BLACK FOREST POKE CAKE RECIPES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pans). Grease two 8- or 9-inch round cake pans, or spray with baking spray with flour.
• Make and bake cake as directed on box for 8- or 9-inch rounds. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
• In medium bowl, beat whipping cream with electric mixer on high speed until slightly thickened. Gradually beat in powdered sugar until stiff peaks form. Fold in brandy. In another small bowl, mix pie filling and almond extract.
• On serving plate, place 1 cake layer, rounded side down. Spread with half of the whipped cream, then 1 cup cherry mixture to within 1 inch of edge. Top with second layer, rounded side up. Frost top with remaining whipped cream. Spoon remaining cherry mixture over top. Sprinkle with sliced almonds. Store covered in refrigerator.

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 350 degrees F and line a nine-inch Pullman pan with parchment paper. Spray with spray oil. Alternatively, spray 2 8-inch round cake pans with spray oil and line the bottoms with parchment paper.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, and salt.
• In another bowl, mix together the coffee and brandy.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla.
• Pour the egg mixture and half of the coffee mixture into the flour mixture and gently mix until combined. Add the rest of the coffee mixture and mix to combine.
• Pour the mixture into the pan and smack the pan down onto the counter top to let out any extra bubbles. Place the pan in the oven and bake for 70 minutes, until a tester comes out clean (30 minutes for cake pans and 20 minutes for 24 cupcakes).
• Cool completely in the pan.
• Meanwhile, whip together the whipping cream, sugar, and vanilla until you have stiff peaks.
• In a medium saucepan, stir together the cherries, water, and liqueur over medium low heat and cook, covered, for about 10 minutes for frozen cherries and 15 minutes for fresh cherries.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the sugar and cornstarch.
• Strain the cherries through a fine mesh sieve, saving the juice in one bowl and the cherries in another.
• Return the juices to the saucepan. Add the sugar and cornstarch mixture and cook over medium until boiling. Cook for about 3 minutes until thickened and shiny. Add the cherries back to the pan and cook for another 30 seconds.
• Remove the pan from the heat and let cool while the cake is baking.
• You can store the filling for up to four days in the refrigerator.
• Slice the cake into 1/2 inch slices. Place a slice on a serving plate, spread with the whipped cream, and top with some cherries.
• Repeat with a second layer.