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This post is sponsored by Betty Crocker. View my disclosure policy here.
We just wrapped up Birthday Season in our house, and I have to confess that I was a total planning-dud this year. Emma’s was okay, only because we did two parties for her (one pre-move, and one after). But even the more decent of her two parties was somewhat haphazardly thrown together by me on the morning of.
And as for mine and Chris’s birthdays… suffice it to say they both had store-bought cakes and an abundance of the phrase, “Oh, can this count as one of your gifts? Thanks.”
I don’t know what happened… I meant for them to be super cute and fun, but I just kept running out of time.
Don’t get me wrong– I think all of our birthdays managed to be special and fun, despite the shocking lack of streamers and balloons! But, I think a little bit of planning and some cute ideas could have gone a long way, even with the crazy busy summer we had.
I’m teaming up with Betty Crocker to bring you some really fun, really cute, really easy birthday party and cake ideas!! It’s the universe’s way of giving me a second chance at birthday season…
This Betty Crocker Birthdays book is awesome. The cake recipes are all right up my alley! All the recipes use cake mix and/or canned frosting (EASY!), but they use them in really creative “doctored-up” ways. This Chocolate Cherry Cola Cake recipe jumped out at me right away.
It’s deep, dark chocolatey with sweet cherry undertones and topped with a sweet marshmallow frosting and loads of chocolate covered cherries! Besides being delicious, you know what the best part is? It is so easy to make. It’s incredibly simple, yet incredibly impressive once it’s all put together.
I’m obsessed with cherry cola (obsessed) and love that it pairs so well with my other great passion in life— chocolate. So this cake makes me happy in all sorts of ways.
Not the least of which being: HOW CUTE are cherries?!? And cherries + cola + chocolate all together?! It’s like the trifecta of beautiful colors, textures, and tastes! Not to mention that these are all super easy party elements to work with. All of them are easily available year-round (think maraschino cherries), and the colors are easy to find as well!
Part of my corroboration with Betty Crocker includes curating a #GetYourBettyOn Pin Board (which you can find here), inspired by Betty Crocker flavors. And I’m going to be pinning lots of cute birthday/party ideas that coordinate with the cake recipes I’m posting here. See? Easy. Everything you need for an awesome birthday party, all in one place 🙂
I found all sorts of really cute things you could do for a birthday party themed around this Chocolate Cherry Cola Cake! Here are the links to some of my favorites (but remember, you can find alllllllll of them on my pin board here):
- If you’re looking for some ice cream to go with this cake (because what’s a birthday without ice cream??), I founds several seriously amazing-looking chocolate cherry ice cream recipes. Like this one, this one, or this one.
- Or maybe you’re not a cake person at all. How about this Cherry-Chocolate Ice Cream Pie? Or Triple Chocolate Cherry Bars?
- You could really be a rock star and make these chocolate cherry cake bombs to go on top of the cake instead of just plain ol’ chocolate covered cherries.
- This cherry red felt circle garland. Because felt is always a good idea.
- Look at this co*ke Bottle Ring Toss! SO cute, and so easy!
- And omg– these cartons full of cherries instead of goody bags? *swoon* cuteness overload! (and again– so easy!)
- A darling soda pop candy buffet! I die.
- Let’s not forget the most important meal of the day: Birthday Breakfast, obviously. And more birthday breakfast.
- And since I’m always a sucker for a good color scheme: here’s this cute cherry color palate.
Also worth sharing: this Divergent themed party, because I’m obsessed. And this Crab Shack themed party, because at first I thought it said “Carb Shack birthday party.” And now I know what my birthday theme for next year will be. #eatallthecarbs
For all the Chocolate-Cherry desserts your little heart desires, be sure to check out all of Betty Crocker’s recipe ideas!
Chocolate Cherry Cola Cake
Ingredients
- 10-ounce jar maraschino cherries, drained and reserve the juice
- 1 box devil's food cake mix with pudding
- 1 cup cherry cola
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup marshmallow cream
- 1 container vanilla whipped ready-to-spread frosting
- Optional: additional maraschino cherries and melting chocolate (candy melts, not chocolate chips) for the chocolate covered cherry garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350ºF. Grease a 9x13 baking dish or a 10-inch round.
- Chop maraschino cherries and set aside. In a large mixing bowl, mic together the cake mix, cola, oil, eggs, and the reserved cherry juice until a batter forms. Stir in the chopped cherries.
- Bake for 35-45 minutes, until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let cool completely, about 1 hour.
- Using a hand mixer or small food processor, mix together the marshmallow cream and canned frosting. Spread over top of the cake.
- Optional: pat dry maraschino cherries. Melt the chocolate melting candy according to directions on package. Dip each cherry in the chocolate and place on non-stick surface to dry. Place cherries on top of the cake as a garnish.
Have you made a Something Swanky recipe? Post it on Instagram and tag me @somethingswanky or use the hashtag #somethingswankyrecipes. I’d love to re-post!
Be sure to also follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, YouTube, and in the Something Swanky Dessert Recipes Facebook group!
Be sure to connect with Betty Crocker for more inspiration!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bettycrocker
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BettyCrocker
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/bettycrocker/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/BettyCrockerTV
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/bettycrocker
Brand Website: www.bettycrocker.com
Birthday Hub: www.bettycrocker.com/birthdays
This post is sponsored by Betty Crocker. View my disclosure policy here.
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Betty Crocker . The opinions and text are all mine.
