A decadent Valentine's Day dessert

It seems that even the most steadfast dieters make room for a little dessert come Valentine's Day. What better than a trifle that's both impressive to the tastebuds and the eyes this holiday?

"Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake Trifle, "courtesy of "A Decade of Cooking the Costco Way" (Toppan Lefung Printing), edited by Tim Talevich, pairs chocolate and cherries together with rich cream cheese, making a decadent dessert many will enjoy.

Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake Trifle

Serves 6 to 8

Cake

1 cup egg whites

Pinch of salt

1 teaspoon salt

11/4 cups sugar

1 teaspoon cream of tartar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup flour

1/3 cup pitted and finely chopped fresh sweet cherries, divided

Cheesecake Filling

16 ounces cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup half-and-half

1/4 cup pureed fresh sweet cherries

11/2 cups finely chopped fresh sweet cherries

11/2 cups shaved chocolate

1 cup prepared whipped cream

Preheat oven to 325 F. To prepare the cake, with an electric mixer, beat egg whites with salt and cream of tartar until they begin to foam. Add sugar and beat until stiff peaks form. Mix in vanilla. Carefully fold in flour.

Pour half of the batter into an ungreased 9-inch tube pan and top with half of the chopped cherries. Pour in the remaining batter and sprinkle on the remaining cherries. Bake for 50 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool before removing from the pan. To prepare the filling, blend cream cheese and sugar with an electric mixer until smooth. Add half-and-half and pureed cherries.

To assemble, cut the cake into 1-inch cubes. In a trifle dish, place an even layer of cake cubes and cheesecake filling. Sprinkle with chopped cherries and shaved chocolate. Repeat layers until the trifle dish is full, finishing with whipped cream and the remaining cherries and chocolate on top.