Berry Cherry Sponge Cake Recipes

OLD-FASHIONED CHERRY CAKE

Steps:

• Begin by preparing the cherries. If they're dripping in syrup, pat them dry with kitchen paper, then slice each one into four. For the cake, cream the butter and sugar together until light, pale and fluffy. Now gradually beat in the whisked eggs a little at a time. Then sift the flour and baking powder together, and carefully fold this into the creamed mixture using a metal spoon. Toss two thirds of the cherries together with the ground almonds and carefully fold these into the cake, adding one or two drops of almond extract and the milk. Now spoon the cake mix into the prepared tin, level off the top with the back of a spoon, then sprinkle over the remaining third of the cherries and poke them just under the surface with a teaspoon. Bake the cake near the centre of the oven for 50 minutes, then cover with foil and continue cooking for a further 10 minutes, or until the centre is springy to touch. Cool the cake in the tin for 15 minutes before turning it out onto a wire rack to cool. Store in an airtight tin.

MARY BERRY CHERRY CAKE

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 180C/350F/Gas mark 4. Spray an 18cms/7" savarin mould or bundt tin with some cake release spray or grease with butter.
• Cut the cherries for the cake into quarters, rinse them well in warm water and then dry thoroughly before sprinkling some flour over them, toss in the flour to coat them all.
• Measure the rest of the cake ingredients into a large mixing bowl and beat well for 2 to 3 minutes - I used a hand held mixer - until the ingredients are well blended. Add the cherries and lightly fold them into the cake batter.
• Spoon the cake batter into the prepared tin or mould and smooth the top with the back of a spoon. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until well risen and golden brown. Test by inserting a skewer into the middle of the cake, it should come out clean if the cake is baked.
• Leave to cool in the tin for 10 minutes and then turn it out to cool completely on a wire rack.
• When the cake is cold, make the icing by mixing the icing sugar with the lemon juice to make a thick paste. Place the cake on a serving plate and drizzle the icing over the cake with the back of a spoon. Scatter the toasted almonds over the icing and then arrange the cherries on top.

CHERRY LOAF CAKE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Butter a 900g loaf tin and line with baking parchment. Beat the butter and sugar together until pale and fluffy, then beat in the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla and almond extract (if using).
• Toss the cherries with 2 tbsp of the flour in a bowl. Tip the rest of the flour, the ground almonds, baking powder and a pinch of salt into the bowl with the sugar and eggs, and mix until just combined. Fold in the cherries and any remaining flour in the bowl. Spoon into the prepared tin and smooth over the top.
• Bake for 50-55 mins, or until a skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean. Leave to cool for 10 mins in the tin, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Serve as it is, or mix the icing sugar with the extract and enough milk to make a thick but pourable consistency. Drizzle over the loaf cake, and scatter over the flaked almonds to serve.

LEMONY CHERRY OR BERRY POKE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350.
• In a mixing bowl with an electric mixer, cream together the mascarpone cheese, egg whites and oil. Make sure to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl.
• Add the cake mix, lemon zest, lemon juice, and water. Beat with mixer until it's well combined.
• Stir in the fruit.
• Spread batter into a 13x9 baking dish (I used glass).
• Bake for 35-40 minutes until it tests clean and is light brown on top.
• While the cake is baking, stir the jello into the boiling water until it's dissolved then stir in the cold water. (I used a 2 cup pyrex and the microwave for this step.) Set aside.
• When the cake is done, remove from oven and poke holes through the whole cake with a fork. Pour the liquid jello over the cake and let it cool to room temperature.
• When cooled put a cover on the baking dish and put it into the refrigerator. Let chill for 4 hours or more until the jello is firm.
• Spread the top with Cool Whip Lite.
• This cuts into nice firm squares for serving.

CHERRY BAKEWELL CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and make sure there's a shelf ready in the middle. Butter and line the bases of two 20cm round sandwich tins with baking paper.
• Using electric beaters, beat together all the cake ingredients with a pinch of salt until smooth, then spoon into the tins and level the tops. Bake for 30 mins or until golden and springy. Don't open the oven before 25 mins cooking time has passed.
• When they're ready, cool the sponges for a few mins, then tip out of the tins and cool completely on a wire rack. Make sure the top of one of the cakes is facing up as you'll want a smooth surface for the icing later on.
• When cool, put one sponge on a serving plate, then spread with jam. Sandwich the second sponge on top. Sieve the icing sugar into a large bowl. Add the water or lemon juice, then stir until smooth and thick. Spread evenly over the top and let it dribble over the sides. Scatter with the nuts and leave to set for a few mins before cutting.

CHERRY GLAZED SPONGE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 10x15 inch jellyroll pan.
• In a large bowl, cream together the margarine and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time, then stir in almond extract. Fold in flour until just blended. Spread batter into prepared pan. With the tip of a knife, mark squares in the batter. Spoon equal portions of pie filling in the center of each square.
• Bake in preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until golden brown, and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow to cool, then dust with confectioners' sugar.

FRESH CHERRY CAKE WITH A HINT OF CINNAMON

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to fan 160C/ conventional 180C/gas 4. Grease and base line a 20cm round cake tin, about 5cm deep. Sift the flour, cinnamon and caster sugar into a bowl. Make a well in the centre and add the egg, milk and melted butter, then combine with a wooden spoon or electric whisk. Beat well to make a thick, smooth mixture. Spoon into the tin and spread evenly.
• Remove the stalks and stones from the cherries, using a pitter if you have one to keep the fruit whole. Scatter the cherries over the mixture and gently press them in.
• To make the topping, tip all the ingredients into a bowl. Rub in the butter with your fingers to make a crumb-like mixture, then work the mixture until it comes together in pea-sized pieces. Scatter the topping over the cherries.
• Bake for 30-35 minutes until a skewer pushed into the centre comes out clean. Leave in the tin until cool enough to handle, then run a knife round the edge, remove the cake from the tin and leave on a wire rack until completely cold.
• For a picnic, make the cake up to 24 hours ahead and return it to the clean tin when cold. Dust liberally with icing sugar, then wrap in cling film or foil.

CHERRY, CUSTARD & ALMOND SPONGE CAKE

Steps:

• Butter two 20cm loose-bottomed round sandwich tins and line with baking parchment. Heat the oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 4. Tip the butter and sugar into the bowl of a stand mixer and beat for 10 mins, or until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Fold in the flour, ground almonds, baking powder, 1/4 tsp salt and the milk. Spoon the batter into the prepared tins and bake in the centre of the oven for 22-25 mins, or until risen and firm to the touch. Leave to cool in the tins for 5 mins before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
• Put the cherries, vanilla, sugar, lemon juice and kirsch or liqueur (if using) in a pan and bring to a simmer over a low heat. Cook for 5 mins, turn up the heat to medium and cook for 5-7 mins more until the liquid becomes syrupy. If the cherries are softened but the liquid isn't yet syrupy, strain the liquid into a separate pan and simmer until slightly thickened. Remove from the heat and leave to cool.
• Beat the cream and icing sugar together using an electric whisk until the cream has thickened, then fold in the custard and chill for 1 hr.
• Put one of the sponges on a cake plate or stand and spread over the custard cream. Spoon over the cherries, then top with the second sponge. Dust with more icing sugar and serve immediately. Leftovers will keep chilled for two days and are best served at room temperature.

CHERRY AND COCONUT CAKE

Steps:

• Cream the butter or margarine with the sugar
• beat in the eggs and milk with a whisk (electric or hand)
• stir in the coconut and cherries
• fold in the self raising flour until mixture is a nice consistancy (not too runny not too stiff)
• line a loaf tin with greaseproof parchment paper and fill with mixture - sprinkle some more coconut on the top of the mixture
• place in preheated oven of 180 degrees C and cook for about 30 mins....after 30mins place some whole cherries onto the top of the cake and cook for another 10-15 mins...or until once cocktail stick comes out clean