STEP 2:
Place quartered cherries, powdered sugar & lemon juice over heat & allow to simmer. Remove 2 Tbsp of juice, mix it with cornstarch & add it back to the cherries.
STEP 5:
Sift dry ingredients over wet ingredients & fold together. Bake batter in three 6-inch cake pans at 350F for 35 minutes. Remove from pans & allow to cool.
STEP 6:
Beat the custard with cool whip & vanilla, just until combined. Top first layer of cake with ⅓ the chocolate diplomat cream & a layer of cherry preserves. Repeat with the second layer.