The “surprise” is a cream-cheese swirl.

Ingredients:

• 1 chocolate cake mix, prepared as directed
• 1 20-oz. can cherry pie filling
• 1 8-oz package cream cheese
• 1 egg
• 3 Tbsp. sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla

Preparation:
Pour the prepared cake mix into the bottom of a lightly-oiled 12-inch dutch oven.  Spoon the cherry pie filling in clumps over the cake batter.  In a small mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese, egg, sugar, and vanilla.  Drop by tablespoons over the rest of the ingredients.  If desired, drag a knife through the clumps of cherries and cream cheese mixture to swirl.

Bake using 8-10 briquettes bottom heat and 14-16 briquettes top heat for 30 minutes or until the top center of the cake springs back when touched.

Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

Serves 8