Easy Maraschino Cherry Cake Recipe: Moist, Flavorful & Perfect with Cake Mix!

Prepare to fall in love with this incredibly easy maraschino cherry cake recipe, handcrafted with simple ingredients and a convenient cake mix. The result is a delightfully soft and moist cake, perfectly complemented by a luscious whipped cream icing and adorned with vibrant maraschino cherries. This recipe promises a stunning dessert with minimal effort, making it ideal for both novice and experienced bakers.

This cake strikes a beautiful balance of sophisticated simplicity, making it a stellar choice for a relaxed brunch with your closest friends or a heartwarming celebration for the mothers in your life. Its light, airy texture, harmoniously paired with sweet, cloud-like whipped cream and the juicy burst of bright red cherries, creates a visual masterpiece that’s as delightful to look at as it is to eat. The secret to its effortless charm lies in the clever use of a cake mix, streamlining the baking process without compromising on flavor or texture.

While this recipe focuses on the classic maraschino cherry flavor, it’s distinct from our popular Easy Black Forest Cake {With Cake Mix}, which highlights chocolate and cherries. If you’re eager to explore more cherry-infused delights, be sure to try these delightful Easy Cherry Turnovers {With Puff Pastry} or our indulgent Chocolate Cherry Cupcakes {With Filling}. Each offers a unique way to enjoy the beloved fruit.

How to Make Easy Cherry Cake Recipe with Cake Mix?

Creating this stunning maraschino cherry cake is surprisingly straightforward, thanks to the convenience of a cake mix. Follow these simple steps for a perfect bake every time:

1. Prepare Wet Ingredients: In a spacious mixing bowl, combine eggs, oil, water, maraschino cherry juice, and a few drops of pink food coloring (if desired, to enhance the vibrant pink hue). Whisk these ingredients together until they are light, frothy, and well-emulsified. This initial mixing helps aerate the batter for a lighter cake.
2. Incorporate Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the cake mix powder to the wet ingredients. Mix gently, just until everything is combined and no dry streaks of flour remain. Overmixing can lead to a tough cake, so stop as soon as the batter is smooth.
3. Fold in Cherries: Carefully fold in the finely chopped maraschino cherries. Distribute them evenly throughout the batter. Remember the tip about coating them in flour if you’re concerned about sinking!
4. Bake to Perfection: Pour the prepared batter into your greased and floured cake pans. Bake in a preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, indicating it’s fully cooked through.
5. Cool and Trim: Once baked, allow the cakes to cool completely on a wire rack. Cooling is crucial before frosting. Once cool, gently trim any domes from the top and lightly shave the sides to remove any browned edges, creating a perfectly flat and uniformly pink canvas. Place the first cooled and trimmed cake layer on your chosen cake stand.
6. Apply Whipped Cream: Generously spread a layer of whipped cream between the first and second cake layers. Ensure an even coating for both flavor and stability.
7. Assemble and Top: Carefully place the second cake layer on top of the first, pressing down gently to secure. Spread the remaining whipped cream evenly over the top and sides of the entire cake.
8. Add Cherries for Decoration: Finally, artfully arrange whole maraschino cherries on top of the whipped cream icing. Make sure they are patted dry to prevent any colored drips. Serve and enjoy this delightful creation!

Key Ingredients for Maraschino Cherry Cake

While this recipe is simple, selecting the right ingredients is crucial for achieving that perfect moist texture and vibrant cherry flavor. Here’s a closer look at the stars of this cake:

• Cake Mix: The foundation of our easy recipe! A good quality white or yellow cake mix will both work beautifully. A white cake mix tends to result in a brighter, more pronounced pink color when combined with the cherry juice and food coloring, which is often preferred for maraschino cherry cakes. Opt for a mix that already includes pudding in its formulation, as this significantly boosts the cake’s moisture content, ensuring a tender crumb.
• Cherries: The heart of the cake! We primarily use maraschino cherries and their vibrant juice. The juice from the jar not only imparts a lovely pink hue but also infuses the cake with that distinctive sweet cherry flavor. For the cake batter, finely chopped maraschino cherries are used, while whole, patted-dry cherries are reserved for decoration on top.
• Whipped Cream: The ideal partner for this light cake. Freshly made whipped cream provides a delicate sweetness and airy texture that perfectly complements the cake’s flavor. Alternatively, a convenient store-bought Cool Whip can be used for an even quicker assembly, offering a similar light and creamy experience.

How Do You Keep Cherries From Sinking in Cake?

A common baking dilemma is preventing fruit or chocolate chips from sinking to the bottom of your cake. This phenomenon occurs because denser ingredients naturally gravitate downwards in a thin batter. Fortunately, there are effective solutions to keep your maraschino cherries perfectly suspended throughout your cake.

Our helpful guide, How To Stop Chocolate Chips From Sinking, offers excellent insights that are directly applicable here. The primary technique involves **coating your chopped cherries lightly in flour** before folding them into the batter. This thin layer of flour creates friction, allowing the cherries to cling to the batter and distribute more evenly as the cake bakes and rises. A tablespoon or two of all-purpose flour for a quarter cup of chopped cherries is usually sufficient. Simply toss the cherries with the flour until they are lightly dusted.

Beyond flour coating, the **size and weight of the cherries** also play a significant role. If the cherry pieces are too large and heavy, they will likely sink even with a flour coating. Therefore, it’s crucial to chop your maraschino cherries into very small, uniform pieces. This reduces their individual weight, making them easier to suspend in the batter and ensuring a more consistent texture in every slice. Aim for pieces no larger than a small pea.

Why Is My Cake Dry?

A dry cake is a common and disappointing outcome for any baker, often signaling a few preventable mistakes during the baking process. The most frequent culprit is **over-baking**. When a cake bakes for too long, the moisture within the batter evaporates excessively, leaving behind a crumbly, dry texture.

To avoid a dry cake, it’s essential to monitor your baking time closely and rely on visual and tactile cues rather than strictly adhering to the recipe’s suggested duration, as oven temperatures can vary. **The toothpick test** is your best friend here: insert a clean toothpick into the very center of the cake. If it comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs attached, your cake is done. If it’s wet with batter, continue baking for a few more minutes and test again. Always start checking a few minutes before the minimum bake time suggested.

Other factors contributing to dryness can include using too much flour or not enough liquid, an oven temperature that is too high, or opening the oven door too frequently, which can cause temperature fluctuations and lead to uneven baking and moisture loss. Using a cake mix with pudding added, as suggested earlier, is also a fantastic way to inherently boost moisture in your cake.

Fresh Cherries vs. Maraschino Cherries vs. Frozen Cherries

Understanding the differences between cherry types is key to achieving the desired outcome for your cake. Each variety brings its own characteristics in terms of flavor, texture, and moisture content:

• Maraschino Cherries: These are the ideal choice for this specific recipe. They are preserved in a sweet syrup, providing a consistent level of moisture and a vibrant red (or pink, with coloring) hue that is iconic for a maraschino cherry cake. Their flavor is distinctly sweet and slightly almond-like, which infuses beautifully into the cake batter. The juice from the jar is also indispensable for both color and flavor in this recipe.
• Fresh Cherries: Yes, fresh cherries can be used in this cake, offering a more natural, less sweet flavor profile. If opting for fresh cherries, you must **pit them thoroughly** first. For the liquid component, you’ll need to use pure cherry juice, which can be found bottled in most grocery stores. Alternatively, if you’re making cherry juice at home, ensure it is strained well to remove any pulp or solids before adding it to the cake batter. Be aware that using fresh cherries will result in a cake with a darker, more reddish or maroon color, rather than the bright pink often associated with maraschino cherry cakes. The texture of fresh cherries will also be firmer compared to their preserved counterparts.
• Frozen Cherries: Unfortunately, **frozen cherries cannot be used** in this specific cake recipe. The primary reason is that frozen fruits release a significant amount of juice as they thaw and bake. This excess moisture will alter the delicate balance of the cake batter, leading to a soggy texture, an uneven bake, and potentially a cake that fails to set properly. The high water content in frozen cherries makes them unsuitable for direct inclusion in a cake batter like this one. They are better suited for fillings, pies, or compotes where the released liquid can be managed or is desired.

Variations for Best Very Cherry Layer Cake

This maraschino cherry cake is wonderfully versatile and can be adapted to suit various occasions and personal preferences. Get creative with these delicious variations:

• Make a Sheet Cake: For a simpler presentation or to feed a crowd, adapt the recipe to a single layer. A quarter sheet cake pan (9×13 inches) works perfectly, yielding a generous rectangular cake that’s easy to slice and serve at potlucks or parties.
• Make a Loaf Cake: Transform this recipe into elegant loaf cakes. This variation is fantastic for individual servings, gifting, or a charming addition to a brunch spread. Adjust baking time accordingly for smaller pans.
• Double the Batter for a Tall Cake: If you desire a more dramatic presentation, double the recipe to create a stunning tall double barrel cake with multiple luscious layers. Remember to use appropriate cake supports for stability if stacking many layers.
• Create a Tiered Cake: For grander celebrations, this recipe can be scaled up to make a beautiful tiered cake. When building a tiered cake, ensure you use proper internal supports (dowels or pillars) to prevent the upper layers from collapsing into the lower ones.
• Try Other Frostings: While whipped cream is divine, don’t hesitate to experiment with different frostings. Options like a rich Chocolate Whipped Cream {3 Ingredients}, classic American Buttercream Frosting Recipe, or a tangy Best Cream Cheese Frosting would all add unique flavor dimensions.
• Decorate in a Different Way: The beauty of this cake allows for diverse decorating styles. While simple bright red cherries are elegant, explore other ideas from our Easy Cake Decorating Ideas {Beginners} post. Consider sprinkles, edible glitter, or fresh mint leaves for a pop of green.
• Add Extracts: Enhance the flavor profile by incorporating other extracts. A touch of almond extract pairs beautifully with cherries, intensifying their natural taste, while vanilla extract provides a warm, comforting base.
• Add a Delicious Filling: Elevate your cake by adding a delightful filling between the layers. Consider extra chopped cherries, a sweet cherry jam or preserves, our Homemade Cherry Pie Filling {Fresh or Frozen}, a zesty How To Make Lemon Curd {4 Ingredients}, or even a creamy cheesecake filling for an indulgent surprise.
• Use Other Cake Mix Flavors: While white or yellow cake mixes are recommended for the classic pink hue, don’t shy away from using other flavors. A chocolate cake mix combined with cherries is an absolute dream, creating a delicious black forest-inspired treat. Red velvet cake mix would also offer a beautiful color and a complementary flavor profile.
• Add Chocolate Shavings on Top: For an extra touch of decadence and visual appeal, sprinkle a generous amount of chocolate shavings over the whipped cream. Dark or white chocolate would both create a stunning contrast and add another layer of flavor.

Tips and Techniques for Perfect Cherry Cake

Achieving a bakery-quality cake at home often comes down to mastering a few key tips and techniques. Here are some essential pointers for baking your best maraschino cherry cake:

• How to Make a Naked Cake? If you’re aiming for that trendy, minimalist look where the cake layers and a hint of frosting are visible, be sure to check out my step-by-step tutorial on How to Make Naked Cake. It provides invaluable guidance if you’ve never attempted this style before.
• Always Pat Dry the Cherries with Paper Towels: This step is crucial for the whole cherries you use for decoration. Excess juice from the maraschino cherries can drip down the sides of your beautifully iced cake, creating unsightly streaks and a sticky mess. A quick pat dry ensures they stay put and look pristine.
• I Recommend Using White Cake Mix Instead of Yellow: While both work, I’ve found that a white cake mix truly allows the pink food coloring and cherry juice to shine through, resulting in a much brighter and more vibrant pink cake. A yellow cake mix tends to give a slightly warmer, sometimes muted, pink tone.
• Use a Cake Mix That Already Has Pudding Added to It: This is a secret weapon for an extra moist cake! Cake mixes with pudding in the mix naturally yield a more tender and hydrated crumb, making your cherry cake irresistibly soft.
• Cool Cake Completely Before Icing: Patience is a virtue in baking, especially here. If you attempt to frost a warm or even slightly warm cake with whipped cream, the heat will cause the cream to melt almost immediately, sliding right off the cake and ruining your hard work. Ensure your cake layers are completely at room temperature.
• Trim the Dome and Sides of the Cake: After baking and cooling, your cake layers might have a slight dome on top and possibly some browned edges. Trimming the dome with a serrated knife creates an even, flat surface, which is essential for stable layers and for your decorative cherries to rest uniformly. Trimming the sides also removes any subtly browned crust that might contrast with the vibrant pink interior, ensuring a beautiful, consistent color throughout the slice.
• What Size Cake Pan to Use? For this specific recipe, I used two circular 8×2 inch cake pans. These dimensions are ideal for creating a two-layer cake that is both impressive and manageable.
• Always Grease and Flour the Cake Pans: This foundational step is critical for successful cake removal. Thoroughly greasing your pans (with butter, shortening, or baking spray) and then dusting them with a light layer of flour creates a non-stick barrier, preventing your delicate cake layers from sticking and breaking when you try to turn them out.

Another Idea: Cherry Mango Cake

For those looking to venture beyond a single flavor, consider creating a visually striking and uniquely flavored layer cake by combining two different cake flavors. In the accompanying picture, I’ve showcased a delightful creation featuring our vibrant cherry cake on the bottom layer and a complementary Mango Cake as the top layer. This pairing offers a wonderful contrast in both color and taste, blending the sweet tang of cherries with the tropical freshness of mango.

I adorned this colorful masterpiece with a beautiful purple and white American Buttercream Icing, applied with a large round tip (specifically Wilton Tip 12) to create charming peaks. To achieve these elegant frosting peaks, hold your piping bag at a 90-degree angle to the cake surface, gently squeeze the bag until the icing flows out, and then swiftly pull away. This technique creates lovely, defined swirls and peaks. To complete the festive look and add a playful texture, I scattered an assortment of pink and white sprinkles over the entire cake. This combination is not only a feast for the eyes but also a delightful treat for the palate!

Storage of Maraschino Cherry Cake

Proper storage is essential to maintain the freshness and delightful taste of your maraschino cherry cake. Here’s how to ensure it stays delicious:

• Refrigerate: Due to the whipped cream icing, this cake must be stored in the refrigerator. Place any leftover cake in a sealed, airtight container to prevent it from drying out and absorbing other odors from your fridge. When stored correctly, the cake will remain fresh and delicious for up to 3 days. For best flavor, allow slices to come to room temperature for about 15-20 minutes before serving.
• Freeze: I do not recommend freezing this particular cake. The delicate nature of maraschino cherries means they tend to become excessively runny and messy upon thawing. This can significantly alter the cake’s texture and appearance, turning your beautiful creation into a less appealing, soggy dessert. It’s best enjoyed fresh or within the recommended refrigeration period.

More Cherry Desserts

If you’re a true cherry lover and can’t get enough of their sweet and tart flavor, be sure to explore these other fantastic cherry dessert recipes:

• Chocolate Cherry Cookies {Black Forest Cookies}: A delightful fusion of rich chocolate and juicy cherries in a cookie form.
• Gooey Brownies {Chocolate Cherry Brownies}: Indulgent, fudgy brownies studded with bursts of cherry flavor.
• Easy Cherry Pie {With Homemade Pie Filling}: The classic comfort dessert, made simple with a delicious homemade filling.

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