Cherry Chip Cake

Whether it's Valentine's Day or a birthday, this pretty in pink cake will make any occasion special.
This recipe is from the LorAnn Oils blog post titled Cherry Love.  Check out the full post from our guest blogger Marcella Dilonardo of Hey Modest Marce.

Ingredients

For the cake:
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups white sugar
3 large eggs, room temperature
1 teaspoon LorAnn Pure Vanilla Extract
1 teaspoon LorAnn Cherry Emulsion
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 cup half & half
1 cup maraschino cherries, rinsed & diced

For the frosting:
1 1/2 cups unsalted butter, room temperature
3-4 cups confectioners sugar, or to taste
1 teaspoon LorAnn Pure Vanilla Extract
1 teaspoon LorAnn Cherry Bakery Emulsion
1/4 cup whipping cream
pink food coloring, optional
maraschino cherries, to garnish

Directions

For the cake:

1. Preheat oven to 325ºF. Grease & line three 6-inch round cake pans. Set aside until ready to use.
2. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter & sugar. Add the eggs one at a time, scraping down the bowl after each addition.
3. Add the vanilla extract, cherry emulsion & vegetable oil. Beat until incorporated.
4. In a separate bowl sift together the flour, baking powder & salt.
5. Alternate between adding the flour mixture & cream to the stand mixer bowl. Beat until batter is smooth, about 2 minutes.  Stir in diced cherries.
6. Evenly divide mixture amongst the prepared cake pans. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the top bounces back to touch.
7. Allow cakes to cool completely before flipping & frosting. If desired, trim dome off the top to produce a flat cake.

For the frosting:

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment add the butter & sugar. Cream until light & fluffy, about 10 minutes.
2. Add the vanilla, cherry emulsion, whipping cream & food coloring. Beat until the whipping cream is fully incorporated.
3. Frost cake as desired & top with maraschino cherries.