Cherry Surprise Cake and Topping

Hidden between the two layers of cake batter is a sweet surprise. Cherries.  This fruit is a favorite in our family, especially with my kids. Cherry Surprise Cake and Topping is very easy to make, even though it will look like you spent hours in preparation. 

If you are really short on time, you can use a box cake mix instead.  Just follow the directions on the box, but put the cherry pie filling and sugar cinnamon topping in the center as this recipe calls for.

Ingredients

1 c. vegetable oil
1 c. sugar
4 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. baking powder
2 c. flour
1 large can cherry pie filling

Topping

1/2 c. sugar
1 Tbs. cinnamon

Directions

Heat oven to 325°.  Grease a 9 x 13 x 2-inch cake pan.

Cream together oil and sugar.

Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Beat until the mixture is fluffy. Pour in vanilla and mix well. 

Add the baking powder and then the flour. Beat well.  The batter will be thick.

Spread half the cake batter into the prepared cake pan. Sprinkle half of the sugar cinnamon topping mixture over the batter.  Pour cherry pie filling over the batter and sugar cinnamon topping.  Place the the rest of the cake batter over the top of the cherry pie filling.  Sprinkle with the remaining half of the sugar cinnamon topping. 

Bake for 45 to 50 minutes.  Be sure to check the cake after 40 minutes as oven do bake differently.