this handwritten recipe for cherry chocolate cake, I knew I had to try it.  The recipe looked easy while at the same time seemed so creative.  And let me tell you, it is the BEST homemade chocolate cake recipe EVER.

Chocolate Cake With Cherry Pie Filling

Imagine my surprise when my parents came over for dinner and I served this cake only to find out it’s the million dollar winner from Pillsbury from years ago.  1974 to be exact.  Well, I sure do know a good recipe when I see one?!  I can’t wait to go into my recipe box and see what else pops up for me to make for you.  🙂

Well, if you were in the dark like me.  Here’s is an absolutely delicious and rich recipe to serve for dessert. It’s even better the second day.

How To Make Chocolate Cherry Cake

In a large bowl combine all the cake ingredients which include the cake mix, cherry pie filling, eggs and almond extract.  You don’t need a mixer.  You mix this by hand.

One thing to note is the cherry pie filling.  Make sure you get cherry PIE filing and not just cherry filling.  There is a difference, so read the can, man.  🙂

chocolate cake with cherry pie filling batter

The batter will be very thick.  You can see that it is much thicker than a brownie batter.

I need to make this cake again, I’m getting hungry.

chocolate cake with cherry in pan before baking

Spread the batter into a 9×13 cake pan that has been sprayed with PAM.  I used a spatula to even it.  It’s fool proof!  Bake for 25 – 30 minutes at 350˚ F.

You can find my other must have baking tools here.

homemade chocolate icing on chocolate cherry cake recipe

Once the cake is baked, remove it and place on a cooling rack.  Immediately get to work on the glaze as you’ll want to top the cake while it’s still warm.

To make the icing, combine the sugar, butter and milk in a saucepan.  Bring it to a boil over medium-high heat.  Stir constantly.  Let it boil for one minute.  Remove it from the heat and stir in the chocolate chips.

Resist the urge to lick the spoon.  This stuff is hot lava.  Pour the frosting over the entire warm delicious best homemade chocolate cake recipe.

chocolate cherry cake recipe made with cherry pie filling

Enjoy, friends!  This chocolate cherry cake is amazing!

More Simple Cake Recipes

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Chocolate Cherry Cake

★★★★★ 4.9 from 9 reviews
  • Author: Lynette Rice
  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Cook Time: 30 mins
  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 12 1x
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Bake
  • Cuisine: North American
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Description

Easy homemade chocolate cake recipe made with cherry pie filling and chocolate chips!


Ingredients

Scale

Cake:

  • 1 package of chocolate cake mix
  • 2 eggs, slightly beaten
  • 1 can (21 oz) cherry pie filling
  • 1 tsp almond extract

Chocolate Icing:

  • 1 Cup sugar
  • ½ Cup butter or margarine
  • ½ Cup milk
  • 1 Cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a 9×13 inch cake pan.
  2. Mix the cake mix, eggs, pie filling and almond extract.
  3. Pour batter into the cake pan.
  4. Bake 25 – 30 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  5. Once the cake it baked, place it on a cooling wrack and immediately begin the icing.
  6. Combine the sugar, Butter and milk in a saucepan. Bring it to a boil. Boil for 1 minute.
  7. Remove from heat and stir in the chocolate chips.
  8. Pour the icing over the warm cake and let cool completely before serving.

Notes

This cake can be made the day ahead!  Place in refrigerator covered after fully cooled.

Keywords: chocolate cherry cake, chocolate cake with cherry pie filling, chocolate cherry cake recipe

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @cleverlysimple on Instagram and hashtag it #cleverlysimple

Originally shared 2014.

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About Lynette

Lynette is the home cook, recipe tester and photographer for Cleverly Simple which she created in 2010.  Most of her recipes come from the treasured recipe box passed down from her great-grandma, grandmother, and mother.

Lynette’s recipes and projects have been featured in Country Living, Good Housekeeping, House Beautiful and others.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Heather

    February 02, 2022 at 4:47 pm

    Do you use salted or unsalted butter for frosting?

    Reply
    • Lynette

      February 03, 2022 at 1:48 pm

      I always use salted because that is what I typically have on hand.

      Reply
    • LP

      February 17, 2022 at 9:07 pm

      How long/what temperature for making cupcakes?

      Reply
  2. Christi

    April 16, 2020 at 3:28 pm

    I love this recipe so much I made my Two tier wedding cake with it. Frosted it with chocolate almond buttercream and sprinkled with toasted almonds. Everyone was pleasantly surprised!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Lynette

      April 27, 2020 at 10:20 am

      Yum! This would be amazing as a wedding cake! Congratulations, by the way! 🙂

      Reply
  3. Gopika

    July 11, 2019 at 2:31 am

    How much gms of Cake mix do you mean by One package?

    Reply
    • Lynette

      July 13, 2019 at 10:42 am

      The chocolate cake mix mentioned in the recipe is around 15.25 ounces. You’ll have to convert to grams to make this recipe if that is what you’re used to baking with.

      Reply
  4. Sue Schulze

    May 04, 2019 at 7:39 pm

    I didn’t make the cake but I made the icing for another cake. It was just like the cooked icing my mom use to make. I LOVED it.

    Reply
    • Lynette

      May 05, 2019 at 9:41 am

      Awesome! So glad you enjoyed it.

      Reply
  5. Melissa

    April 05, 2019 at 8:10 am

    I don’t have regular sugar. I hope powdered sugar will work for the icing.

    Reply
    • Lynette

      April 05, 2019 at 8:30 am

      I’ve never tried it with powdered sugar. A quick look online says you can use it as a replacement but will need to change the quantity. Let me know how it goes. I’m curious. 🙂

      Reply
  6. Badria

    March 02, 2019 at 12:39 pm

    hello
    can I use blueberry pie filling instead of the cherry

    Reply
    • Lynette

      March 10, 2019 at 2:48 pm

      Yes! Let me know how it turns out. I love blueberry with chocolate.

      Reply
  7. Andrea Nelson

    November 21, 2018 at 4:28 pm

    Can you put it in a bundt pan?

    Reply
    • Lynette

      November 22, 2018 at 8:21 am

      Hi Andrea, I’ve never tried it in a bundt pan, but I’m not sure if the consistency of this cake would do well. It’s a super moist and soft cake so it might be difficult getting it out of the bundt pan. If you do decide to try it, make sure to adjust your baking time. And of course, let me know how it goes!

      Reply
  8. Rae

    October 05, 2018 at 4:41 pm

    My mom has made this before. Only, she let’s it cool before frosting.

    Reply
  9. Cindy

    September 23, 2018 at 2:56 pm

    I baked this cake yesterday, first off I am not a baker person, can’t remember last time I baked a cake! This is so easy and better yet so GOOD I’m sure I will bake it again. Thanks for sharing it.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Lynette

      September 24, 2018 at 12:10 pm

      So glad you enjoyed it Cindy! It’s such a great chocolate cake recipe – that’s super moist! It’s my go-to cake recipe when I have to take something to a potluck or friend’s house. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
  10. Dauna Doyle

    February 28, 2018 at 9:07 pm

    I have been making this cake for a very long time. It is my family’s favorite cake in the whole world. Thanks for sharing it.

    Reply
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Lynette Rice head shotHi, I’m Lynette. My desire is to help women who feel uninspired weave time honored recipes into their routines to create a sense of simplicity. Most of my recipes come from the treasured recipe box passed down from my great-grandma, grandmother and mother. And I want to share them with you.  Learn more.

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