This easy Cherry Chip Cake is moist, tender, and loaded with the sweet flavor of maraschino cherries. Even the whipped topping is cherry-flavored!
I love maraschino cherries. They're so sweet, and honestly, they're delicious in just about everything. I love them most in this cherry chip cake. This easy, classic dessert tastes like a dream, and it's so easy to make. You can't beat that!
Why we love this Cherry Chip Cake Recipe
This easy, delicious cherry cake starts with boxed white cake mix. I make this cherry cake as you would normally make boxed cake mix, except I add delicious maraschino cherry juice and fold in maraschino cherries too to make it a cherry cake!
After baking the cherry chip cake, I make a maraschino cherry whipped topping and spread it over the cake. Finally, I top it with more maraschino cherries. That is all there is to it, making this easy cake recipe so simple and so incredibly moist and delicious.
Are you looking for more Cake Recipes like our Cherry Chip Cake?
We just love baking during the holiday season, and we love sharing all of these fun and festive recipes for desserts with you! We have all kinds of fun cake recipes - and cookies too. But everyone loves cakes, right? Like our favorite Orange Crush Cake!
How to Make the BEST Cherry Chip Cake
You will only need a handful of simple ingredients to make this Cherry Chip Cake recipe. The eggs and vegetable oil will almost certainly be in your kitchen, and everything else can be found in one aisle at your grocery store.
Ingredients you will need to make this Cherry Chip Cake
- 3 Eggs - go ahead and set these out first so that they have time to come to room temperature before you begin baking
- ½ cup of Vegetable oil - OR you can also use melted butter in the same measurement
- 1 jar of Maraschino cherries, divided
- Water
- 1 box of White cake mix - you can use any brand of white cake mix that you prefer, but we tend to use a lot of Betty Crocker Cake mix and Duncan Hines Classic White cake mix in this household. I just love how rich and decadent they are!
- 1 8 ounce tub of Whipped topping, PLUS ½ cup for decorating. You can either buy 2 of the 8 ounce tubs or buy the larger tub, I think it's 12 ounces?
Everything you need to make this recipe is here, but you'll find the exact amounts in the recipe card at the end of the post.
If you want more, I'd suggest using this cherry flavoring. This is pretty concentrated so I'd recommend ½ to 1 teaspoon for this cake.
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Instructions for how to make Cherry Chip Cake
Making this cherry chip cake is a an absolute breeze. It just takes a little mixing, a little baking, and then topping the cake with a delicious topping. There's nothing to it!
The recipe highlights are right here, but you'll find the exact instructions in the recipe card at the end of the post.
Before you get started, go ahead and dice ¼ cup of cherries for the cake and set them aside.
Combine the eggs, vegetable oil (or melted butter if you're using butter), and the delicious maraschino cherry juice.
Stir in the dry cake batter and ¼ cup of the diced maraschino cherries. then you just bake your cake! Make sure that you allow your cake to cool completely before you begin the frosting step.
Mix the whipped topping and more maraschino cherry juice together and then spread it evenly over the baked - and cooled - cake. If you don't allow your cake to cool all the way before frosting it, the frosting will melt!
Frost the cake and then top it off with dollops of whipped cream and this time we are using whole maraschino cherries for the decorations.
Substitutions and Variations
- You can use white, yellow, vanilla, or butter cake mix for this recipe.
- Use your favorite variety of whipped topping.
- Try adding chopped pecans or walnuts to the cake before baking.
Top Tips for the very best results
- Whisk the wet cake ingredients until they are nice and frothy before adding the dry cake mix.
- Be sure that your baking pan is thoroughly coated with nonstick spray.
- As with any cake, make sure that you cool your baked cake completely before you begin frosting it.
Equipment
- Measuring cup
- Mixing bowls
- 9x13 baking dish
How to Store Cherry Chip Cake
Refrigerator: Store your baked and frosted for up to 5 days in an air-tight container.
Freezer: You can store your cake for up to 3 months in an air-tight, freezer-safe container.
FAQs
What is cherry chip cake?
Cherry chip cake is a cake made with maraschino cherry juice and diced maraschino cherries. It was a popular cake mix that was eventually discontinued.
Why is it called cherry chip cake?
Cherry chip cake gets its name from the maraschino cherry bits, or chips, that are folded into the cake mix.
What are maraschino cherries?
Maraschino cherries are preserved, sweetened cherries - generally Royall Ann, Rainier, or Gold cherries.
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Are you looking for more delicious dessert recipes like this easy cake?
We make all kinds of easy dessert recipes, like our incredibly moist and delicious banana bread cookies recipe!
To print our Cherry Chip Cake recipe, click the recipe card below!
I know that many people still like to print out recipes and keep them in a recipe binder, or simply have the printed recipe sitting in front of them when it comes time to cook! You can also email this recipe!
Cherry Chip Cake
Ingredients
- 3 eggs
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 12 oz maraschino cherries 12 oz jar maraschino cherries, divided
- water
- 15.25 oz white cake mix 15.25 oz box
- 12 oz whipped topping 8 oz tub of whipped topping plus ½ cup
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and grease a 9x13 baking pan with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
- Open the jar of cherries and pour out ¼ cup of the juice. Set aside for the icing. Dice ¼ cup of cherries for the cake and set aside. Pour remaining cherry juice into a measuring cup. Reserve remaining cherries for topping.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the eggs and vegetable oil. Add water to the measured cherry juice so you have a total of ¾ cup. Add mix to the eggs. Using a whisk, whisk until frothy and bubbly.
- Stir in cake mix just until combined and fold in cherries. Pour into prepared pan and bake for 24-26 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let stand to cool completely.
- Once the cake is cooled, pour the remaining ¼ cup cherry juice into the 8oz tub of cool whip. Mix well. Spread on top of cake in an even layer.
- Place the remaining whipped topping into a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip. Pipe dollops onto the top of the cake and top with reserved cherries. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Laura says
How do I chop the cherries to add to the mix? How much cherry juice do I add? I LOVE cherry cake. I used to have it every year on my birthday, because it's near Valentine's day, and the cake is red! But, that was box cake mix. Unfortunately, they stopped making it, so I MUST try the home made!! PLEASE let me know about chopping the cherries, the amount of the juice. Thanks, because I REALLY want to try this!!
Jennifer says
We do use a box if white cake mix for this! You're going to use ALL of the cherry juice from the jar of maraschino cherries, and you can just chop the cherries a little bit! You want the cherries to be big enough that they have a bit of flavor when you have a bite of cake that has the cherry in it!