Ingredients

• 1/4 cup butter
• 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• 2 cups fresh cherries, pitted and halved
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temp
• 2 large eggs, separated
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup whole milk, lukewarm
• 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 3 whole fresh strawberries
• 3 whole cherries
• 1 cup strawberry glaze
• dark red food coloring (burgundy)
• 1/2 cup whipped cream

Instructions

1. For Topping:.

2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9-inch circular springform baking pan with butter. Pit and cut cherries into halves. Heat butter and brown sugar in the microwave until it begins to bubble. Pour the sugar into your baking pan and swirl around until bottom is fully covered. Place cherries into mixture with the cut side facing down.

3. For the Cake:.

4. Separate your eggs and reserve the yolks. Start by beating your egg whites and cream of tartar until meringue forms, cover and set aside. In separate bowl (preferably using a stand mixer), beat butter until fluffy. Add sugar and egg yolks and beat until creamed.

5. In a glass measuring cup, mix vanilla and milk. In a separate mixing bowl, sift together flour, baking powder and salt. Slowly add dry mixture and milk mixture into batter at separate intervals, ending with the dry mixture. Mix until just combined to avoid overmixing.

6. Lastly, fold in egg whites gently with a spatula until just combined. Pour batter into baking dish (on top of cherries) and bake for 55 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.

7. Once out of oven, allow to rest 10 minutes before removing from pan and inverting onto serving dish.

8. To Finish:.

9. Using a spatula, mix food coloring into strawberry glaze until a deep color is reached and spread over the top of your cake. Garnish with whipped cream and fresh fruit. Serve immediately for best flavor.