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    Cherry & Nutella Chocolate Cake

    31/10/2016 by thebakingexplorer 31 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This Cherry & Nutella Chocolate Cake is a showstopping cake perfect for your next celebration! It's layers of moist chocolate cake, sandwiched with whipped cream and cherry jam. Then it's topped with a Nutella buttercream and glitter dipped cherries. I love chocolate and cherry together, and this cake reminds me a lot of a black forest cake, but with added Nutella - which is always a good thing in my book!

    Cherry & Nutella Chocolate Cake

    Ingredient Tips & Equipment Information

    • Make sure all your ingredients (particularly the butter and eggs) are at room temperature before you start baking.
    • I used a baking spread for the cake and unsalted butter for the buttercream.
    • You can use any cocoa powder for this cake, of course the better quality it is, the better flavour it will have. Also do make sure you are using cocoa powder and not a hot chocolate powder.
    • You can use fresh cherries for the decoration if you prefer.
    • Although I provide cup measurements, I highly recommend weighing your ingredients out using digital kitchen scales*. It is the most accurate way to measure ingredients and will ensure the best results. Digital scales are very low cost and can be purchased for around £12 ($16.50) .
    • For teaspoon (tsp) and tablespoon (tbsp) measurements, please use measuring spoons* and not the type of spoons you eat with. Again this will ensure accuracy and provide the best results.

    For the full recipe with measurements, head to the recipe card at the end of this post.

    How to make Cherry & Nutella Chocolate Cake...

    Mix together caster sugar and butter, then add eggs, mixing them in two at a time.

    Then mix in self raising flour, cocoa powder and milk. Divide the mixture into the tins.

    Bake for 35 minutes, then leave them to cool fully.

    Make the nutella buttercream by mixing together butter and icing sugar, then add Nutella and milk, and mix until smooth. Next make the cream filling by whipping up double cream, then mixing in mascarpone cheese.

    Stack up the cakes, spread half of the cream mixture onto the first layer, then spread cherry jam on top. Add the next layer of cake, then spread the rest of the cream mixture over it, followed by more cherry jam. Then add the last sponge and spread a layer of the Nutella buttercream over the top using a palette knife.

    Put the rest of the Nutella buttercream in a piping bag and pipe two rows of rosettes around the edge of the cake. Fill the middle with sprinkles or chocolate curls. Dip some kirsch soaked cherries in edible gold glitter and arrange them around the edge of the cake.

    For the full recipe with measurements, head to the recipe card at the end of this post.

    Cherry & Nutella Chocolate Cake

    Can this cake be made in different size cake tins?

    Yes! If you would like to make this cake in different size tins, please check my Conversion Guide to find out how to adjust the recipe.


    Can you make the cake with plain/all purpose flour?

    Self raising flour, which is very commonly used in the UK where I am based, already contains a raising agent and a little salt too. Therefore if you want to swap it for plain or all purpose flour, you will need to add some additional baking powder and also a little salt if you like. Some people like to add salt to cake recipes and some don't, so I'll leave that up to you as it won't affect the bake. The general advice is to add 2 teaspoons baking powder (a measuring teaspoon, not the kind you stir your coffee with) per every 200g plain or all purpose flour. Please note, I have not tested this recipe using plain or all purpose flour.

    Tips for making the Cherry & Nutella Chocolate Cake:

    • I used a Wilton Number 6B Open Star tip to pipe the buttercream onto this cake
    • You can spread the buttercream on if you don't want to pipe it
    Cherry & Nutella Chocolate Cake

    Troubleshooting

    If you have any questions about this recipe, or if something went wrong and you need help, please use the comment form below and I will get back to you. You can also get in touch with me on my Twitter, Instagram or Facebook. I'd love to hear from you!

    Recommended equipment & ingredients*

    • 8" cake tins
    • Mixing bowls
    • Cooling rack
    • Kitchen scales
    • Nutella spread
    • Electric hand mixer
    • Round cake tin liners
    • Piping bags
    • Wilton 6B piping nozzle

    *I earn a small amount of money if you buy the products after clicking on the links. You will not be charged anything extra for this. Thank you for supporting The Baking Explorer!

    More Nutella recipes...

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    • Nutella Meringue Roulade
      Nutella Meringue Roulade
    • Nutella, Banana & Marshmallow Tart
      Nutella, Banana & Marshmallow Tart
    • Nutella Baked Donuts
      Nutella Baked Donuts
    • Raspberry & Nutella Bread Rolls
      Raspberry & Nutella Bread Rolls
    • Nutella Bueno Cheesecake
      Nutella Bueno Cheesecake (No Bake)
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      Nutella Cheesecake Blondies
    • Nutella Bueno Cupcakes
      Nutella Bueno Cupcakes
    • Nutella Stuffed Cookies
      Nutella Stuffed Cookies
    • Nutella Kinder Bueno Brownies
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    • Nutella Popcorn
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    • Nutella Cake
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      Nutella Popsicles

    Cherry & Nutella Chocolate Cake

    Chocolate sponge with cherry jam, fresh cream, Nutella buttercream and cherries on top
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: British
    Keyword: Cake
    Prep Time: 45 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 35 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes
    Servings: 16
    Author: thebakingexplorer

    Ingredients

    For the sponges

    • 520 g Butter or baking spread
    • 520 g Caster sugar
    • 9 Eggs large
    • 400 g Self raising flour
    • 120 g Cocoa powder
    • 2 tbsp Milk

    For the buttercream

    • 300 g Icing sugar
    • 150 g Butter or baking spread
    • 200 g Nutella
    • 1 tsp Vanilla extract
    • 2 tbsp Milk

    For the filling

    • 250 ml Double cream
    • 250 g Mascarpone
    • 1 jar of Cherry Jam

    For decoration

    • 10 Kirsch soaked cherries
    • Gold edible glitter
    • Dr Oetker chocolate strand sprinkles
    Metric - US Customary

    Instructions

    • Pre-heat your oven to 160C Fan/350F/Gas Mark 4. Grease and line three 9 inch sandwich tins (that are at least 2" deep)
    • Mix together the caster sugar and the butter, ideally using an electric mixer
    • Add the eggs, mixing them in two at a time
    • Mix in the self raising flour, cocoa powder and milk
    • Divide the mixture into the tins and bake it for 35 minutes, or until a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean, then leave to cool fully either in the tins or on cooling racks
    • Make the Nutella buttercream by mixing together the butter and the icing sugar, then add the Nutella, the milk and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth
    • Make the cream filling by whipping up the double cream, then mixing in the mascarpone cheese
    • Start stacking up the cakes. Spread half of the cream filling onto the first layer, followed by half a jar of the cherry jam on top. Do the same with the second layer of cake
    • Add the last sponge and spread a layer of the Nutella buttercream over the top using a palette knife
    • Put the rest of the Nutella buttercream in a piping bag fitted with a Wilton Number 6B Open Star Tip and pipe two rows of rosettes around the edge of the cake. Fill the middle with the chocolate strand sprinkles
    • Take 10 cherries out of a jar of kirsch soaked cherries and put them on some kitchen towel to soak away as much moisture as possible. Then roll half of each cherry in edible gold glitter and arrange them evenly around the cake
    • Serve immediately. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and eat within 2 days
    Made this recipe?Share on Instagram with me @TheBakingExplorer or tag #thebakingexplorer!

    Notes

    • Make sure all your ingredients (particularly the butter and eggs) are at room temperature before you start baking.
    • I used a baking spread for the cake and unsalted butter for the buttercream.
    • You can use any cocoa powder for this cake, of course the better quality it is, the better flavour it will have. Also do make sure you are using cocoa powder and not a hot chocolate powder.
    • You can use fresh cherries for the decoration if you prefer.
    • Although I provide cup measurements, I highly recommend weighing your ingredients out using digital kitchen scales*. It is the most accurate way to measure ingredients and will ensure the best results. Digital scales are very low cost and can be purchased for around £12 ($16.50) .
    • For teaspoon (tsp) and tablespoon (tbsp) measurements, please use measuring spoons* and not the type of spoons you eat with. Again this will ensure accuracy and provide the best results.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 837kcal | Carbohydrates: 83g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 54g | Saturated Fat: 35g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 220mg | Sodium: 358mg | Potassium: 253mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 58g | Vitamin A: 1636IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 88mg | Iron: 2mg

    If you like this, check out more of my Cake recipes!

    NB. This post is NOT sponsored by Nutella – I just love their product!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lucy Allen

      October 31, 2016 at 9:53 pm

      What a gorgeous cake Kat, I really love the flavours (addicted to Nutella here) and the piping on top is so pretty (what tip do you use for that effect?)!

      Reply
      • Kat BakingExplorer

        October 31, 2016 at 10:36 pm

        Thank you! It was a Wilton Number 6B Open Star Tip - I've just updated the post with the info!

        Reply
    2. Mandy

      November 01, 2016 at 6:50 am

      What a delicious looking cake! I love the sound of Nutella buttercream - yum! Thanks for sharing with #CookBlogShare this week X

      Reply
      • Kat BakingExplorer

        November 27, 2016 at 9:23 pm

        Thanks Mandy! It is very yummy buttercream 🙂

        Reply
    3. Angela Entwistle

      November 01, 2016 at 10:16 am

      Fab cake Kat. I love the effect of the gold glitter on the cherries - it really elevates the cake - perfect for the Queen and your friend's birthday.
      Angela x

      Reply
      • Kat BakingExplorer

        November 27, 2016 at 9:25 pm

        Thanks Angela, the glitter was a last minute decision!

        Reply
    4. Kirsty Hijacked By Twins

      November 01, 2016 at 12:36 pm

      Mmmm yummy! Nutella is fantastic in cakes and I love that you have paired it with the cherries! x #GBBOBloggers

      Reply
      • Kat BakingExplorer

        November 27, 2016 at 9:25 pm

        Thanks Kirsty! It's a tasty combination 🙂

        Reply
    5. Jenny

      November 01, 2016 at 3:04 pm

      it looks soooooooo delicious! I love the flavours you have used and the decoration is so pretty Kat. I agree with Angela about the gold glitter on the cherries - such a lovely touch which really does make this cake seem that extra bit special. Thank you for joining in with the bake along , it has been great meeting you. good luck for the judging xx

      Reply
      • Kat BakingExplorer

        November 27, 2016 at 9:26 pm

        Thank you so much for hosting! I've loved taking part and getting to know you and your blog 🙂

        Reply
    6. Amanda

      November 01, 2016 at 3:26 pm

      Yep. This sounds like my perfect cake! x

      Reply
      • Kat BakingExplorer

        November 27, 2016 at 9:26 pm

        Me too Amanda! 🙂

        Reply
    7. Helen at Casa Costello

      November 01, 2016 at 10:52 pm

      I love the combination of cherry and chocolate. Your decoration is superb on this cake. Your friend is very lucky to be the recipient. Thanks once again for joining in with #BakeoftheWeek

      Reply
      • Kat BakingExplorer

        November 27, 2016 at 9:29 pm

        Thanks Helen, that's so nice of you to say!

        Reply
    8. Hazel

      November 02, 2016 at 11:18 am

      Great cake Kat!! I love those flavours and kirsch soaked anything wins in my book any day!! haha! Hazel x

      Reply
      • Kat BakingExplorer

        November 27, 2016 at 9:29 pm

        Thanks Hazel! Haha me too 🙂

        Reply
    9. woodenwindowsills

      November 02, 2016 at 12:15 pm

      Wow beautiful pipe work on the top! A grand finale! I can't believe the bake off is over, what are we going to do now?! Alice xx

      http://www.woodenwindowsills.co.uk

      Reply
      • Kat BakingExplorer

        November 27, 2016 at 9:53 pm

        Thank you Alice! I know I miss it already!

        Reply
    10. CookStyle

      November 02, 2016 at 1:58 pm

      The cake looks so nice. It was baked beautifully and the addition of Kirsch soaked cherries is great too.

      Reply
      • Kat BakingExplorer

        November 27, 2016 at 10:00 pm

        Thank you!

        Reply
    11. Jacqueline Bellefontaine

      November 03, 2016 at 11:56 am

      5 stars
      Chocolate nutella cake Yum, with cherries double yum!

      Reply
      • Kat BakingExplorer

        November 27, 2016 at 10:00 pm

        It was very yummy 🙂

        Reply
    12. Kate Glutenfreealchemist

      November 03, 2016 at 10:36 pm

      Beautiful! I love the flavours and I love the piping decoration. Very clever and totally delicious. I am not surprised it is one of the best cakes you have ever made! x

      Reply
      • Kat BakingExplorer

        November 27, 2016 at 10:05 pm

        Thank you very much Kate!

        Reply
        • Claudia

          June 30, 2022 at 11:36 pm

          Hi, how do I work out how much I would need for an 8inch tin please

          Reply
          • thebakingexplorer

            July 01, 2022 at 8:39 am

            Hi Claudia, you will need to multiply the ingredient amounts by 0.79 - so for example 520g butter: 520 x 0.79 = 410.8 You can round this up to 411g. Let me know if you have any other questions!

            Reply
    13. Angela Campos

      November 06, 2016 at 3:59 am

      This is so beautiful! I am going to attempt this cake because my kids are huge Nutella fans! I am quite sure mine will not look as pretty 🙂

      Reply
      • Kat BakingExplorer

        November 27, 2016 at 10:06 pm

        Please let me know how you get on, I hope your kids love it!

        Reply
        • Lou

          May 15, 2024 at 7:42 pm

          Hi,

          I baked cherry and Nutella cake but the cake was dry, any ideas why this was? I'm going to make a tiramisu with it instead. I've read that Cocoa powder can make cakes dry.

          Thank you

          Reply
          • thebakingexplorer

            May 15, 2024 at 8:03 pm

            Hi Lou, the most common cause of dry cakes is over baking, so you may have baked the cake longer than it needed. Another cause could be storing it in the fridge without any covering as this can very easily dry cakes out. I hope that helps!

            Reply

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      01/03/2018 at 1:24 pm

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