chocolate cherry cake

I made you a Valentine's Day-ish cake!!! (With a horrible photo to boot!) You're welcome. :)

My own Valentine's Day has already come and gone. But that doesn't mean I can't force chocolate goodies upon you, right? Okay, good.

The BF and I celebrated an early Valentine's Day this past Friday night so, naturally, I was on a mad dash to the mall Friday afternoon for the perfect gift. Actually, being so unprepared for a holiday is very un-Katy-like and it caused me more anxiety than I'd like to admit. I'm the girl who has birthday and holiday gifts purchased a month in advance. I don't know what happened this time around. I must be losing my edge.

Anywayssss, I made the vital mistake of going shopping with my friend (who is a nanny) and her three charges, a toddler and twin baby boys. Let me just say that we were only at the mall for about two hours but during that time we had a near-miss bathroom accident and some full-on excitement-induced nausea in Build-a-Bear. I've officially learned my lesson. Never again will I wait until the last minute.

But the story has a happy ending. I got a dang gift and our early Valentine's Day was a success.

Whether you're planning on celebrating Valentine's Day with a significant other or with friends (or just boycotting it altogether) might I suggest this decadent chocolate cherry cake? Chocolate + cherries just seems like the perfect Valentine's Day combo. And this cake is ridiculously easy to whip together. Aside from the less-than-desirable chore of cherry pitting, this cake batter comes together in one bowl and in less than ten minutes. So if you're a "wait 'til the last minute" kinda gal (or guy), this low-maintenance cake might just save the day.

chocolate cherry cake with chocolate glaze

ingredients:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tsp vinegar (or lemon juice)
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 cup water
2 cups cherries, pitted and halved

chocolate glaze: 
4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 Tbsp hot water

directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9-inch round cake pan.

In a mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, and salt. Add the vanilla extract, vinegar, oil, and water. Using a spatula, mix the batter until smooth. Stir in the cherries.

Pour batter into the prepared pan and bake for 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow to cool to room temperature.

In a double boiler, melt the chocolate. Stir in hot water and vanilla extract and mix until smooth. If the chocolate appears to seize up, keep stirring. After a few minutes, it will turn into a workable consistency.

Spread the icing lightly onto the cooled cake and garnish with cherries.

To store for longer than a day, place the cake into an airtight container and chill in the refrigerator.

Yield: one 9-inch cake

Source: Pastry Affair