Cherry Cake with Cherry Buttercream Frosting

I have another Valentine’s Day recipe.  This one is for dessert.  If you have the ingredients on hand, it’s easy to put this cake together.

Warning:  It has a very cherry flavor, especially in the frosting.  If you don’t want that much cherry flavor, don’t use the Kool-Aid in the buttercream frosting.  Instead, use red food dye to make it a pinkish color.

Cherry Cake

adapted from Mix and Match Mama

Stars of the recipe:

• 1 yellow or white cake mix plus the ingredients needed to make the cake batter
• 2 packages of cherry Kool-Aid powder

Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Spray a 9 by 13 baking dish with cooking spray.  Set aside.
3. Prepare the cake mix according to the directions on the box.
4. Sprinkle the Kool-Aid powder over the prepared batter.  Mix until well combined.
5. Pour into prepared baking dish.
6. Bake according to the directions on the box.

Alternatives:

• Use strawberry-flavored Kool-Aid instead of cherry.
• Add chocolate chips to the batter.  Fold into the batter.

Cherry Buttercream Frosting

Adapted from Betty Crocker

Stars of the recipe:

• 3 c. powdered sugar
• 1/3 c. butter, softened
• 1 package of cherry Kool-Aid
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 to 3 Tbsp. milk

Steps:

1. Whip or mix together the powdered sugar, butter, and Kool-Aid.
2. Stir in the vanilla extract and a 1 Tbsp. of the milk.
3. Gradually add the milk until the frosting is spreadable.
4. After the cake has cooled, spread the frosting over the cake.
5. Decorate with sprinkles, conversation hearts, or mini chocolate chips.

Adaptation:

• If you are using strawberry in the cake instead of cherry, change the Kool-Aid flavor to strawberry.

Happy Valentine’s Day and Happy Eating,
Traci