Cherry Almond Upside Down Cake

Move over, pineapple upside-down cake! Everybody's gonna be head over heels for the new cake in town.

1 cup drained and chopped maraschino cherries
1/2 cup sliced or slivered almonds
1 (18.25 ounce) package chocolate cake mix, mixed according to the package directions
4 ounce cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup (½ stick) butter, melted
1 cup confectioners' sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degree F. Coat a 9- x 13-inch baking dish with cooking spray and flour
Spread cherries evenly over bottom of prepared baking dish. Sprinkle almonds over cherries then pour prepared cake batter over cherries and almonds.
In a medium-sized bowl, combine cream cheese and melted butter and beat with an electric beater until creamy. Add sugar and beat until smooth. Starting 1 inch from edge of baking dish, drop mixture in 12 equal spoonfuls evenly over cake batter, pushing cream cheese mixture into batter.
Bake 45 to 50 minutes, or until a wooden toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 25 to 30 minutes and invert onto a platter; cut and serve when completely cooled.

To bring out the flavor of the almonds, lightly toast them in a 350 degree F oven for a few minutes before using as directed.