| | DRIED CHERRY FILLING & COFFE |
| 1 1/4 | c | Dried sour cherries (see Note) |
| 1 | c | Water |
| 3 | tb | Granulated sugar |
| 1 | tb | Cornstarch |
| 3 | tb | Marsala |
| 1 | ts | Lemon juice |
| 1/3 | c | Strong coffee |
| | CHOCOLATE CAKE |
| 1/4 | c | Boiling water |
| 1/4 | c | Unsweetened cocoa powder |
| 3/4 | c | Granulated sugar |
| 1/3 | c | Vegetable shortening |
| 2 | lg | Eggs |
| 1 | ts | Vanilla extract |
| 1 1/4 | c | Cake flour |
| 1/2 | ts | Salt |
| 1/2 | ts | Baking powder |
| 1/4 | ts | Baking soda |
| 6 | tb | Buttermilk |
| | CREAM-CHEESE FILLING |
| 1 | pk | (8-oz) cream cheese, softened |
| 1/2 | c | Confectioners' sugar |
| 1 | c | (1/2 pint) heavy cream |
| | Chocolate Meringue Twigs (recipe follows) |
| 56 | | Inches decorative ribbon (opt.) |
| | Fresh sweet cherries (opt.) |
