Shirley Temple Cake

Do you have a birthday party or baby shower coming up? Looking to serve something a little whimsical and nostalgic at the same time? Then look no further than this wonderful recipe based on one of our favorite treats from when we were kids: a Shirley Temple cake. Yes! The much-beloved cherry colored soda drink has been transformed into an amazingly pink, moist and delicious cake!

We all know that to make a Shirley Temple we need maraschino cherries and lemon-lime soda. Cherries help with color and flavor while, at least in the cake version, the soda bubbles help to keep the cake moist and delicious. A slightly pink cake pops out of the oven and cools completely before we top it with a pretty pink frosting. To serve, we add a dollop of whipped cream and of course top it off with a maraschino cherry. What a delightfully fun spin on one of our favorite childhood drinks.

Adapted from: 12tomatoes.com

Ingredients

For the Cake:

2 teaspoons lemon extract

10 ounces maraschino cherries (drained and juice reserved)

3 cups granulated sugar

5 large eggs

3/4 cup 7up

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cups butter (softened)

For the Glaze:

3-4 Tablespoons milk

2 cups powdered sugar

1 teaspoon lemon extract

Instructions

Number one: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.

Number two: In large bowl mix together your butter (1 1/2 cups or 3 sticks) and sugar until light and fluffy.

Number three: Add in your eggs and continue to mix until blended.

Number four: Add in your flour and mix again until smooth.

Number five: Pour in your lemon extract and 7up and beat to combine.

Number six: Fold in your cherries.

Number seven: Grease a bundt pan with shortening, then dust it with flour.

Number eight: Spread the batter into a greased & floured bundt pan and bake for 1 1/2 hours or until center is set.

Number nine: Allow the cake to cool for 10-15 minutes in the pan.

Number ten: Turn the cake onto serving dish and let cool slightly and then using a skewer poke holes all over the top of the cake and pour your reserved cherry juice Number eleven: slowly over the top making sure the juice gets soaked up. It's ok for it to seep to the bottom to soak as well.

Number twelve: Let cool completely.

Number thirteen: Meanwhile mix together your glaze ingredients and drizzle over the top of your cake.

Number fourteen: Top with more cherries if desired.