Vanilla Cake:

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Grease 2 8-inch or 2 6-inch cake pans and line the bottom of each with a round of parchment paper. Set aside.
2. Combine flours, baking powder, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Slowly mix in milk, maple syrup/honey, coconut oil/butter, eggs, and vanilla. Mix for 2-3 minutes, until smooth.
3. Evenly divide the cake batter into each pan and place into the middle rack of the preheated oven.
4. Bake for 18-25 minutes (depending on pan), or until center is set and toothpick comes out with only a few moist crumbs.

Cherry Filling:

1. Into a medium saucepan, stir together pitted cherries, maple syrup/honey, and kirsch, if using. Place on the stove over medium heat and bring to a boil. Mix together the starch and water and add to the cherry mixture. Continue to cook until mixture has thickened. Remove from heat and let cool. Refrigerate until needed.

Swiss Meringue Buttercream:

1. Stir together egg whites and maple syrup/honey in a medium heat-safe bowl. Place over a pot of boiling water, stirring often until mixture reaches 150F degrees on a candy thermometer (about 5 minutes).
2. Make sure your mixing bowl is clean and has no grease or butter residue, which can keep the egg whites from fluffing up. Pour the heated egg/syrup mixture into your mixing bowl and beat on high speed for 6-8 minutes, until fluffy and stiff peaks form (use a wire whisk attachment if you have one).
3. Switch to your paddle attachment and begin adding butter slowly. Add in the melted white
4. chocolate and continue to beat the buttercream until fluffy.
5. If mixture gets too warm, place into the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes to chill and then beat again.

Chocolate Ganache:

1. Place chocolate chips and coconut cream into a medium heat-safe bowl over a pot of boiling water. Stir constantly until chocolate is melted. Cool slightly before pouring it over the cake.

Chocolate Shavings:

1. Use a vegetable peeler and shave or peel the edge of a white or dark chocolate bar to make the small chocolate curls.
2. For larger curls, melt chocolate in a heat-safe bowl over a pot of boiling water. Continue to stir chocolate until completely melted and smooth. Pour melted chocolate onto a marble cutting board, cookie sheet, or large plate. Spread the chocolate into a thin layer using an offset spatula. Refrigerate or freeze until firm.
3. Use the edge of a metal spatula to begin scraping the chocolate off the board. When it should begin curling on its own. If it breaks instead of curls, the chocolate may be too cold. Let it sit at room temperature for 1-2 minutes and try again.
4. Top the finished cake with chocolate shavings.

Putting The Cake Together:

1. Slice cakes in half horizontally, if necessary. Place one cake onto a cake plate on top with a generous amount of buttercream and a spoonful of the cherry sauce. Repeat layering ingredients until you get to the final cake layer. Place the last layer on top and cover with the melted chocolate ganache, using an offset spatula to bring chocolate to the edge and drip over the sides of the cake. Top with lots of whole cherries (can use pitted cherries if you prefer), sprigs of fresh mint, and chocolate shavings.
2. Vanilla cake recipe adapted from Yammie’s Glutenfreedom