Rich, buttery cherry cake is the perfect snack cake for dessert or breakfast!

Growing up in Maine, summer was always a short season.

Dark sweet cherries adorn grocery store shelves and farmers markets come summer.

Overhead view of slices of cherry cake from scratch.

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Knowing that their availability is limited, its easy to go overboard.

This is a rich butter cake flavored with almond extract and studded with fresh sweet cherries.

What Makes This Cake Special?

Overhead view of a homemade cherry cake with a slice being removed.

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The cake is flavored with almond extract rather than the usual vanilla.

Sugar acts as a humectant, attracting moisture from the environment.

This makes the cake moist and helps it keep longer.

A slice of cherry cake with fresh cherries on a plate and topped with a dollop of whipped cream and a cherry.

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They can be crisp and firm, soft and juicy, and their flavor ranges from sweet to sour.

Save the sour cherries forpie fillingand jam.

Fresh cherries are preferable because the extra moisture in frozen or canned cherries would water down the batter.

Flouring a cake pan to make a fresh cherry cake recipe.

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You could also try serving it with a dollop ofwhipped creamor a scoop ofvanilla ice cream.

The cake will soften a bit over time.

If stored in the fridge, take the cake out an hour before serving to take the chill off.

Whisking dry ingredients to make a fresh cherry cake recipe.

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The cake may also be frozen for up to 3 months.

Let the cake defrost at room temperature before serving.

Use your hands to dust the pan lightly with flour, then tap out any excess.

Making the batter for butter cake with fresh cherries .

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In a medium bowl, add the flour, baking powder, and salt.

Add the eggs, one at a time, beating until fully incorporated after each addition.

Scrape down the bowl with a rubber spatula halfway through.

Adding eggs to the batter for a butter cake with fresh cherries.

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The batter should be smooth, light, and fluffy.

Add the almond extract and mix on low speed to combine.

Transfer the batter to the prepared cake pan.

Mixing in dry ingredients for a butter cake with fresh cherries

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Lightly press the pitted cherries into the batter, making a circular pattern.

Dont press them in too deep or the cake will envelop them while baking.

Remove from the oven.

Placing fresh cherries on the batter of a cake to make a cherry cake from scratch.

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Allow to cool in the pan for 10 to 15 minutes before unmolding.

Let it cool completely on a wire rack before serving.

Cherry cake from scratch cooling on a wire rack.

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Cherry cake from scratch cooling on a wire rack.

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