Hey guys! Welcome everyone.
Want to make your celebrations special with a soft and nostalgic cake? Then Cherry Chip Cake should be your choice.
In this blog, I’ll give you an easy-to-follow cherry chip cake recipe, helpful baking tips, and delicious flavor twists you can try at home to make a bakery-style cake.
So, now get ready to dive in.
For more ideas, check out my other blogs, like cotton candy cake, strawberry crunch cake, bee sting cake, and many more.
What Exactly Is Cherry Chip Cake?
It is a soft vanilla-based cake filled with tiny bits of cherry chips or finely chopped maraschino cherries. These cherries add a gentle cherry flavor to your cake and give it a light pink color.
This became popular as a vintage cherry chip cake because many people first tried it using cherry chip cake mix. Over time, home bakers started creating it as a homemade cherry chip cake.
You can pair it with buttercream frosting or with a hint of cherry almond flavor to balance the sweetness.
Cherry Chips vs Chopped Cherries
Cherry chips are small bits made specially for baking. They hold their shape while baking. This will give your cake a neat look with a cherry flavour in every bite, as they don’t add extra liquid, so your cake stays light and fluffy with a soft crumb.
Chopped cherries usually give a more natural and juicy taste. They add real cherry sweetness but also bring extra moisture. If they are not dried well, they can make your cake a bit dense.
Cherry chips are best for a clean, classic look. Chopped cherries are great if you want a stronger and more natural taste.
The Role of Almond and Vanilla Notes
Vanilla is the base flavor in this cake, holding everything together. It basically gives your cake a sweet taste.
Almond flavor takes your cake to the next level. Even a small amount of almond extract enhances the taste of cherry chips. Almond and cherry naturally work well together. That’s why many old-fashioned cherry chip cake recipes use both.
Quick Look at the Recipe
Here is a quick overview of the recipe.
Start with a soft vanilla cake base and gently add cherry chips or chopped maraschino cherries. Bake until the layers are golden and fluffy. Then top with buttercream frosting. Optionally, add cherry almond extract. For decoration, sprinkle some cherry chips on top.
If you want the full step-by-step recipe with detailed instructions, then it is at the end of this blog.
Cherry Chip Cake Variations You’ll Love
Classic Cherry Chip Layer Cake
For the classic and original version, try this one.
The layered cherry chip cake will turn out soft, light, and fluffy, and will have cherry chips inside it. Brush each layer with a hint of syrup or milk to make the moist cake crumb tender.
Then stack with buttercream, and if you want, you can add cherry almond extract. You can also add a few mini cherries on top or pipe a simple border.
Note: All cake images on this blog are AI-generated based on our creative concepts and imagination. They are meant to inspire design ideas, not actual baked products.
Cherry Chip Chocolate Cake
If you are a chocolate lover, then this is just for you. Add cocoa or melted chocolate to your cake base to turn it into a chocolate cherry chip cake. The sweetness of cocoa and the flavor of cherry chips work well together.
Top it with chocolate buttercream frosting or simply cherry almond buttercream. This works perfectly for birthdays or as a party dessert that gives you both chocolate richness and nostalgic cherry flavor in every bite.
You can sprinkle a few cherries or some finely chopped chocolate pieces on the top.
Cherry Chip Sheet Cake
Hosting a crowd and want a dessert that’s easy to serve? Then a sheet cake version is perfect for parties or family gatherings. Simply bake your cherry chip cake in the sheet pan.
For the topping, add a thin layer of buttercream frosting over the whole cake. And then sprinkle a mix of crushed cookies or lightly toasted almond slices on top. This will give you a crunchy texture and also make it visually appealing.
You can cut it into squares or rectangles. This combination of soft cake, sweet cherry chips, and a crunchy topping makes it a celebration cake that everyone will love.
Vintage-Style Piped Cherry Chip Cake
For the retro bakery feel, a vintage-style cherry chip cake is perfect. Decorate your cake with elegant piped designs along the edges and top for a bakery-style finish.
Instead of topping with cherries, try using swirls, rosettes, or simple basketwave patterns with a frosting to get a vintage charm at home. This is best for your special occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, or baby showers.
Cherry Chip Cake Mix Cookies
Want a fun twist on the classic cake? Then, turn your cherry chip cake mix into soft, chewy cookies.
Simply combine the cake mix with a few eggs and butter, add extra cherry chips, and scoop onto a baking sheet. Bake until lightly golden, and let them cool. You can even drizzle a thin layer of buttercream frosting or sprinkle some toasted almond slices on top.
They are perfect for lunchboxes, casual gatherings without making an entire cake.
Common Cherry Chip Cake Problems (And How to Fix Them)
- Your cake can turn dense or heavy. It usually happens when you overmix the batter. So you just have to mix until all the ingredients are combined.
- Your cherries can sink to the bottom. For this, toss cherry chips in a little flour before folding them into the batter to ensure even cherry distribution.
- Your cake can turn dry. It usually happens if you overbake a cake or skip a simple syrup brush. So you should keep an eye on the baking time.
- If your buttercream frosting is too soft, chill it slightly before spreading. If it’s too stiff, add a teaspoon of milk or cream to reach a smooth consistency.
- Color turns dull or grey. Using fresh cherries with too much juice or overmixing can affect the pink cherry cake’s appearance.
Make-Ahead, Storage, and Freezing Guide
If you are busy on some days, you can also prepare it ahead of time, like a day or two in advance, and store them lightly wrapped in plastic wrap at room temperature for up to two days.
For longer storage, wrap the layers well and freeze up to two months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before assembling and adding the buttercream frosting.
If you have already frosted the cake, you can keep it in an airtight container in the fridge for five days.
One Last Slice Before You Bake
I hope these ideas inspired you a lot to try different flavor twists and to make a cherry chip cake at home.
Now it’s your turn, grab your ingredients and bake a cake that will show your creativity. I will meet you in my next blog. Until then, good luck and happy baking.
Cherry Chip Cake Recipe (Step By Step)
Ingredients for the Cake
- 2 ½ cups cake flour for baking
- 2 ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp almond extract
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 ½ cups cherry chips or finely chopped maraschino cherries
Ingredients for the Frosting
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 2-3 tbsp milk or cream
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp almond extract
- Optional: a few cherry chips for garnish
Equipment Needed
- 2 8-inch round cake pans or 1 sheet cake pan
- Mixing bowls (medium and large)
- Electric mixer or hand whisk
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Rubber spatula
- Cooling rack
- Serrated knife (for leveling layers if needed)
- Piping bags and tips (optional, for frosting decoration)
Mixing the Cake Batter
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and prepare your pans by greasing and placing the parchment paper at the bottom.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together cake flour, baking powder, and salt. In another bowl, cream the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add eggs one at a time and mix well after adding each. Stir in vanilla extract and almond extract.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix. Gently add cherry chips or chopped maraschino cherries.
Baking the Cake Layers
- Now divide the batter evenly into your prepared pans.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes. Check with a toothpick. It should come out clean.
- Let the cakes cool in the pan for 10 minutes and then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.
Preparing the Buttercream
- In a large bowl, beat softened butter until creamy.
- Gradually add powdered sugar, one cup at a time, and mix well. Add milk or cream gradually to get a smooth, spreadable consistency.
- Add vanilla extract and almond extract.
- You can also add a few cherry chips for texture or sprinkle on top as garnish.
Assembling and Decorating the Cake
- Spread a layer of buttercream frosting between the cake layers and stack the layers carefully.
- Then cover the entire cake with a thin crumb coat. Chill for 15-20 minutes, then frost the cake smoothly with the remaining buttercream.
- Use a piping bag to create borders, swirls, or rosettes for a vintage look.
- Optionally, sprinkle some toasted almond slices or finely crushed cookies on top.
FAQ’s
What is the best frosting for cherry chip cake?
A smooth buttercream frosting or cherry almond buttercream complements the soft vanilla cake base and cherry chips perfectly.
What are cherry chips made of?
Cherry chips are small, firm, sweet pieces of cherries or cherry-flavored bits designed to hold their shape while baking.
What are 5 mistakes to avoid when making butter icing?
- Overmixing can make it too soft.
- Undermixing leads to a gritty texture.
- Using cold butter prevents smooth frosting.
- Adding liquid too quickly thins it out.
- Not chilling the cake can cause sliding layers.
What are the ingredients in cherry chip cake mix?
Typical ingredients include cake flour, sugar, cherry chips, leavening agents, and flavorings like vanilla and almond extract.
Are these cakes real?
The cake ideas you see here share my imaginative cake designs created with the help of AI technology. These are artistic inspirations for bakers, decorators, and cake enthusiasts.
