Description
This Cherry Dr. Pepper Cake is a delightful chocolate dessert combining the sweet flavors of Dr. Pepper soda, maraschino cherries, and rich chocolate frosting topped with chocolate shavings. Perfectly moist and topped with a creamy cherry-infused frosting, it’s a crowd-pleaser that’s simple to prepare and bake in under an hour.
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 with no stems (set aside 24 cherries, then cut the rest in half)
For the Frosting:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3 cups powdered sugar (plus up to 2 additional cups if needed)
- Juice from the jar of maraschino cherries
- 1 container chocolate shavings (available at specialty stores like Hobby Lobby)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare a 9×13 inch baking dish by spraying it with baking spray to prevent sticking.
- Mix Cake Batter: In a standing mixer, combine the dry chocolate cake mix with 1 1/2 cups of Dr. Pepper Cherry soda until thoroughly blended. Then fold in the halved maraschino cherries evenly into the batter.
- Bake Cake: Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish, smoothing the top. Bake in the preheated oven for about 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool Cake: Remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool completely at room temperature before frosting to prevent melting the icing.
- Prepare Cherry Frosting: In the standing mixer, cream together the softened butter, powdered sugar, and cherry juice from the jar until the mixture is thick and stiff. If the frosting is too thin, gradually add up to 2 cups more powdered sugar until desired consistency is achieved.
- Frost the Cake: Spread the cherry frosting evenly over the cooled cake using an angled spatula for a smooth finish.
- Add Toppings: Sprinkle chocolate shavings generously over the frosted cake and arrange a few reserved whole maraschino cherries on top for decoration.
- Chill: Place the cake in the refrigerator for at least one hour to allow the frosting to set and harden before slicing and serving.
- Serve and Enjoy: Remove from fridge, cut into 16 servings, and enjoy this luscious cherry chocolate creation.
Notes
- Ensure cake is fully cooled before frosting to avoid melting and uneven texture.
- Adjust powdered sugar quantity in frosting for personal preference on sweetness and thickness.
- Use fresh chocolate shavings for the best presentation and taste; alternatively, finely chop good quality chocolate.
- Refrigerating the cake helps the frosting firm up and enhances flavors.
- This cake tastes great served slightly chilled or at room temperature.
