Chocolate Cherry Upside Down Cake. A super quick and easy dessert that makes a wonderful weekday treat. This delicious cake will help you make it through Hump Day!

Chocolate Cherry Upside Down Cake
This quick and easy to prepare, smaller sized cake is an example of what I call a weeknight dessert. That’s a low effort dessert for a time restricted workday.

Chocolate Cherry Upside Down Cake
It really is very fast to put together and takes little more than a half hour in the oven. So you can even slide it in next to those baked chicken breasts you’re having for dinner.

Frozen cherries can make this recipe an economical, year round treat.
I almost always use frozen cherries for this recipe, even when they are in season, if it is more economical. I don’t skimp on the quality of the cocoa either.
The best chocolate cake needs the best cocoa you can afford.

Use the best quality cocoa powder you can find for this recipe.
The combination of chocolate and cherries is one of my very favourites. I cannot resist, chocolate covered cherries or chocolate cherry ice cream.
And, of course, I absolutely love the combination in my own recipe for Double Chocolate Black Forest Cake. It’s just the best!
Chocolate Cherry Upside Down Cake, low effort, high reward.
The reward is much greater than the effort in this case and it is a sure fire way to beat the mid-week blues.
Start a “Hump Day” dessert night and see how much easier it will be to get through the week.
Can’t get enough amazing chocolate desserts? We’ve got a whole collection of many of our favourite recipes HERE.
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Chocolate Cherry Upside Down Cake
Chocolate Cherry Upside Down Cake. A super quick and easy dessert that makes a wonderful weekday treat. This delicious cake will help you make it through Hump Day!
Ingredients
For the cherry layer
- 2 cups fresh or frozen pitted cherries
- ⅓ cup sugar
- 1 tsp corn starch
For the chocolate cake batter
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- ⅓ cup plus 1 tbsp cocoa
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp salt
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup soured milk
- ½ cup brewed black coffee.
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
To prepare the cherry layer
- Grease and flour a 9 inch round pan that's at least 2 inches deep and line the bottom with a round of parchment paper. You can also use an 8x8 square baking dish for this cake.
- Blend together the sugar and corn starch, then toss the mixture well with the pitted cherries. If using frozen cherries allow them to thaw for 20 minutes or so before using them.
- Spread the cherries evenly over the bottom of the prepared pan.
To prepare the chocolate cake batter
- Combine all ingredients in the batter recipe in a mixing bowl and beat with electric mixer for 2 minutes.
- Pour slowly and evenly over the cherries in the prepared cake pan.
- Bake at 350 degrees F for 30-35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool in pans for 5 minutes before turning out onto a heat proof serving plate.
- Serve warm or cold with ice cream or a dollop of freshly whipped cream.
Notes
- To sour the milk, just add a teaspoon of vinegar or lemon juice to it and stir.
- To add a chocolate ganache drizzle over the top, heat 1/3 cup of whipping cream to almost boiling and pour it over 2.3 cups chocolate chips. Let stand 5 minutes and stir until smooth.
Nutrition Information
Yield
8Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 300Total Fat 9gSaturated Fat 1gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 7gCholesterol 48mgSodium 239mgCarbohydrates 53gFiber 1gSugar 38gProtein 4g
The nutritional information provided is automatically calculated by third party software and is meant as a guideline only. Exact accuracy is not guaranteed. For recipes where all ingredients may not be used entirely, such as those with coatings on meats, or with sauces or dressings for example, calorie & nutritional values per serving will likely be somewhat lower than indicated.
Iman
Thursday 18th of May 2023
It's really delicious and easy to do! Only thing was the cooking time, I've made it twice (with fresh cherries), always needed more than an hour to cook..
WHO ELSE WANTS A NEW UPSIDE-DOWN [UPGRADE] - The Wedding Blog: Unique Ideas - Surfing LA
Sunday 7th of May 2023
[…] This little, quick-to-make cake is a great illustration of weekday dessert. It dessert requires little effort and is perfect for a busy workweek. It actually comes together quickly, and baking it just takes a little over a half-hour. Grab the Recipe […]
DylansMama
Wednesday 15th of February 2023
Update: after an hour of cooking a toothpick finally came out clean. I waited about 10 minutes and then inverted it onto a plate. The texture is very pudding-like and mushy. The taste is wonderful, but reminds me of those chocolate pudding cakes from the 90's. I splurged and bought expensive cocoa but you wouldn't know it because the chocolate flavor is so mild. I think when I make this again I will: add another cup of flour and add at least 1/2 cup of cocoa powder, probably more. I used expensive organic ingredients so I'm disappointed in the results, but I LOVE chocolate and cherries, so I will for sure be making this again. Thank you for the recipe--it just needs some work.
DylansMama
Wednesday 15th of February 2023
Mine, too, was still liquid after 45 minutes....and counting. It's still in the oven. I used a 9" round pan, the exact ingredients and thawed cherries, drained. When I made the batter is was SO liquid-y and I was immediately concerned...especially when the cherries started floating! I'm wondering if it should read 2 cups of flour instead of one? I'm hoping that my cake will still turn out because I used expensive ingredients to make this as a treat for Valentines Day. I will update if it ever finishes cooking....
Antonia
Tuesday 24th of January 2023
Catherine, below, and I want to know, could you use canned pie filling?