Cherry Cornmeal Cake
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
To pit cherries by hand, first you'll want to pull off the stem. Then, using a paring knife, carefully cut an equator around the cherry, getting the knife all the way into the pit and turning the cherry as you go. Pry one of the halves off the pit and place it in a bowl. Then, cut the remaining half into halves (aka quarters of the original cherry). Pry off each of these wedges and you're good to go! Keep a clean towel around so you can wipe off your hands and the counter--cherry juice stains! Recipe adapted from The USA Cookbook.
Serves: 8
Ingredients
  • 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¾ cup cornmeal*
  • 1½ sticks unsalted butter, at room temp, plus more for the pan
  • ⅔ cup plus 3 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 pint cherries, washed, washed, pitted, and cut into quarters
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Butter a 8-inch square dish and place a piece of parchment over the bottom. Butter that too.
  2. Combine the flour, baking powder, salt, and cornmeal in a medium bowl and set aside.
  3. Beat the butter with ⅔ cup sugar with an electric mixer (or by hand) until well combined and creamy. Add the egg and beat well, then add the flour and mix just until blended.
  4. Press about three quarters of the dough into the bottom and slightly up the sides of the pan. Toss the cherries with the remaining sugar and pour them over the dough, leaving a bit of space on each side. Pinch off bits of the remaining dough and press them onto the top, leaving some cherries exposed.
  5. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes until golden on the top and cooked through--a toothpick inserted in should come out clean. Let the cake rest about 1 hour, then cut into squares and serve. Vanilla ice cream is good alongside!
Notes
I prefer this cake with coarse cornmeal--it gives it a lovely, slightly crunchy texture. It's definitely a bit more refined, if you use fine cornmeal.
Recipe by Big Girls Small Kitchen at http://www.biggirlssmallkitchen.com/2011/08/recipe-flash-cherry-cornmeal-cake.html