Description
Black Forest Cake, or Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte, is a classic German dessert featuring layers of moist chocolate sponge, tart cherries, whipped cream, and a hint of kirsch (cherry brandy), beautifully garnished with chocolate shavings.
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup butter, melted
- 1/4 cup kirsch (cherry brandy)
- 2 cups canned or fresh sour cherries, pitted
- 2 cups whipping cream
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup dark chocolate shavings or curls (for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease three 8-inch round cake pans.
- In a bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt.
- In a separate bowl, beat eggs and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add vanilla extract and melted butter to the egg mixture and mix well.
- Gradually fold in the dry ingredients to form a smooth batter.
- Divide batter evenly among prepared pans and bake for 25–30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Let cake layers cool completely on wire racks.
- Drain cherries and reserve the juice. Mix 1/4 cup cherry juice with kirsch.
- Brush each cake layer generously with the kirsch-cherry juice mixture.
- In a cold bowl, whip the cream with powdered sugar until stiff peaks form. Keep refrigerated until use.
- Place the first cake layer on a serving plate. Spread whipped cream over it and top with cherries.
- Repeat with the second layer and then top with the final cake layer.
- Cover the entire cake with whipped cream.
- Garnish with chocolate shavings or curls and extra cherries on top.
- Chill the cake for at least 2–4 hours (preferably overnight) before serving.
Notes
- Use fresh cherries when in season for a natural flavor boost.
- Replace kirsch with cherry juice for an alcohol-free version.
- Stabilize whipped cream with gelatin for longer-lasting texture if needed.
- Cake tastes better the next day after flavors meld together.
- Unfrosted cake layers can be made ahead and frozen for up to 2 months.
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: German
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 28g
- Sodium: 140mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 110mg
