Chocolate Cherry Divinity Cake

Rich chocolate cake highlighted with dried cherries...delicious served with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream.

• Ready In: 1 hr 30 mins
• Serves: 16

Ingredients

• Cake

• 1  cup dried cherries
• 1⁄4 cup  orange juice, no pulp
• 5  ounces  semisweet chocolate (broken up)
• 1⁄4 cup light margarine
• 2⁄3 cup sugar
• 1⁄4 cup  whole milk
• 1  teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1⁄4 teaspoon  almond extract
• 1⁄2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1⁄3 cup  slivered almonds
• 16  cherries (fresh)

• Chocolate Glaze

• 6  ounces  semisweet chocolate (broken up)
• 2  tablespoons butter

Directions

1. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine dried cherries and Organic Valley Orange Juice. Simmer for 5 minutes and set aside. In a double boiler (or you can use a small saucepan nestled into a large saucepan filled 2" high with water) combine chocolate and butter, cook until melted (depending on method, 5-10 minutes) . Set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, beat eggs and sugar with an electric mixer on high speed about 5 minutes or until thick and lemon colored. Beat in chocolate mixture, milk, and vanilla. Beat in flour. Stir in undrained cherries and almonds.
3. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
4. Pour into a greased and floured 8-inch springform pan or 9x1-1/2-inch round baking pan; place on a baking sheet. Bake in a 350 degree F oven until a toothpick inserted near center comes out clean, allowing 45 to 50 minutes for the springform pan or 35 to 40 minutes for the 9-inch pan. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove from pan. Cool completely.
5. Spread 1/4 cup Chocolate Glaze** evenly over top and sides of cake. Chill for 10 minutes. Frost top and sides of cake with remaining glaze. Chill until set. Let stand at room temperature for 10 to 15 minutes before serving. If desired, garnish with fresh cherries. Makes 12 to 16 servings.
6. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine dried cherries and Organic Valley Orange Juice. Simmer for 5 minutes and set aside. In a double boiler (or you can use a small saucepan nestled into a large saucepan filled 2" high with water) combine chocolate and butter, cook until melted (depending on method, 5-10 minutes) . Set aside.
7. In a medium bowl, beat eggs and sugar with an electric mixer on high speed about 5 minutes or until thick and lemon colored. Beat in chocolate mixture, milk, and vanilla. Beat in flour. Stir in undrained cherries and almonds.
8. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
9. Pour into a greased and floured 8-inch springform pan or 9x1-1/2-inch round baking pan; place on a baking sheet. Bake in a 350 degree F oven until a toothpick inserted near center comes out clean, allowing 45 to 50 minutes for the springform pan or 35 to 40 minutes for the 9-inch pan. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove from pan. Cool completely.
10. Spread 1/4 cup Chocolate Glaze** evenly over top and sides of cake. Chill for 10 minutes. Frost top and sides of cake with remaining glaze. Chill until set. Let stand at room temperature for 10 to 15 minutes before serving. If desired, garnish with fresh cherries. Makes 12 to 16 servings.