Secret -Ingredient Chocolate Cake

Ingredients

• Cake:
• 2/3 cup butter or margarine, softened
• 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 1/4 teaspoons vanilla
• 1/2 cup mashed fresh potatoes, NOT instant
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Filling and Frosting:
• 1 20-oz. can cherry pie filling
• 2 tablespoons orange-flavored liqueur
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• Fresh mint sprigs

Directions

Prepare cake: Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans. In large bowl with electric mixer at high speed, beat all cake ingredients about 4 minutes, until well blended. Pour batter into prepared pans; bake 20 to 25 minutes until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool layers in pans on wire racks 10 minutes; remove from pans to racks to cool completely.

Prepare Filling: Drain cherries, reserving liquid in small bowl; remove and reserve 12 cherries for decoration. To cherry liquid add 1 tablespoon orange-flavored liqueur. Cut cake layers in half. On plate, stack layers, with one -third cherry liquid and cherries between each.

Prepare Frosting: In medium-size bowl with electric mixer at high speed, beat cream, 2 tablespoons sugar and remaining 1 tablespoon orange-flavored liqueur until stiff peaks form. Swirl frosting over top and sides of cake; decorate with reserved cherries and fresh mint sprigs.

Submitted 6/13/05.
Source: RedBook
Submitted By: Linda Wilson
lwilson@gatecom.com
Secret -Ingredient Chocolate Cake