Ingredients:

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
                        ***CAKE***
  2               cups  flour
  2          teaspoons  baking soda
     1/3           cup  cocoa -- pref. dutch
     1/4      teaspoon  salt
  1                cup  sugar
  1                cup  mayonnaise
  2          teaspoons  vanilla
  1                cup  cold water
                        ***FILLING***
  1                can  cherry pie filling
  1           teaspoon  almond extract
                        ***MERINGUE***
  3                     egg whites -- room temp.
  1           teaspoon  vanilla
     1/4      teaspoon  cream of tartar
  6        tablespoons  sugar

Preparation:

CAKE: Combine dry ingredients. Add all other ingredients and mix well. Bake in two greased/floured 8" round pans at 350 degrees for about 25 minutes. Let cakes cool slightly. Transfer them to wire racks to cool completely. FILLING: Stir almond extract into cherry pie filling. Place one cool cake layer onto a baking sheet. Spoon about 1/2 of the filling onto cake. Top with second layer. (Cakes can be sliced horizontally to provide four layers.) Warm extra filling and serve as sauce with the finished cake. MERINGUE: In a clean mixing bowl, beat the egg whites for 2 minutes. Add the cream of tartar and vanilla. Keep beating on high speed and gradually add the sugar 1 Tbsp at a time. Stop when the mixture is stiff and glossy. Immediately spread the meringue on top and sides of cake. (Make sure to seal all of the cake.) Bake in a 375 degree oven for 8-10 minutes or until meringue is lightly browned. Let cool and remove carefully to a serving plate.

Nutritional Information:

4291 Calories (kcal); 194g Total Fat; (39% calories from fat); 47g Protein; 634g Carbohydrate; 77mg Cholesterol; 4531mg Sodium