Sweetheart Cherry Cake

Valentines day is just a short 2 weeks away. We don't celebrate by buying gifts or going out for an expensive dinner, but I do enjoy baking Valentine goodies for my family. To me, Valentines Day is really about the simple gestures you make to show someone you love them ♥.

That's why I was really excited when I was asked to make a cake using a recipe and pie filling from Lucky Leaf, maker of easy-to-use dessert products. They sent me a heart-shaped cake pan from Wilton, 2 cans of Lucky Leaf Premium Cherry Pie Filling, some CUTE heart- shaped measuring spoons and a recipe for a Sweetheart Cherry Cake.

Lucky Leaf is a 60 year old family owned business who believes in providing simple, delicious dessert products for families. At first, Lucky Leaf was solely dedicated to fresh applesauce. But as the American woman became too busy to make her delicious homemade pies from scratch, they took care of the hard part and started making ready-to-use apple pie filling. Today you can find Premium Cherry, Apple, Blueberry, Lemon, Red Raspberry, Lite, and Crème in your grocery stores — so you can make whichever type of pie you want quickly and easily.

Even if you don't really enjoy pie, you're sure to find a great Lucky Leaf recipe and filling you would like. They show you how to make everything from pies and salads to Sweet & Spicy Chicken...and many more!!

Sweetheart Cherry Cake (from Lucky Leaf)
(printable recipe)

Ingredients

1 (18.25 oz) dry white cake mix
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 (21 oz) can Lucky Leaf Premium Cherry Pie Filling

Preparation

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Lightly grease 9 x 2 1/2-inch heart-shaped cake pan* (substitute heart pan for 9x13 pan)

Mix together on medium speed, dry cake mix, eggs, baking powder, both extracts, and 1/2 can of Lucky Leaf Premium Cherry Pie Filling until moistened. Fold in the remainging 1/2 can of cherry pie filling by hand until blended (if you'd prefer cherry pieces in stead of whole cherries, then just add the whole can and mix). Batter should appear thick.

Pour batter into pan, and level with a spatula.

Bake for 65-75 minutes for heart shape pan(mine was done in 65), 40-45 for 9x13 pan, or until toothpick comes out clean. Remove cake from oven and allow to cool completely in pan. Invert cake onto a serving platter to decorate.

Buttercream Icing (from Lucky Leaf)

Ingredients

1 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon almond extract
4 cups (1 pound) confectioners' sugar, sifted
2-4 tablespoons milk
food coloring (optional)

Preparation
Cream butter and both extracts. Slowly add confectioners' sugar, beating well. Add 2 tablespoons of milk. Mix well. If needed, continue adding milk 1 tablespoon at a time until icing is smooth and spreadable. Mix in food coloring, if desired. *This would also be cute in pink or red icing. I colored a small amount brown to pipe around the edges with 1M tip.

Decorating ideas Lucky Leaf suggest: Icing all sides of the cake, then evenly spoon 1/2 can of additional cherry pie filling over top (keeping the pie filling about one inch from the edge of the cake). Pat sliced almonds or mini chocolate chips onto the side of the iced cake.

Optional ideas I thought of

• you could pipe some of the buttercream around the cherry pie filling, like I did.
• you could put chocolate chips around the edge of cherry pie filling (like a heart outline)
• tint your buttercream pink, ice whole cake then sprinkle top with chocolate chips and cherry pie filling
• add a few mini chocolate chips to the cake mix
  
• use a chocolate cake mix instead of white.
• use 2 cans of any flavor prepared icing instead of making buttercream icing.
  

there really are just endless possibilities!

This cake was VERY moist and delicious!! I'm a big fan of cherry and almonds....this combination made this cake ever so YUMMY! I can't wait to make it again, and add a little chocolate.

GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED!
Winners can be found on this post!

10 TidyMom readers can win their own
Wilton Heart-shaped pan
so you can make your cake look extra special for Valentines Day!

GIVEAWAY CLOSED, so the winners can hopefully get their pans in time for Valentines Day!

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I'm linking this post to Hoosier Homemade's Valentine Party!!
Be sure to go over and check out ALL of the Valentine Ideas.....
there are giveaways too!!

Somewhat Simple is also having a Valentine Strut Your Stuff party!



And Sarah's Your Life, YourBlog party!

I'm also sharing this recipe at Tempt Your Tummy Tuesday, Balancing Beauty and Bedlam Mouth Watering Mondays and Tuesdays at the Table, Ultimate Recipe Swap, Foodie Friday recipe exchanges and DYI Show Off's Valentine party.