Cherry Cola Cake

Cup of Yum
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray three 9-inch round cake pans with nonstick cooking spray. Place a square of parchment paper in the middle of the pan and spray the tops of the parchment paper.
2. In a large mixing bowl, add in the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Whisk to combined and set aside.
3. In a separate mixing bowl, add in the Cherry Pepsi, vegetable oil, and sour cream. Whisk until the sour cream is smooth.
4. Add in the eggs, vanilla extract, and maraschino cherry juice. Whisk to combine.
5. Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl with the dry ingredients and whisk until the batter is smooth. You can use a hand mixer also.
6. Divide the batter into the three 9-inch cake pans. I wrapped my pans with Wilton's even bake strips.
7. Bake for 30 minutes or until they're done. Place a toothpick in the center of the cake and if it comes out clean or with moist crumbs it's done.
8. Let the cake cool in the pan for about 15 minutes and then turn onto a cooling rack to finish cooling.

Cherry Cola Filling

1. In a medium saucepan, add in the sugar and cornstarch. Whisk to combine. This will help prevent lumps of cornstarch.
2. Whisk in the cherry juice, Cherry Pepsi, and sliced cherries.
3. Bring to a boil over medium heat and let boil for 5 minutes until thick, stirring constantly. The filling will become clear rather than milky looking.
4. Place in a bowl and cover. Chill in the fridge

Maraschino Cherry Frosting

1. In a large mixing bowl, add in the butter, vanilla extract, powdered sugar, and cherry juice. Beat on low until most of the powdered sugar is incorporated.
2. Turn hand mixer to medium and beat until the cherry frosting is creamy.
3. To make whipped frosting, beat on high for an additional minute.

Assemble

1. Lay the first layer of cake on a cake plate.
2. Add the frosting into a piping bag fitted with a 1M tip.
3. Pipe a ring of frosting on the edge of the cake and add half of the cherry cola filling.
4. Add the next layer of cake and repeat piping and filling.
5. Add on the top layer of the cake and use the spatula to go around the dam to smooth it out.
6. Spread the frosting evenly on the cake until it's smooth.
7. Pipe stars using the 1M tip on the top and bottom of the cake.
8. Add the cherries and cola gummies to the piped stars.
9. Store in the fridge.