INSTRUCTIONS
For the Cake:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease and flour 2 nine-inch heart-shaped pans (or choose another option from the notes section).
In a large bowl, add the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Whisk together. Add the shortening to that bowl and set it aside.
In another bowl, add the milk, cherry juice, and extracts.
Pour the liquid mixture into the flour mixture. Using an electric mixer, beat for 2 minutes until evenly blended.
Add the egg whites, then beat for 2 more minutes.
Fold in the cherries.
Pour into two greased and floured 9-inch pans and bake for 25 to 30 minutes (use the toothpick method to check doneness).
Note:
Sheet cake: approx. 45 minutes
Bundt pan: approx. 55 to 60 minutes
Butter Cream Frosting Instructions:
In a deep bowl, beat the butter with powdered sugar slowly, adding milk or cherry juice until light and fluffy.
Stir in the extract at the end.
Add drops of milk if needed to reach a smooth, spreadable consistency.
7-Minute Frosting Instructions:
Place sugar, salt, cream of tartar, egg whites, and water in a heavy-duty 3-quart stainless pot (do not add vanilla yet).
Turn the stove to low heat and beat with an electric mixer constantly for 7 minutes or until stiff peaks form.
Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla and food coloring if using.
Decorate with cherries.
NOTES
Pans to Use:
Sheet cake: 13 x 9, around 45 minutes
Bundt pan: 9-inch, around 55 to 60 minutes
Round pans: 9-inch, around 25 to 30 minutes
Fruit Substitutions:
Red raspberries
Chopped strawberries
Blackberries
Peaches (fresh or canned, drained)
Tips and Suggestions:
Always flour and grease the pan for best results
Do not overbeat the batter
For extra moist cake, drizzle layers after baking with maraschino cherry juice or a simple sugar syrup
Fold in the fruit last and make sure it’s blotted dry
Add any kind of nuts
Tastes great with whipped cream instead of frosting
Try dusting with powdered sugar instead of frosting
Can make muffins instead of cake
Make two cakes and freeze one (up to 6 months, well-wrapped)
Try different fruits
Tint with food coloring if desired for deeper color
Decorate frosted cake with additional fruit
No heart pan? Bake one round and one square cake. Cut the round cake in half and place each half against two sides of the square cake turned into a diamond to make a heart shape.
Underbaked cakes sink – always use the toothpick test
Very important: cherries must be blotted dry
Overbaked and dry? Use simple syrup:
1 cup water
1 cup sugar
Boil for 2 minutes, cool, and brush onto the cake
ENJOY
