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This Drunken Cherry Cake is a decadent dessert of chocolate sponge, pitted cherries, and chocolate ganache. This recipe will give you a step-by-step rundown of how to make this Slavic staple.

A slice of drunken cherry cake on a plate

Drunken Cherry Cake is a Slavic recipe through and through. This ornate dessert is reserved for special occasions, often making an appearance at weddings, birthdays, and Christmas. But let’s be honest – you can whip it up anytime a craving for chocolate and cherries comes knocking on your door.

While some Drunken Cherry Cake is made with golden rum, this version calls for vodka. I stole this recipe from my sister (a self-proclaimed Drunken Cherry Cake aficionado) and she absolutely swears by using vodka. It has been in our family for years and I can attest to its deliciousness.

Grab a fancy cake tray, strap on your apron, and let’s get started!

Note: For this recipe, you will need to make two 8-inch chocolate sponge cakes.

How to Make Drunken Cherry Cake

Making Drunken Cherry Cake requires a bit of early preparation, but it’s well worth the decadence coming your way. Below, find a high-level overview of how to approach this recipe.

  • Soak Cherries: Soak your cherries in vodka for at least 8 hours. If you can do 24 hours, that’s even better.
  • Prepare the Sponge Cake: Prepare your chocolate sponge cake according to the recipe. Using a sharp knife, slice off a very thin layer from the top of each cake (you’ll use this later as a “lid”). Cut a thin line along the inner rim of the cake. Carefully rip out the inner cake flesh, creating somewhat of a bowl. Set ripped cake flesh aside for later.
  • Make Cream: Whisk sugar and whipping cream together with a stand mixer or hand mixer on medium-high. Strain out the vodka from your soaked cherries. Set aside about 1/5th of your cream for frosting. Mix the remaining cream with drained cherries and ripped cake.
  • Assemble the Cake: Fill your cake “bowls” with the cherry cream mixture. Carefully cover each with it’s respective cake “lid”. Using a bit of cream as glue, stack one filled cake upon the other (use the one with the most smooth lid as the top cake layer). Frost the sides with the cream and allow the stacked cake layers to set in the refrigerator.
  • Prepare Ganache: In a sauce pan, bring cream to a simmer. Immediately pour simmer cream into a mixing bowl with chocolate chips. Using a baking spatula, work the cream in with the chocolate chips until you get a smooth, chocolatey texture. Allow the ganache to cool to room temperature before stuffing it into a piping bag. Squirt chocolate around the edges of the cake to create a drizzled effect. Use the remaining ganache to create a smooth frosting layer on the top of the cake. Enlist the help of a cake spatula if you want your cake top to look ultra smooth. For additional tips on working with ganache, check out this post.
  • Decorate & Refrigerate: Decorate the cake with the remaining cherries as you see fit (see photo at the top of recipe for inspiration). Refrigerate overnight.
cherries with vodka next to it
sponge cake with a center cut out
cream in a mixing bowl
sponge cake filled with a cherry mixture
chocolate ganache in a jar
Drunken Cherry Cake on a stand

Tips for the Best Drunken Cherry Cake

  • Use morello canned cherries. Morellos are known for their sour and tart flavor and perfectly compliment the rich, chocolate-y flavor of this cake.
  • Don’t waste the cherry juice. When draining your morello cherries from the syrup, don’t simply throw it away. Use the syrup to make kompot (a classic Ukrainian juice drink) or use it to rehydrate dry sponge cake.
  • Give cherries adequate time to soak up the vodka. You’ll want your cherries to soak for at least 8 hours. If you can go overnight, that’s even better.
  • Use very cold heavy whipping cream. When making the cake cream, it’s crucial that you use extremely cold whipping cream. This will help the cream emulsify and become ultra fluffy.
  • Don’t over mix the cake cream. If you mix the cream too long, it will become runny and impossible to spread. Pump the brakes on mixing as soon as it reaches stiff peaks.
  • Create the perfect chocolate drizzle. Use a piping bag to create the perfect chocolate drizzle. If you don’t have one, cut a hole on the corner of a plastic storage bag to make a DIY piping bag.
  • Let the cake rest and set in the refrigerator. Letting the cake rest overnight helps it set completely and also allows the flavors to really come out.

Hot Tip: You can find canned morello cherries at most European markets and standard grocery stores. There’s also a great jar on Amazon if you don’t want to make a trip to the store.

Drunken Cherry Cake on a stand

Making Drunken Cherry Cake in Advance

Making Drunken Cherry Cake in advance is a smart move, especially if you’re planning to serve the cake at a party where you will be busy making other dishes. Bonus: The longer it sets, the better it gets.

  • Refrigerating: Refrigerate your Drunken Cherry Cake up to 3 days before serving it. Invest in a cake storage container to ensure your beautiful decorating job doesn’t get compromised.
  • Freezing: Freezing an entire Drunken Cherry Cake isn’t recommended. You can freeze the chocolate sponge cake for later use or just a couple individual slices if need be.

FAQ

What alcohol is best for the drunken cherry cake?

The best alcohol for drunken cherry cake is vodka. You can also use golden rum.

Can you use fresh cherries when making the cake?

Marinated cherries work much better than fresh for this cake. The sugary cherry juice and alcohol create a syrup that is truly signature to the Drunken Cherry Cake.

Can you use any other tart cherries instead of morellos?

You can use any tart cherry, so long as they are marinated and you drain all the juice.

Can I omit the alcohol entirely?

You can omit the alcohol from the recipe, but it expect it to be a touch less rich.

A slice of drunken cherry cake on a plate

More Cake Recipes to Try

Recipe

Drunken Cherry Cake on a stand

Drunken Cherry Cake (Classic Recipe)

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Servings
14 servings
Prep Time 1 hr
Cook Time 1 hr
Total Time 2 hrs
Recipe contributed by: Natalya Drozhzhin
This Drunken Cherry Cake is a decadent dessert of chocolate sponge, pitted cherries, and chocolate ganache. A Slavic classic recipe.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups vodka
  • 58 oz pitted cherries in syrup morello cherries

Sponge Cake

Drunken Cherry Cake Cream

  • 3 cups heavy whipping cream very cold
  • 1 cup sugar

Chocolate Ganache

US Units – Metric

Instructions

  • Drain juice from canned cherries. Place them in a dish and cover them with vodka. Cover dish with plastic wrap and allow cherries to soak for at least 8 hours and up to overnight.
    cherries with vodka next to it
  • Prepare chocolate sponge cakes (see linked recipe above).
    Chocolate sponge cake cut open
  • Cut off a thin layer from each sponge cake. Set it aside carefully, as you will use it as a cake "lid" later on.
    sponge cakes with a top cut off
  • Cut a line close to the inner rim of the cake. Rip out the inside of the cake to create a bowl. Gently rip the cake insides into small pieces and set aside.
    sponge cake with a center cut out
  • In a medium bowl, use a hand mixer to combine sugar and ultra-cold heavy whipping cream. Whisk on medium-high until the cream reaches stiff peaks.
    heavy cream and sugar in a bowl
  • Drain alcohol from cherries. Mix sponge cake crumbs, cherries, and about 80% of the cake cream together.
    sponge cake, drunken cherries and cream in a bowl
  • Fill each cake bowl with cake cream. Carefully cover each cake bowl with cake lid.
    sponge cake filled with a cherry mixture
  • Stack layers together with a bit of cream in between. With remaining cream, frost the outside of the entire cake. Refrigerate it while you prepare chocolate ganache.
    cream applied to a cake
  • Place chocolate chips in a bowl. In a sauce pan over medium-heat, bring cream to a simmer (do not let it reach a boil). Pour hot cream over the chocolate chips, stirring constantly until the ganache is smooth and melted. Allow it to cool to room temperature.
    chocolate ganache in a jar
  • Place chocolate ganache in a piping bag or a plastic storage bag with one of the ends cut. Drizzle chocolate on the edges of the cake, letting it drip off the sides. Apply the remaining chocolate ganache to the top of the cake, spreading it carefully to create a smooth top. Use remaining cherries to decorate the outside of the cake as you wish.
    chocolate drizzled on a cake top
  • Keep cake refrigerated overnight to allow it to set. Serve cold.
    Drunken Cherry Cake on a stand
Nutrition Facts
Drunken Cherry Cake (Classic Recipe)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 641 Calories from Fat 270
% Daily Value*
Fat 30g46%
Saturated Fat 18g90%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 9g
Cholesterol 132mg44%
Sodium 264mg11%
Potassium 275mg8%
Carbohydrates 72g24%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 35g39%
Protein 5g10%
Vitamin A 1862IU37%
Vitamin C 3mg4%
Calcium 91mg9%
Iron 4mg22%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Posted July 1, 2021

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Natalya Drozhzhin

Natalya founded Momsdish to demonstrate that placing a homemade meal on the table is not hard at all. Natalya makes cooking easier and approachable, by simplifying the ingredients, while still producing the same great taste.