This Chocolate Cherry Cake is a deeply comforting, old-world dessert inspired by classic Black Forest flavors. Moist chocolate layers are baked from scratch, filled with glossy cherries, and finished with a silky cocoa frosting. It’s rich without being heavy, nostalgic yet elegant — the kind of cake you make when you want something that feels both indulgent and familiar.

This is the recipe for Cherry Chocolate Cake from motion picture and cookbook "Savor." Featuring the song "Creative Sparks" from the "Savor, Part I" soundtrack.

Serves

12 slices

Equipment

• Nonstick cooking spray

• Parchment paper

• Two or three 9-inch round cake pans

• Electric mixer (hand or stand)

Ingredients

Chocolate Cake

• 2 cups granulated sugar

• 1¾ cups all-purpose flour

• ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

• 1 teaspoon baking powder

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• 1 teaspoon kosher salt

• 3 large eggs

• 1¼ cups milk

• ½ cup vegetable oil

• 2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste

• 1 teaspoon almond extract

• 1 cup hot water

Cherry Filling

• 1 large can cherry pie filling

Method

Make the Cake

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease the cake pans well, line the bottoms with parchment, then lightly grease again.

2. In a large bowl, combine the sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, oil, vanilla, almond extract, and hot water.

4. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and whisk until smooth. The batter will be thin — that’s exactly right.

5. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans.

6. Bake for about 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. If using three pans, begin checking at 20–25 minutes. Let cakes cool completely before assembling.

Assemble

1. Place one cake layer on a serving plate. Spoon a generous layer of cherry filling over the top.

2. Add the next cake layer and repeat with more cherries.

3. Slice and serve — preferably with coffee, candlelight, or both.