Jefferson County Recipe of the Day: Cherry-Chocolate Cake

A delicious, slow cooker cake!

Cherry-Chocolate Cake

Ingredients

1/2 cup cola
1/2 cup dried tart cherries
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
2-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup chocolate milk
1/2 cup butter, melted
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Topping

1-1/4 cups cola
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
1/4 cup dark rum
Vanilla ice cream and maraschino cherries

Directions

~In a small saucepan, bring cola and dried cherries to a boil. Remove from the heat; let stand for 30 minutes.

~In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, chocolate, baking powder, and salt.

~Combine the chocolate milk, butter, and vanilla. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in cherry mixture.

~Pour into a 3-qt. slow cooker coated with cooking spray.

For topping:

~In a small saucepan, combine the cola, sugar, and brown sugar. Cook and stir until sugar is dissolved. Remove from the heat.

~Stir in chocolate and rum until smooth.

~Pour over cherry mixture; do not stir. Cover and cook on high for 2 to 2-1/2 hours or until set.

~Turn off heat; let stand, covered, for 30 minutes.

~Serve warm with ice cream and maraschino cherries.