If you love cherry flavored everything, this cherry cake is definitely a must try. It’s one of my favorite doctored cake mix recipes and a great way to use your homemade cherry pie filling.
Why this recipe works
While I truly do love to bake from scratch, some occasions call for shortcuts. Holidays like Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are great examples. There’s lots to do on those days, so don’t spend all of your time in the kitchen.
I love cherries. Whether it’s eating them from the produce bag or baking up cherry hand pies that remind me of Hostess, I’m all over it.
RELATED: you might also like these recipes – Strawberry Cake and Pistachio Cake
And of course, there are only 6 ingredients, making this recipe easy to make because you likely have most items in your pantry already.
Expert Tips & FAQs
- You do not need the ingredients listed on the back of the cake mix box. Use the ingredients listed in this recipe.
- Soften the cream cheese and butter, but don’t let it get warm, just take the chill off. This takes about 20-30 minutes on the counter. It helps to cut the cream cheese and butter into smaller sections first.
- When adding the powdered sugar, if you are using a stand mixer, you can cover the top with a kitchen towel to help keep the powdered sugar from flying out of the bowl. If you are using a hand mixer, add the powdered sugar very slowly, or you can even stir it in with a wooden spoon and then beat it with the mixer until creamy.
Ingredients you will need for the cake
As I mentioned above, you’ll need a box of white cake mix, but please do not refer to the back of the box for the ingredients. Only use the ingredients listed in the printable version down below.
Ingredients you will need for the frosting
If you prefer, you can just use a canned white frosting or whatever your favorite is, but I love this cake with my cherry cream cheese frosting!
How to Make Cherry Cake with Cherry Frosting
These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Spray or lightly grease 13×9 baking pan.
- Measure 1/3 cup of cherry pie filling and set aside to use in frosting. (see below)
- With a mixer on low speed, combine dry cake mix, eggs, baking powder, both extracts, and remaining cherry pie filling until combined.
- Increase speed to medium and beat until creamy, a minute or so.
- Pour batter into prepared pan, and level with a spatula.
- Bake for 45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Remove cake from oven and allow to cool completely in pan on a wire rack.
Making the Cherry Cream Cheese Frosting
- With a mixer on medium speed, beat the cream cheese and butter together until creamy.
- Turn mixer to low and add in the cherry pie filling and both extracts.
- Once combined, beat on medium for a minute or two until cherries are broken into small pieces.
- Turn mixer down to low and slowly add the powdered sugar until completely combined and of spreading consistency. Keep refrigerated until ready to use.
- Frost the cake. If the calorie count listed below is important to you, cut into 24 pieces. Otherwise cut however you like!
This cherry cake has a marvelous cherry and almond flavor that everyone will love! I think it would be equally delicious if you added chocolate chips, or better yet, bittersweet chocolate chunks to the cake and topped it with a chocolate ganache.
More Cherry Recipes
- Cherry Cheesecake
- Crockpot Chocolate Cherry Cobbler
- Maraschino Cherry Bundt Cake
- 3-Ingredient Cherry Cupcakes
- Cherry White Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Cherry Pie Bars
- Cherry Pie
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6-Ingredient Cherry Cake
IMPORTANT – There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!
Print It Rate ItIngredients
- 15 ounce white cake mix you do not need the ingredients listed on the box
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 21 ounce cherry pie filling
Frosting
- 16 ounces cream cheese softened
- ½ cup unsalted butter softened
- â…“ cup cherry pie filling from the can listed above
- 2 ¼ cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Optional Garnish
- Maraschino cherries with stems
Before You Begin
- You do not need the ingredients listed on the back of the cake mix box. Use the ingredients listed in this recipe.
- Soften the cream cheese and butter, but don’t let it get warm, just take the chill off. This takes about 20-30 minutes on the counter. It helps to cut the cream cheese and butter into smaller sections first.
- When adding the powdered sugar, if you are using a stand mixer, you can cover the top with a kitchen towel to help keep the powdered sugar from flying out of the bowl. If you are using a hand mixer, add the powdered sugar very slowly, or you can even stir it in with a wooden spoon and then beat it with the mixer until creamy.
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Spray or lightly grease 13 x 9 baking pan.
- Measure 1/3 cup of cherry pie filling and set aside to use in frosting. (see below)
- With a mixer on low speed, combine dry cake mix, eggs, baking powder, both extracts, and remaining cherry pie filling until combined. Increase speed to medium and beat until creamy, a minute or so.
- Pour batter into prepared pan, and level with a spatula.
- Bake for 45 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Remove cake from oven and allow to cool completely in pan on a wire rack.
Cherry Cream Cheese Frosting
- With a mixer on medium speed, beat the cream cheese and butter together until creamy.Â
- Turn mixer to low and add in the cherry pie filling and extracts. Once combined, beat on medium for a minute or two until cherries are broken into small pieces.
- Turn mixer down to low and slowly add the powdered sugar until completely combined and of spreading consistency. Keep refrigerated until ready to use.
Garnish
- It's optional but pretty! Add a stemmed maraschino cherry to the top of each slice when you serve.
Nutrition
This recipe was adapted from Sweetheart Cherry Cake and was originally posted here February 15, 2011 and has since been updated with new photos and expert tips.
Amanda Davis
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fitty's pinky rose cottage says
i see yummy! the frosting looks is so tempting! love it!
TidyMom says
oooh, I bet it's really yummy with the cherry cream cheese frosting!!
I think I need to make this again!!
Thanks for linking up Amanda!
Jessica says
I love the color of this cake! It would have been the perfect addition to Valentine's Day! :-)
Tammy says
I love your blog…so fun to follow and yummy recipes to try! I started a new food blog, come visit me, press on my name, or it is daybydaysunshine.blogspot.com
Christina @ It's a Keeper says
Hi! I host a weekly blog hop — It's a Keeper Thursdays. I'd love for you to stop by and link up!
Thanks!
Christina @ It's a Keeper
http://www.everydaytastes.com/
http://twitter.com/itsakeeperblog
http://www.facebook.com/ItsAKeeper
Lauren at KeepItSweet says
I just love the color you get from this cake! So nice and easy, too:-)
Barbara Bakes says
The cherry cream cheese frosting is a brilliant addition!
Tasty Eats At Home says
Amanda, this sounds so good!
Pattypro says
This is a variation of one that I've been making for almost 25 years, that uses a chocolate cake mix, and is topped with a fudge-like frosting. I also love anything "cherry," so will have to give this a try. So glad you used a cream cheese frosting instead of buttercream!
Debbie says
This looks so delicious Amanda…definitely my kind of cake. Love cherry pie filling!!
Marie says
That looks fabulous Amanda!! If it only tastes half as good as it looks, I am betting it is pretty wonderful! xxoo
marla says
Your cherry cake is so pretty & pink. I baked up some treats with cherries this week too, love 'em :)
Deeba PAB says
I love anything cherry, and now wish I had some cherry pie filling stashed away too Amanda. It's a 'cherry on a cake' cake!!
Lana @ Never Enough Thyme says
You had me at "cream cheese." Seriously, anything involving cream cheese gets my immediate attention. And then to combine it with cherries – oh, wow!!
Cookin' Canuck says
That frosting would never make it to the cake. I would have to like every morsel off of the spatula.
Cajun Chef Ryan says
Great cherry cake recipe, and the frosting…oh my!
Meaghan Luby says
this looks SO SO SO good!
i love the simplicity, ha, that's the name of the game for me. but the delicious doesn't seem to be lacking in this recipe at all! thanks for sharing!!
-meg
@ http://www.clutzycooking.blogspot.com
@ http://www.myscribblednotebook.blogspot.com
Alessio says
Lookin good Amanda! And the rectangular baking pan makes everything so homey :D Hand me a slice plzzzz
By the way, Germans are also crazy about sour cherries. Usually they use preserved one, thickened on the fire with some cornstarch and poured over vanilla ice-cream or waffles. I think, I prefer your cake idea ;)
Katrina says
Man I wish my family liked cake! (I guess it's better for me that they don't), but that doesn't stop me from making other treats.
I'd personally love the cake. sigh
Melanie says
YUMMY!!!!!! I should NOT have looked at this right before lunch, because now I could eat a HORSE! :)
Hoep you have a great day!
Melanie