To prepare a chocolate cherry upside down cake recipe, you'll first need to prepare the cake batter. Place the flour, cocoa, sugar, baking powder, salt, and vanilla extract in the bowl of an electric mixer and mix until the ingredients are well combined. Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Let cake cool in pan for 10 minutes before removing to wire rack to cool completely.