Ingredients:
- All-Purpose Flour: 2 ½ cups
- Granulated Sugar: 1 ½ cups
- Unsalted Butter (softened): ¾ cup
- Maraschino Cherries (chopped): 1 cup
- Buttermilk: 1 cup
- Eggs: 3 large
- Baking Powder: 1 ½ teaspoons
- Baking Soda: ½ teaspoon
- Salt: ¼ teaspoon
- Vanilla Extract: 2 teaspoons
Instructions:
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
- Dry Ingredients: Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in eggs one at a time, then add vanilla extract.
- Combine Ingredients: Gradually mix in dry ingredients, alternating with buttermilk. Start and end with dry ingredients.
- Fold in Cherries: Gently fold in chopped maraschino cherries.
- Bake: Divide batter between pans and bake for 25-30 minutes. A toothpick should come out clean.
- Cool and Frost: Let cakes cool for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack. Frost as desired and garnish with maraschino cherries.
Tips:
- Brush baked cake layers with maraschino cherry syrup for extra moisture.
- Replace half of the buttermilk with sour cream for richness.
- Drain and pat dry the cherries before adding to the batter.
