cherry chocolate cake

for father's day i made my pops a cherry chocolate cake (one of his favorite combos) with chocolate buttercream icing.

Chocolate Cherry Cake
YOU'LL NEED:
1 chocolate cake mix

1 can cherry pie filling (21 oz)

2 eggs

DIRECTIONS:
1. combine cake mix with cherries.
2. fold in eggs.

3. pour into greased and floured pans (i would recommend also lining with parchment paper because the cherries make the cake very moist and stubborn leaving the pan.)
4. bake according to mix directions for pan type and size. 

Chocolate Buttercream Icing
YOU'LL NEED:
1/2 cup vegetable shortening

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened

3/4 cocoa or three 1 oz unsweetened chocolate squares, melted

1 tsp vanilla extract

3-4 tbsps milk
DIRECTIONS:
1. in a large bowl cream shortening and butter with an electric mixer.

2. add cocoa and vanilla.

3. gradually add sugar, sifted in one cup at a time, beating well on medium speed.

4. icing will appear dry. add milk and beat on medium speed until light and fluffy.

5. keep bowl covered with a damp cloth until ready to use. for best results, keep icing bowl in refrigerator when not in use. refrigerated in an airtight container, it can be stored 2 weeks. rewhip before using. 

here's a close up of the clothes line. the shirt takes two pieces of paper. the tie takes two pieces of paper.