Delectable chocolate and cherry cake

This uniquely tasting sweet treat is just something else and the twist that the cherry flavour adds to the otherwise decadent chocolatey taste sets the entire cake off. The fudge-like base is the perfect consistency, complete with a few chocolate chips to add some crunch. While this cake tastes mouth-wateringly good on its own, you can always pair it up with some whipped cream, plain vanilla ice cream or even a mixed berry jam to really get your taste buds going. Bake this in no time at all and serve it up to impress all of your hungry guests. Yum!

Ingredients

• 240 ml hot water
• 30g cocoa powder
• 140g plain flour, sifted
• 200g caster sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup vegetable/canola oil
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 230g fresh cherries, pitted and halved
• 2 teaspoons plain flour
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180C. Grease a square 20cm pan.
2. Add hot water and cocoa powder to small bowl. Whisk together until smooth. Set aside to cool slightly until just warm.
3. Add flour, sugar, baking powder and salt to large bowl. Mix together to combine.
4. Add eggs, oil, vanilla extract and water-cocoa mixture to a medium bowl. Mix together until combined. Add egg mixture into flour mixture. Mix together with rubber spatula just until combined (making sure not to over-mix).
5. Add cherries to small bowl with 2 teaspoons flour and toss to mix. Fold cherries and chocolate chips into cake batter.
6. Spoon batter into prepared pan and smooth the top with back of spoon. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until skewer inserted into the centre of cake comes out clean.
7. Cool in pan for 5 minutes before turning out onto wire rack to cool completely. Serve.