Chocolate-Cherry Hot Fudge Sauce Cake

Just the mere fact that it is Friday is cause for celebration.  In honor of this fantabulous Friday, I'm declaring it Hot Fudge Friday!  

Forget for a moment it is just another Friday, instead enter into a flaming, fudge filled fantasy of chocolate-cherry nirvana, from which you enter there is no return. 

For a moment imagine your scantily clad lover gently hovering over you dripping warm, liquid, Chocolate-Cherry Hot Fudge Cake into your agape mouth and then "duh" wake up, because you are drooling all over yourself and besides I'd have to say the cake pics are way more interesting anyways.

Chocolate-Cherry Hot Fudge Sauce Cake

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup granulated sugar

2 tablespoons baking cocoa

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

6 ounces or about 1/2 of a container of Dark Chocolate Covered Cherries, cut into quarters

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 tablespoon baking cocoa

1/2 teaspoon espresso powder

1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream

1)  Heat oven to 350 degrees F.

2)  Spray a 9" x 13" baking pan with non-stick spray.

3)  To the baking pan add the flour, 1/2 cup sugar, 2 tablespoons baking cocoa, 2 teaspoons baking powder, and 1/4 teaspoon salt.  Add the chocolate cherry pieces, eggs, vanilla extract and water and stir to combine.

4)  In a small bowl combine 1/2 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon baking cocoa, and espresso powder.  Stir till combined and no more lumps. 

5)  Sprinkle the sugar mixture evenly over the top of the cake mixture.

6)  Pour the heavy cream over the top of the whole thing.

7)  Bake for 35-40 minutes.

Serve with fresh whipping cream or ice cream (or both, just saying).  I found my chocolate covered cherries at Trader Joe's, but if you can't find them, try using 1/2 cup dried cherries and 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips for a similar effect.

Matter of fact, I liked the pop of cherry so much in the cake; I might up the amount of cherries to the whole container next time.

Happy Hot Fudge Fantasy Friday!

Gina