This recipe is a combination of family recipes. The frosting recipe was based on the white icing that my Great-Nana’s friend, Mary. The cake is based on the Nana’s butter cake recipe that was passed to me by my Grandma Connie (HI GRANDMA!) I guess that makes each recipe at least 3 generations old! The recipes must have been made with plenty of love if they were worth passing down!

RECIPE: Cherry and Chocolate Love
Makes 8 Servings 

SUPPLIES NEEDED:
Mixer
Measuring Utensils
2 Round Cake Pans
Oven set to 350 degrees
Cooling Rack
Pot
Whisk
Mixer
Frosting Spatula
Frosting bag

INGREDIENTS:
Cake 
2 Cups Sugar
1 Stick Butter
4 Tablespoons Crisco
Vanilla
Pinch of Salt
2 teaspoons Baking Powder
1 Cup Milk
Cherry Jam
4 Eggs
2 1/2 Cups Flour

Frosting
1 Cup Milk
5 Tablespoons Flour
1 Cup White Sugar
1 Cup Crisco
Vanilla
3/4 Cup Cocoa Powder
Pinch of Salt
Maraschino Cherries

DIRECTIONS:
1) In a mixer, combine the sugar, butter, and Crisco until creamy.
2) Add the vanilla, salt, and baking powder. 
3) Beat in the milk, cherry jam, and the four eggs, and then slowly add the flour.
4) Grease and flour the baking pans and then pour have the batter into each baking sheet.
5) Bake for 45 minutes at 350 degrees.
6) When the cake is golden and a tooth pick comes out clean, move the cakes to a cooling rack.
7) Once the cake has cooled for a few minutes, flip the cakes out of the pans and let them finish cooling on the rack.
8) In a pot, over medium heat, whisk together the milk and flour until thick and lump free. Set to the side to cool.
9) Once the milk/flour mixture is cooled, put it in the mixer with the crisco, white sugar, a splash of vanilla, a pinch of salt, and the cocoa powder.
10) Beat on high (#8) for about 5 to 8 minutes until fluffy and light.
11) Place one of the cakes on a plate, spread with chocolate frosting, and then top with the other cake.
12) Use the frosting spatula to cover the entire cake with a layer of frosting.
13) Fill the frosting bag with the rest of the chocolate frosting and have fine pipping the top of the cake.
14) Top with 6 maraschino cherries. 

I think I am getting much better at making frostings from scratch. Just two years ago, I had my strawberry volcano cake with the frosting that exploded in a lava flow over the entire counter. Now, I am pipping chocolate frosting like a semi-pro. 

My husband liked the chocolate frosting, but my favorite part was definitely the cake. The chocolate and cherry combination was out of this world tasty!