3-Ingredient Chocolate Cherry Cake Recipe

We'll be totally honest when we say that we have never met a cake we didn't like. Anything from vanilla to chocolate is an absolute delight, but sometimes, making a cake can take a lot of time and energy, and we don't always have the extra time. The great part about this particular cake recipe is that it has a ton of wonderful flavor, but requires just three ingredients, making it as easy as pie (or cake, in this case).

Recipe developer Catherine Brookes of Blue Sky Eating has come up with some of the tastiest dessert recipes out there, and this one is no exception. "I love that you can make a classic box mix cake so much more interesting with the addition of just one more ingredient," Brookes raves. "Using only three ingredients makes the recipe so quick and easy. Anyone could give this a go as you can't go wrong with a box mix!" We'd have to agree. Keep reading to find out how to make this fantastic cake in no time.

The great part about this recipe is that it requires just three ingredients, making it incredibly easy and affordable. We know we've said it a lot, but it's a huge bonus. The first thing that you need to grab is a box of chocolate cake mix. If you have a gluten allergy, you can also grab the gluten-free chocolate mix instead. Moving on to the dairy aisle, pick up a carton of eggs. You just need two, so you can also check to see if you have any at home. The last item that you need is a can of cherry pie filling.

Now that you have all of your ingredients together, it's time to get things started. Turn the knob of your oven to the temperature that's listed on the back of the box of cake mix. Since every brand varies, the specific cooking instructions will, too. This way, your oven can get nice and toasty so that it's ready for the cake as soon as you finish mixing. 

In the meantime, take out a 7x11-inch rectangular tin. Line the pan with parchment paper, and then spray it with nonstick cooking spray, or grease it with butter to prevent the cake from sticking to it. 

Now, pull out a large mixing bowl, and toss in the powdered cake mix from the box. Then, add the eggs, and beat the cake mix and the eggs together using an electric hand whisk. As we mentioned before, the instructions on the back of the box vary depending on the type of cake mix you choose, so if there are different instructions, use those instead. "I would refer to the instructions on your specific box mix," Brookes says. "On mine, it said to beat with an electric hand whisk until smooth." 

The last and final item that you need to add to the cake mix is the cherry pie filling. This adds another layer of great sweetness to your dessert. Again, give everything a good whisk to mix it all together.

Now, transfer the cake mix to the lined tin and bake it for 25 to 30 minutes. If the cooking time on the back of your box says otherwise, use that time instead. You can check the doneness of the cake by inserting a toothpick in the center. If it comes out clean, you know that it's ready to serve.

Now, take the cake out of the oven, and leave it in the baking tin for about 10 minutes. Then, transfer it to a wire rack to cool. Once the cake is cool and safe to cut, you can slice it up as you wish. The cake is great by itself, but Brookes also recommends serving it "with ice cream, chocolate sauce, or extra fresh fruit. You could also top with a chocolate buttercream frosting, if desired," she says.

Have some cake left? No worries! "For leftovers, they should keep well for up to four days at room temp in an airtight container," Brookes shares. Now, dig in!