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1
Preheat your oven to 350u00b0F.
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2
Grease and flour two 8 inch cakepans, or line with parchment paper.
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3
Sift together the flour, the cocoa, the baking soda and the salt.
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4
This aside.
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5
Beat the shortening and sugar together until they are fluffy.
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6
Add the eggs and beat thoroughly.
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7
Add vanilla.
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8
Slowly beat in the flour mixture, occasionally alternating with the buttermilk.
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9
Beat until combined.
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10
Pour the batter into the cakepans.
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11
Bake for about 35 or 40 minutes (or until a a fork or a wooden pick comes out clean when inserted into the cake.
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12
Let the cake cool completely. The cake will be easier to cut if you keep it in the fridge for a few hours before cutting.
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13
After the cake has cooled, cut each layer in half (horizontally) to make four total layers.
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14
Sprinkle the layers with the 1/2 cup of Kirsch.
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15
Drain the canned cherries in a colander to remove most of the juice.
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16
Beat the whipping cream with confectioners' sugar until it thickens to desired texture.
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17
Put a small amount of the cream/sugar mixture aside for garnish.
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18
Mix the cocoa powder into the remaining majority of the whipped cream frosting.
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19
Place one cake layer on the serving dish you wish to use.
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20
Spread about one 6th of the whipped cream on the layer, and strew a third of the cherries on top of the whipped cream.
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21
Add the second cake layer on top of the first.
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22
Spread one 6th of the whipped cream on the second layer and 1/3 of the cherries on top.
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23
Add the third cake layer.
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24
Spread 1/6 of the whipped cream on that and add the remaining cherries.
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25
Top with the last cake layer.
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26
Frost the top and sides of the cake with remaining frosting. Use a potato peeler on the chocolate to create thin shaves.
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27
Gently pat the chocolate shaves on to the sides and top of the cake, completely coating it.
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28
Use the whipped cream you set aside earlier to place eight small circles around the top of the cake.
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29
Place your non-stemmed maraschino cherries on each one.
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30
Place white candle in the center and light. Congratulations, you have made the cake a reality!