Chocolate Lover's Cherry Cake

• 3/4 cup chopped slivered almonds, divided
• 1 package yellow cake mix with pudding in the mix
• 1/4 cup cocoa
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 2 tsp. almond extract
• 1 can cherry pie filling
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 10 inch fluted tube pan. Sprinkle 1/4 cup almonds evenly in bottom of pan. In a large bowl, stir together dry cake mix, cocoa and sugar. Add eggs, oil, almond extract and cherry pie filling; heat until well blended and cherries are chopped. Stir inremaining 1/2 cup almonds and chocolate chips. Pour into prepared pan. Bake 55-60 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in cake comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes. Invert cake onto wire rack and cool completely.

By Robin from Washington, IA