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Drunken Cherry Cake on a stand
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Drunken Cherry Cake (Classic Recipe)

This Drunken Cherry Cake is a decadent dessert of chocolate sponge, pitted cherries, and chocolate ganache. A Slavic classic recipe.
Course Dessert
Cuisine Russian, Ukrainian
Keyword cherry cake, Chocolate cherry cake, drunken cherry cake
Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 2 hours
Servings 14 servings
Calories 641kcal
Author Natalya Drozhzhin

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

Calories: 641kcal | Carbohydrates: 72g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 132mg | Sodium: 264mg | Potassium: 275mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 35g | Vitamin A: 1862IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 91mg | Iron: 4mg