Black Forest Cake amazes me with its indulgent taste and tradition. Chocolate layers blend perfectly with cherries and cream. It’s one of my favorite desserts for special occasions.
Contents
Black Forest Cake Recipe
Black Forest Cake, known as Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte, is a classic German dessert. It is characterized by layers of chocolate sponge cake, whipped cream, cherries, and chocolate shavings. Traditionally, the cake is flavored with the cherry brandy liqueur for a distinctive taste.
I used cherry pie filling instead of sour cherries for my recipe. The cherry liqueur is replaced with cherry syrup for a family-friendly version, but you can use the liqueur.
This cake is often served at celebrations and holidays due to its striking appearance and indulgent flavors. You can pair it with coffee or tea. For something boozy, try Kirschwasser, a Black Forest Martini, or a sweet wine like Moscato to enhance the cherry and chocolate notes.
Here’s how to make the Black Forest Cake:
Black Forest Cake
Nutrition
Ingredients
For the cake
- 1 ½ cups (180g) all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour with xanthan gum)
- ½ cup (45g) unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¾ cup (150g) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (100g) brown sugar
- ½ cup (120ml) vegetable oil or melted coconut oil
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¾ cup (180ml) milk (or dairy-free milk)
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
- ½ cup (120ml) hot coffee
For the cherry filling
- 1 ½ cups (350g) cherry pie filling (or fresh cherries with 2 tbsp sugar and 1 tsp cornstarch)
- 2 tbsp cherry brandy
For the whipped cream frosting
- 2 cups (480ml) heavy whipping cream (or coconut cream for dairy-free)
- ¼ cup (30g) powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
For garnish
- Chocolate shavings or curls
- Fresh cherries
Instructions
Make the Cake
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line two 8-inch cake pans.
- In a bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
- In another bowl, whisk sugar, brown sugar, oil, eggs, and vanilla until smooth.
- Stir in milk and apple cider vinegar.
- Gradually mix in the dry ingredients.
- Add hot coffee and mix until just combined.
- Divide batter evenly into the pans and bake for 25-30 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Let cakes cool completely before assembling.
Prepare the Cherry Filling
- If using fresh cherries, heat them with sugar and cornstarch until thickened. Cool before using.
- If using cherry pie filling, simply mix with cherry brandy
Make the Whipped Cream
- Beat heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla until stiff peaks form. Keep chilled.
Assemble the Cake
- Place one cake layer on a plate. Spread a thin layer of whipped cream, then add the cherry filling.
- Place the second cake layer on top and cover with whipped cream.
- Decorate with chocolate shavings and fresh cherries.
SIMILAR RECIPES
Pairing suggestions
Black Forest Cake goes well with many drinks to enhance its rich and complex flavors. Here are some popular options:
- Non-alcoholic Drinks
- Coffee is a classic pairing. It complements the chocolate and cherry flavors in the cake.
- Tea provides a soothing contrast to the dense cake.
- Black Forest Coffee Blend is a nice match.
- Alcoholic Options
- Kirschwasser (cherry brandy) enhances the cherry flavor and adds a sophisticated touch.
- Black Forest Martini is a delightful accompaniment.
- Black Forest Cocktail offers a drinkable dessert experience.
- Wine like Moscato or a dessert wine is a great option.
Variations
There’re numerous variations of this iconic Black Forest Cake.
- Alcohol-Free Versions remove the kirsch. Cherry syrup or juice replaces kirsch entirely to maintain the cherry flavor.
- Alternative Liquors use rum instead of kirsch to flavor the cake layers and filling.
- Some recipes replace cherries with blueberry fruits or jams.
- American Adaptations use devil’s food cake or vanilla butter cake instead of the traditional European sponge. This results in a denser and sweeter dessert compared to the lighter original.
- Regional Variations include a bottom layer of chocolate short pastry for added texture.