This Triple Chocolate Cherry Cake is a full-on dessert dream come true. It’s rich, moist, bursting with juicy cherries, and layered with three kinds of chocolate to give you that melt-in-your-mouth experience with every bite. The best part? It’s surprisingly simple to whip up, making it the ideal treat for those busy weeknights when you still want something indulgent and impressive. Whether you’re baking for a special occasion or just want to treat yourself midweek (yes, you deserve it!), this cake brings bakery-level decadence right to your kitchen—without the fuss.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Incredibly Moist: Thanks to the cherry juice and rich ingredients, every bite is soft, tender, and never dry.
Triple the Chocolate: Cocoa powder, chocolate chips, and chocolate ganache team up for next-level chocolate intensity.
Easy to Make: One bowl for the batter, one pan, no mixer needed. Seriously, it’s foolproof.
Crowd Pleaser: Whether it’s for a family gathering, a birthday, or just a treat-yourself moment, this cake always disappears fast.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Here’s what you’ll need to gather for this irresistible cake, along with tips to make each component shine:

All-purpose flour: Provides the structure for the cake while staying soft and tender.
Unsweetened cocoa powder: Choose a high-quality cocoa for deep chocolate flavor—Dutch-processed works beautifully.
Granulated sugar: Sweetens the cake and keeps it moist.
Baking soda and baking powder: These help the cake rise and stay fluffy.
Salt: Enhances the chocolate and cherry flavors—don’t skip it.
Eggs: Add richness and help bind everything together.
Vegetable oil: Keeps the cake super moist without weighing it down.
Sour cream or yogurt: Adds a slight tang and amps up the moisture.
Vanilla extract: Rounds out the flavors and deepens the chocolate.
Canned cherry pie filling: The shortcut hero—juicy cherries that add sweetness and texture.
Semi-sweet chocolate chips: Melt into pockets of gooey chocolate throughout the cake.
Heavy cream and chocolate: Used for a glossy ganache that finishes the cake like a pro.

Variations

Want to mix things up? Here are a few easy ways to tweak this cake:

Add Almond: A splash of almond extract pairs beautifully with cherry and chocolate.
Make it Boozy: Add a tablespoon of cherry liqueur (like Kirsch) to the batter or ganache.
Switch the Cherries: Use fresh cherries when in season, or frozen (thawed and drained) if you prefer less sweetness.
Make it Cupcakes: Divide the batter into cupcake tins for adorable single-servings—bake 18–22 minutes.

How to Make Triple Chocolate Cherry Cake

Step 1: Preheat and Prep

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×13-inch baking dish or two 8-inch round pans. This cake tends to stick if the pan isn’t well prepared, so don’t skip this step.

Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients

In a large bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Make sure everything is evenly combined—this ensures a uniform rise and flavor.

Step 3: Add Wet Ingredients

Add the eggs, oil, sour cream, and vanilla to the dry mixture. Stir just until combined; the batter will be thick, and that’s perfect.

Step 4: Fold in Cherries and Chocolate

Gently fold in the cherry pie filling and chocolate chips. Try not to overmix—just enough so the cherries are spread throughout.

Step 5: Bake

Pour the batter into your prepared pan(s), smoothing the top. Bake for about 35–40 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with moist crumbs. Let the cake cool completely before adding ganache.

Step 6: Make the Ganache

Warm the heavy cream just until it starts to simmer, then pour it over chopped chocolate in a bowl. Let it sit for a few minutes, then stir until smooth and glossy. Pour over the cooled cake and spread gently with a spatula.

Pro Tips for Making the Recipe

Don’t Overmix: Overworking the batter can lead to a dense cake. Mix just until you see no dry streaks.
Let the Cake Cool Completely Before Adding Ganache: If it’s even slightly warm, the ganache will melt and slide right off.
Use Room Temperature Ingredients: This helps everything mix more evenly and gives a better texture.
Layer It Up: For a celebration-worthy version, bake in two round pans and stack with whipped cream or cherry jam between layers.

How to Serve

This cake is rich, so a little goes a long way—though don’t be surprised if people come back for seconds.

Serving Suggestions:

Topped with Whipped Cream: Adds a light, fluffy contrast to the dense chocolate.
With Ice Cream: Vanilla or cherry ice cream melts beautifully over a warm slice.
With Coffee or Espresso: A dark roast or rich espresso brings out the deep chocolate notes.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Keep any leftover cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. The ganache helps seal in moisture.

Freezing

You can freeze the cake (without ganache) for up to 2 months. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and foil. Add ganache after thawing for best texture.

Reheating

If you like it warm, microwave individual slices for 10–15 seconds. It brings the chocolate back to its melty, luscious state.

FAQs

Can I make this cake without the cherry filling?
Yes, though it won’t have the same juicy texture. Substitute with fresh or frozen cherries tossed in a bit of sugar and cornstarch.

Can I use a boxed cake mix?
Absolutely! Use a devil’s food or chocolate fudge mix and stir in the cherry filling and chocolate chips—still delicious, just even faster.

What type of chocolate is best for the ganache?
Go with semi-sweet or dark chocolate. Milk chocolate tends to be too sweet paired with the cherry filling.

Can I make this cake gluten-free?
Yes, just use a reliable 1-to-1 gluten-free flour blend. Check that your other ingredients (like pie filling and chocolate) are gluten-free too.

Final Thoughts

This Triple Chocolate Cherry Cake is the ultimate dessert for chocolate lovers who also adore that pop of fruity cherry flavor. It’s easy enough for a casual evening but decadent enough to steal the show at any celebration. So go ahead, bake it up and savor every rich, chocolaty, cherry-filled bite—you’re going to love this one!

Triple Chocolate Cherry Cake Recipe