Description
This Cherry Dr. Pepper Cake is a delightful twist on traditional chocolate cake, infused with the unique flavors of Dr. Pepper Cherry soda and maraschino cherries. It is topped with a creamy cherry frosting and decorated with chocolate shavings and additional cherries, making it a perfect dessert for any occasion. The cake is moist, flavorful, and offers a fun combination of soda-infused batter and rich chocolate accents.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Cake
- 1 box chocolate cake mix (dry mix only)
- 1 1/2 cups Dr. Pepper Cherry soda
- 1 jar maraschino cherries, no stem (remove and reserve 24 cherries)
For the Frosting
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3 cups powdered sugar (plus up to 2 more cups if needed)
- Juice from maraschino cherries jar
- 1 container chocolate shavings (available at Hobby Lobby)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit to prepare for baking the cake.
- Prepare Baking Dish: Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with non-stick baking spray and set it aside to prevent sticking.
- Mix Cake Batter: In a stand mixer, combine the dry chocolate cake mix with the Dr. Pepper Cherry soda until just blended.
- Add Cherries: Cut the reserved maraschino cherries in half and gently fold them into the cake batter to distribute evenly.
- Pour Batter: Pour the prepared cake batter into the greased baking dish, spreading it evenly.
- Bake Cake: Bake the cake for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, indicating it is fully baked.
- Cool Cake: Allow the cake to cool completely in the baking dish before applying the frosting.
- Prepare Frosting: Using a stand mixer, cream together softened butter, powdered sugar, and the juice from the maraschino cherries until the mixture is smooth and stiff.
- Adjust Frosting Consistency: If the frosting is too thin, gradually add up to 2 more cups of powdered sugar until stiff peaks form.
- Frost the Cake: Spread the frosting evenly over the cooled cake, smoothing it with an angled spatula for a clean finish.
- Add Toppings: Sprinkle chocolate shavings generously over the frosted cake and decorate with reserved whole cherries on top.
- Chill Cake: Place the frosted cake into the refrigerator for at least an hour to allow the frosting to set firmly.
- Serve and Enjoy: Once chilled and set, slice the cake and serve. Enjoy this sweet, cherry-infused treat!
Notes
- For best flavor, use fresh maraschino cherries with juice for frosting instead of just water or milk.
- Make sure the cake is completely cooled before frosting to prevent melting and sliding of the frosting.
- You can substitute cherry-flavored soda if Dr. Pepper Cherry is not available, but it may alter the flavor slightly.
- Chocolate shavings can be replaced with chocolate chips or curls depending on availability.
- Refrigerate leftover cake in an airtight container to maintain freshness for up to 3 days.
