Cherry Sheet Cake
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If you love cherry desserts, this Maraschino Cherry Sheet Cake is going to be right up your alley. It’s soft, moist, and loaded with cherry flavor thanks to the cherry chip cake mix, cherry gelatin, and plenty of chopped maraschino cherries baked right into the cake.
Cherry Sheet Cake is one recipe you will love if you are a fan of cherries. A cherry chip boxed cake mix gets a full makeover and is topped with a almond cream cheese frosting and a stemmed cherry for each slice. It’s easy to make and is perfect for the holidays and especially Valentine’s day with it’s pretty pink color!
If you have more maraschino cherries on hand, this Martha Washington Candy or these Homemade Cherry Cordials are great recipes to throw together with them.
Why You’ll Love This Cherry Sheet Cake
- Big cherry flavor! Every bite of cake is full of cherry flavor.
- Uses cake mix for an easy recipe
- Almond frosting that pairs so well with cherry flavor.
Ingredients
See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for all ingredients and quantities.
- cherry chip cake mix – You can find this at any grocery store. If you can’t find it, yellow cake mix will work.
- cherry gelatin – This helps give the cake the flavor, color, moisture, and a denser cake.
- maraschino cherries – Bits of cherries and juices help sweeten the cake, adds color, and texture.
- almond extract – Almond extract pairs well with cherry. I highly recommend using it if you have it. If you don’t have almond extract, vanilla will work in a pinch.
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Substitutions and Variations
- Cake Mix: White or Yellow Cake Mid works great if cherry chip isn’t available.
- You can use vanilla extract in place of the almond extract.
- If you don’t have a 10×15-inch jelly roll pan, a 9×13 will work. The bake time will be longer and the cake will be thicker.
- You can top the cake with a chocolate frosting for a chocolate covered cherry version.
- Sprinkle sliced almonds on top of the frosting for more almond flavor and a nice texture.
NOTE: This recipe has not been tested with other substitutions or variations
How To Make Cherry Sheet Cake
Step 1: Start by adding your cherries into a blender and or food processor and give a pulse to finely chop your cherries. Set them aside.
Step 2: Now, work on your cake batter. Mix together the cake mix, eggs, oil, and water until combined.
Step 3 & 4: Stir in gelatin and the chopped cherries. Pour into the prepared pan and bake accordingly.
Step 5: Then for the frosting, you will beat together the butter and cream cheese until smooth. Add in the remaining frosting ingredients and beat until light and fluffy.
Step 6: Spread the almond cream cheese frosting onto the cooled cake. Then top with a cherry, and slice and serve!
Tips for Success
- Drain th cherries well before chopping them. There will be plenty of excess juice after the cherries chopped that will added to the cake, we don’t want or need more.
- Chop the cherries finely so they distribute evenly through the cake.
- Let the cake cool completely before frosting the cake otherwise you’ll have a melty mss.
- Make sure your cream cheese is at room temperature to avoid a lumpy frosting.
Can You Freeze Cherry Sheet Cake
You can freeze this cake if you would like. I go ahead and pre-slice and then freeze in an airtight container. It will freeze well up for up to 3 months. I do recommend leaving the cherries off the top of the cake, it thaws best without them on the cake.
Then store in the fridge the night before you want to eat, or leave on the counter for 30 minutes to an hour for a quick thaw.
Recipe FAQs
Of course. You could make this a day in advance of when you plan to serve. I would recommend leaving off the stemmed cherries until you are close to serving. That way if any juice leaks it doesn’t bleed all over your frosting.
You don’t want to make too far in advance as cake can dry out fast. I recommend only doing 24 hours in advance. Otherwise, you won’t be serving your cake at the prime texture and flavor.
No, I wouldn’t recommend it.
The recipe will work without it, but it won’t be my recipe if you skip that step and I can’t guarantee that you’ll get similar results as mine.
Craving More Cherry Recipes
- Cherry Chocolate Bundt Cake – Stunning, delicious, and loaded with cherry flavor in every bite. This cake is a must make for chocolate and cherry fans.
- Easy Cherry Cola Layer Cake – If you are a fan of cherry cola, try this cake. A stunning cake that is layers of sweet goodness.
- Cherry Chocolate Chip Cheesecake – A gorgeous pink cheesecake filled with maraschino cherries and chunks of choolate!
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Cherry Sheet Cake
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Ingredients
Cake
- 15.25 ounce box cherry chip cake mix
- 3 large eggs
- 3/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup water
- 3 ounces cherry flavored gelatin 1 box
- 10 ounces maraschino cherries drained
Frosting
- 6 tablespoons butter room temperature
- 6 ounces cream cheese room temperature
- 3 teaspoons almond extract
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 3-5 tablespoons heavy cream
- 24 stemmed maraschino cherries for garnish
Instructions
Cake
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 10×15 jelly roll pan with nonstick baking spray.
- Add the 10 ounces maraschino cherries to a food processor and pulse until the cherries are all finely chopped. Set aside.
- Add the 15.25 ounce box cherry chip cake mix, 3 large eggs, 3/4 cup vegetable oil, and 1/2 cup water to a large bowl. Beat with a hand mixer on medium until well combined.
- Add in the 3 ounces cherry flavored gelatin and the chopped cherries. Stir with a spatula until combined.
- Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and bake for 30 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Allow the cake to cool completely before frosting.
Frosting
- In a large bowl, add the 6 tablespoons butter and 6 ounces cream cheese. Beat with a hand mixer on medium until creamy.
- Add in the 4 cups powdered sugar and 3 teaspoons almond extract. Beat until most of the powdered sugar is worked into the frosting.
- Add in the 3-5 tablespoons heavy cream, one tablespoon at a time, and mix until the desired consistency has been reached.
- Using an offset spatula, spread the frosting on top of the cooled cake.
- Before serving, slice the cake into 24 slices and top each slice with a stemmed maraschino cherry.
Notes
Nutrition
(Nutrition facts are an estimate and not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietitian for special diet advice.)