Cherry Chip Cake

Cherry Chip Cake is a childhood favorite that remains a choice for birthday celebrations or any time the message is, “You are very special.”

The cake is prettily pink and feminine with delicate chips of toasted walnuts and maraschino cherries.

Layers are piled high with fluffy, pink frosting, more cherries and walnuts, and the result is a confection fit for a princess.

Makes 8 to 10 servings

Ingredients

• 1 cup walnuts
• 2 ½ cups cake flour
• 1 ¼ cups granulated sugar
• 1 Tbsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 ½ sticks (6 ounces) butter, softened
• 1 (5-ounce) jar maraschino cherries, drained and finely chopped, liquid reserved
• ¾ cup milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 4 large egg whites, at room temperature
• 1 (3-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 2 cups sifted powdered sugar

Method

1. Preheat oven to 350-degrees
2. Spread out walnuts on a small baking sheet. Bake 8 to 10 minutes, or until nuts are lightly browned and fragrant. Transfer to a plate and let cool, finely chop.
3. Spray two 8-inch round cake pans with cooking spray with flour. Line bottoms with wax paper and spray again.
4. In large bowl, sift together cake flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt.
5. Cut up 1 stick of butter and beat into flour mixture on low speed until crumbly.
6. In a small bowl, combine ¼ cup cherry liquid with milk and vanilla.
7. Add flour mixture, increase speed to medium, and beat just until smooth.
8. Add egg whites and beat 2 minutes longer.
9. Stir in ½ cup chopped cherries.
10. Turn batter into prepared pans.
11. Bake 30 to 35 minutes, or until cake tester inserted in center of layer comes out clean.
12. Let cakes cool in pans 10 minutes, and then unmold onto wire racks and remove wax paper. Invert cakes again and let cool completely.

To make frosting

1. In a small bowl, beat remaining ½ stick butter and cream cheese on medium-high speed until light and fluffy.
2. Gradually beat in 1 cup powdered sugar.
3. Alternately add remaining 1 cup powdered sugar and remaining 2 tablespoons cherry liquid, beating until smooth after each addition.
4. Beat in remaining 2 tablespoons chopped cherries, and then beat until light and fluffy, about 1 minute longer.
5. Fill and frost cake with cherry frosting. Gently press chopped toasted walnuts around sides of cake.