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Moist Cherry Sheet Cake is topped with a homemade almond buttercream frosting. It is easy and SO delicious!!

Cherry sheet cake is packed full of delicious cherry flavors!!! If you love cherry desserts like I do, you’ll also love Cherry Cheesecake CupcakesCherry Almond Cupcakes, and Glazed Cherry Bars.

Cherry sheet cake recipe close up
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WHO LOVES CHERRIES?

The family loves cherries! Do you?

I know, I know – Maraschnio cherries are filled with sugar and have lost some of their true flavoring, but they are SO good in drinks and desserts – like today’s Cherry Sheet Cake!

With cherries all through out and a delicious almond buttercream frosting, this cake is so moist and so tasty!

Cherry and almonds are just a perfect pairing. We have tried a lot of fruity cakes recently, but this one has to be my favorite. If you love cherries, then you gotta try this dessert. It’s AMAZING!

Maraschino cherries in blender

How to make cherry sheet cake

PREP. Preheat oven to 350.

BLEND. Begin by adding your cherries to a blender or food processor and blending.

COMBINE. Mix cake mix, eggs, oil and water in a large bowl until well blended. Add JELL-O mix and pureed cherries. Mix well.

BAKE. Pour into a greased 9×13 pan. Bake for 30 minutes. Let cake cool.

FROST + ENJOY! While cake is cooling make frosting by creaming together the butter and cream cheese. Add powdered sugar, almond extract, and milk – blend well. Frost cake and enjoy!

Cherry sheet cake batter in bowl

Variations

This recipe uses cherry Jell-O gelatin powder for flavoring. This means you can easily substitute the cherry flavor for strawberry or raspberry and the maraschino cherries for cut strawberries or raspberries.

Also, this cherry flavored cake would pair really well with chocolate. You can top the current recipe with chocolate chips or chocolate shavings. You can even replace the cream cheese almond frosting with a chocolate frosting. No matter what you choose for flavoring I’m sure it will be delicious.

RECIPE Tips

If the frosting is too runny, add a bit more powdered sugar. If it’s too thick, add a bit of milk. STORE any leftover frosting in the freezer in an airtight container for 3 months.

Homemade Cake: Sometimes I like to make a recipe the quickest, easiest, but still delicious, way possible. Enter the boxed cake mix. If you would like to use your favorite white cake mix from scratch, you can definitely do that. Once you have the batter mixed, follow the rest of the recipe to add the cherries and flavored Jell-O and, of course, the frosting.

Size of pan to use for this cake: For this recipe I used a 9×13 cake pan. But you can easily use other pan sizes. The directions for cook time should be on the cake mix box, but here are some basic guidelines in case you need them. Keep in mind different ovens cook a little differently so begin checking a few minutes before the suggested time. Use a toothpick to insert in the center of the cake. When it comes out clean, pull the cake out of the oven.

  • 11×13 pan: bake at 350°F for 20-25 min
  • Two 8” rounds: bake at 350°F for 30-35 min
  • Two 9:rounds: bake at 350°F for 25-30 min
  • Cupcakes: Bake at 350°F for 15-20 min
Cherry sheet cake with cherry on top

Storing Info

This cake can sit out on the counter for about a couple hours before covering the pan with plastic wrap and STORING it in the fridge.

FREEZE the cake for up to 4 months:

  • Frosted: Flash freeze first by placing the whole cake or as individual slices in a single layer on a baking sheet. Place in the freezer for a few hours or until the outside has frozen.
  • Unfrosted: Properly wrap the plain or frosted cake with plastic wrap. Then you can either wrap the cake again with aluminum foil or place the cake in an airtight freezer safe container.
Cherry sheet cake on white plate

For Other Fruity Desserts, check out:

More Collections: Cakes That Feed A Crowd

4.97 from 29 votes

Cherry Sheet Cake Recipe

By: Lil’ Luna
Moist Cherry Sheet Cake is topped with a homemade almond buttercream frosting. It is easy and SO delicious!!
Servings: 16
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 30 minutes
Total: 40 minutes

Ingredients 

Cake

  • 1 package white cake mix
  • 3 eggs
  • 3/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 3 oz cherry Jell-O
  • 10-12 oz maraschino cherries drained

Almond Buttercream Frosting

  • 1/4 cup butter softened
  • 4 oz cream cheese softened
  • 2 tsp almond extract
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 2-3 tbsp milk

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350.
  • Begin by adding your cherries to a blender or food processor and blending.
  • Mix cake mix, eggs, oil and water in a large bowl until well blended. Add JELL-O mix and pureed cherries. Mix well.
  • Pour into a greased 9×13 pan.
  • Bake for 30 minutes.
  • Let cake cool.
  • While cake is cooling make frosting by creaming together the butter and cream cheese. Add powdered sugar, almond extract, and milk – blend well. Frost cake. ENJOY!

Nutrition

Calories: 404kcal, Carbohydrates: 60g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 17g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Cholesterol: 46mg, Sodium: 331mg, Potassium: 47mg, Sugar: 42g, Vitamin A: 235IU, Calcium: 95mg, Iron: 0.9mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

About Kristyn

My name is Kristyn and I’m the mom of SIX stinkin’ cute kids and the wife to my smokin’ hot hubby, Lo. My mom’s maiden name is Luna, and I’m one of the many crafty “Lil’ Lunas” in the fam. On this site I like to share all things creative - from recipes to home decor to gifts and home decor ideas. Welcome!

So Easy & So Yummy

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4.97 from 29 votes (10 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




99 Comments

  1. Wanita lucas says:

    5 stars
    There is mo such thing as instAnt chErry jellO

  2. 247 Electrical Services says:

    5 stars
    I love your FOOD it looks so delicious i would really like to make this

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      Awe, thank you so much! I hope you so try this!!

  3. vicky l harding says:

    where can u get the cherry jello instant recipe calls for is it pudding are regular jello

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      It is jello & you should be able to find it in the baking aisle 🙂 Hope you try it!

      1. Chris says:

        The middle of my cake sunk as well. The cake and the frosting were both very disappointing.

  4. Johnann says:

    Love the different unique recipes Thk U

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      Thank you!! Hope you find some to try!

  5. Kendra W says:

    5 stars
    My frosting came out nothing like the picture. Your recipe is 2-3 tablespoons of milk? Frosting was runny. What’s the secret!? Thanks in advance!

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      Add more powdered sugar, if it’s too runny. If it’s too thick, then you would add more milk. Enjoy!

  6. Brianna says:

    If I use a round cake pan. Will this be the same recipe or will I have to alter it?

    1. Lil' Luna says:

      I haven’t made it in a round pan, but I’m guessing you would divide the batter into two, since those are a lot smaller. Usually the cooking time is a little longer, since it is smaller, but I wouldn’t know how long. It’s one of those, where you’d need to just keep an eye on it.

  7. Analisa McGehee says:

    5 stars
    Made the cherry sheet cake for our pizza bingo party at church. Could not find instant cherry jello
    A employee googled it and said I could get it on ebay. Well not going that route so tried another
    Store no luck. So I tried it with the regular cherry jello and baked it for the same amount of time
    It turned out delicious and worked. So those of you who can not find instant jello just a note regular
    Works.
    Enjoy!

    1. Lil' Luna says:

      Thank you for sharing that!! I am so glad it worked and that you liked it!

  8. Samantha says:

    I also made the sheet cake with a chocolate cake mix and it was very good as well. I used extra cherries and it was very tasty. I made the cherry bars also and the bottom came out very soggy..what do u think went wrong?

  9. Samantha says:

    5 stars
    So yummy! One of the best cakes I’ve ever made. I made them into cupcakes for a church event and everyone loved them!

    1. Lil' Luna says:

      Oh, thank you!! We love this recipe, too!! That’s a great option, to make them into cupcakes! I’m honestly not sure what happened with the cherry bars. I haven’t had that happen before. I’m sorry!

  10. Roxanne says:

    Is this the instant gelatin cherry jello?

    1. Lil' Luna says:

      Yes 🙂 Hope you like it!! Thanks!