Also, make sure the fruit cocktail has extra cherries in it.
“...extra cherries in it.”
Dad’s favorite cake was always, ‘Chocolate Cake with Nuts and Cherries.’
Mom would use a boxed mix (we, too, vote for Duncan Hines brand) of chocolate cake mix and add whatever chopped nuts she had on hand and an entire jar of Maraschino Cherries cut in half. I think she added the liquid from the cherries as part of the total liquid needed for the cake mix.
No frosting, no nothing. Maybe some whipped cream on the side.
It was really good!