Every restaurant you go to in DC right now is featuring a cherry something or other on its menu. I have seen cherry cocktails, cherry desserts, cherry cupcakes, even cherry barbecue; all in celebration of the Cherry Blossom Festival happening in the city. The blossoms were really late this year due to our freakish early spring weather, but now the blossoms have finally bloomed and our nation’s capital is covered in pink. Not to be outdone, I had to include my own cherry creation.
Leafing through Bite Me Too, (you might remember this recipe from Julie and Lisa’s first book) I stumbled upon Bubby’s Cherry Cake. I have a Bubby (only mine doesn’t bake), and I was on the look out for a good cherry recipe, so this seemed like it was meant to be. It is so easy to make; a one bowl cake that you can mix easily by hand. The best part, it is covered in cinnamon sugar. My great-grandmother (who did in fact bake) used to make these biscotti-like chocolate chip cookies and she always sprinkled a cinnamon sugar mixture over the top so I will forever associate that smell with Jewish grandmothers. I am not usually a fan of canned pie filling, but I know better than to mess with a Bubby recipe, and really, it is so good in this cake that I cannot imagine using anything else. I do think that she would you allow you to try it with apple, blueberry, or raspberry filling. Mine would say, “Breezy, that is such a good idea. Dollface, you are on to something. “
On a side note, Bite Me Too is another great book to have on your book shelf. Preferably alongside Bite Me. The pictures are cheeky, the recipes are great, and these books are just a whole lot of fun. Would you like a copy? Head on down to the bottom of this post to enter to win of 3 cookbooks that I am giving away.
Topping:
1/4 cup Dixie Crystals sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Cake:
2 cups Dixie Crystals sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup orange juice
4 eggs
1 Tablespoon vanilla
3 cups flour
1 Tablespoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups canned cherry pie filling
In a small bowl, mix together sugar and cinnamon. Set aside.
Mix sugar, oil, orange juice, eggs, and vanilla in a large mixing bowl. Whisk until sugar is dissolved and everything is combined.
Fold in flour, baking powder, and salt.
Pour half of the batter into a 9-inch square baking pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray.
Add cherry pie filling and spread evenly.
Add remaining batter and spread evenly over the top.
Sprinkle cinnamon sugar mixture over the cake.
Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 55 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely before slicing.

Cherry Blossom Cake
Cherry Blossom Cake - A tender orange cake with a cherry center and cinnamon sugar top.
Ingredients
Topping:
- 1/4 cup Dixie Crystals sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Cake:
- 2 cups Dixie Crystals sugar
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 4 eggs
- 1 Tablespoon vanilla
- 3 cups flour
- 1 Tablespoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups canned cherry pie filling
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix together sugar and cinnamon. Set aside. Mix sugar, oil, orange juice, eggs, and vanilla in a large mixing bowl. Whisk until sugar is dissolved and everything is combined. Fold in flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Pour half of the batter into a 9-inch square baking pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Add cherry pie filling. Add remaining batter and spread evenly over the top. Sprinkle cinnamon sugar mixture over the cake.
- Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 55 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Nutrition Information:
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 0Total Fat: 0g
fatema
Tuesday 4th of November 2014
hi how are you what the Alternatives for the Dixie Crystals sugar thank you
bakedbree
Thursday 6th of November 2014
Any kind of sugar will be fine.
Livi
Thursday 26th of June 2014
Hi Bree! I recently made this cake and I think it was a hit. :) One of my friends asked for the recipe. It has a really nice flavor, and I was impressed with the light sugar taste and the great dense texture. It is a really nice alternative to coffee cake. I substituted the cherries with peaches - except I didn't use all the the peach syrup, only a little because it is much more liquid-y than cherry syrup - and it still turned out great. Thanks for sharing this recipe! I'm excited to try out more of your recipes. Love, Livi
bakedbree
Monday 30th of June 2014
I hope that you do! Blueberry would also be delicious.
Sabrina
Monday 29th of July 2013
the cake looks Amazing! I will make it for fridy dinner! 10x! :-) Sabrina, Israel
bakedbree
Saturday 3rd of August 2013
Hope you love it!
Michelle
Thursday 13th of June 2013
I just made this and it's delicious! Thanks for this lovely recipe.
bakedbree
Sunday 16th of June 2013
You are very welcome!
Irene
Thursday 18th of April 2013
My grandma was always called Yia-yia, which is Greek for Grandma.