| 1 | Preheat oven to 350 degrees. |
| 2 | Grease and flour two 9 inch round cake pans. |
| 3 | Cover bottoms with waxed paper. |
| 4 | Combine dry ingredients in large bowl. |
| 5 | Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla; beat until well blended. |
| 6 | Pour evenly into prepared pans. |
| 7 | Bake 35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in centers comes out clean. |
| 8 | While cake is baking prepare cherry topping and let cool. |
| 9 | Cool layers in pans on wire racks 10 minutes. |
| 10 | Loosen edges, remove from pans to racks. |
| 11 | Remove waxed paper, cool completely. |
| 12 | Split each cake layer in half horizontally. |
| 13 | Tear one of these split layers into crumbs; set aside. |
| 14 | (use toothpicks on sides of cakes to use as guides when cutting horizontally) prepare frosting; reserve 1 ?cups for decorating cake, set aside. |
| 15 | Brush loose crumbs off cake layers. |
| 16 | To assemble place one cake layer on serving plate. |
| 17 | Spread top of this layer with one cup frosting top with ?cup cherry topping. |
| 18 | Top with second cake layer; repeat layers of frosting, cherry topping and cake, ending with cake. |
| 19 | Frost side of cake with remaining frosting. |
| 20 | Pat reserved crumbs onto frosting on side of cake. |
| 21 | Spoon reserved frosting into pastry bag fitted with star decorator top. |
| 22 | Pipe around top and bottom edges of cake. |
| 23 | Spoon remaining cherry topping onto top of cake. |
| 24 | Refrigerate. |
| 25 | Directions for cherry topping: drain cherries, reserving ?cup juice. |
| 26 | Combine reserved juice, cherries, sugar and cornstarch in two quart saucepan. |
| 27 | Cook over low heat until thickened, stirring constantly. |
| 28 | Stir in one teaspoon vanilla. |
| 29 | Cool, set aside. |
| 30 | Directions for frosting: beat together whipping cream and powdered sugar in chilled medium bowl at high speed or electric mixer until stiff peaks form. |
| 31 | Fabulous party ideas 1994 i have seen this impressive cake, but have not tasted it. |
| 32 | It will be a party stopper. |
| 33 | Well worth the effort. |
| 34 | == courtesy of dale & gail shipp, columbia md. == |
