Chocolate Cherry Fudge Cake

This is, by far, my favorite cake!  The base of the cake was taken in part from Hershey's, but it's mainly my mom's creation.  This was just one of her repertoire of cakes she used to make for my dad, sisters, and me.  Now that I have the recipe, I've been making it at least once a year for someone's birthday in my own family.  Hope you like it!


Ingredients:
1 3/4 c.  sugar                 1 1/3 c. buttermilk
2/3  c.  butter                 1/2 c. Hershey's cocoa
2 eggs                             1/2 c. boiling water                      
1 tsp. vanilla                    1 bottle maraschino cherries
2 1/4 c. all-purpose flour {unbleached}
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt {sea salt}

Preheat oven to 350 degrees; grease and flour 2-9 inch layer cake pans.  Drain cherries. Chop with a knife or food processor.  Set aside with 2 Tbs. flour. Cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy; add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each.  Add vanilla.  Sift together flour, soda, and salt and add alternately with buttermilk.  Make a heavy, smoothe paste with the boiling water and cocoa; cool slightly, add to batter and blend well.  In a small bowl dust cherries with the flour, then stir into batter.  Pour into the 2 pans and bake at 350 for 35 minutes or until done.  Let cool in pans, on a wire rack, for about 30 minutes.  Frost and serve.  Yuummmm!!!

Psst! For an awesome, delectable frosting go here!