This chocolate cherry bundt cake is rich and moist, with chopped frozen cherries studded throughout the chocolate cake for juicy bursts of fruit in every slice. It’s finished with a pink cherry icing that ties the chocolate and cherry flavors together perfectly.
180gramsfrozen sweet cherriescut in half or quarters
Cherry Icing
150gramspowdered sugar
2tablespoonscherry juice
1tablespoonheavy cream
Instructions
Chocolate Cherry Cake
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Generously coat a 10-cup Bundt pan with baking spray, making sure to get into all the crevices and center tube so the cake releases cleanly after baking.
In a large bowl, sift together the all purpose flour and cocoa powder to remove any lumps. Whisk in the baking soda, espresso powder, and salt until evenly combined. Set aside.
180 grams all purpose flour, 65 grams cocoa powder, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon espresso powder, ½ teaspoon salt
In a separate large bowl, use a hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment to beat the softened butter and oil together until mostly smooth. Add the granulated sugar and beat on medium-high speed for 2-3 minutes until the mixture looks pale and fluffy.
Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition and scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl so everything incorporates evenly. Mix in the vanilla extract.
4 large eggs, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
With the mixer on low speed, alternate between adding the dry ingredients and buttermilk, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Mix just until combined after each addition, being careful not to overmix.
220 grams buttermilk
Toss the chopped frozen cherries with 1 tablespoon of flour to help prevent them from sinking to the bottom of the cake. When the batter has just a few streaks of flour remaining, switch to a rubber spatula and gently fold in the cherries until evenly distributed.
180 grams frozen sweet cherries
Pour the batter into the prepared Bundt pan and smooth the top. Bake for 40-55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs attached.
Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes. To release, gently loosen the edges with a small offset spatula or knife if needed, then carefully invert the pan onto a wire rack. Lift the pan straight up and let the cake cool completely before glazing.
Cherry Icing
Whisk together the powdered sugar, cherry juice, and heavy cream until smooth.
Drizzle the glaze over the fully cooled cake, letting it drip down the sides. Garnish with chocolate chips or chocolate shavings before slicing and serving.
Notes
Frozen cherries: Use frozen cherries straight from the freezer. Do not thaw them first, or they can release too much moisture and streak the batter.
Room temperature ingredients: Make sure the butter, eggs, and buttermilk are at room temperature so the batter emulsifies properly and bakes evenly. Pull them out of the fridge 1-2 hours before you start baking.
Freezing: The cake freezes well without the icing. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then glaze before serving.