01 -
Turn the oven to 350°F. Use some grease on two 6-inch round pans, dust them lightly with flour, and put parchment at the bottom.
02 -
Mix cocoa powder, sugar, flour, baking soda, and salt in a bowl until they’re all blended together.
03 -
Pour in the hot coffee or water, oil, vinegar, and vanilla extract. Gently stir until smooth, but be careful not to mix too much.
04 -
Split the batter evenly into the pans. Place in the oven and bake for about 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
05 -
Let the cakes cool in the pans for 5 minutes before transferring to a rack. When fully cooled, spread chocolate buttercream on top and add cherries if desired.