Prep
30m
Cook
35m
Serves
8
Indulge in the rich flavors of the Black Forest Cake (Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte), a traditional German dessert. Our easy German dessert recipes guide you through creating this decadent cake, layered with chocolate sponge, whipped cream, and cherries, making it perfect for any special occasion.
Ingredients (8)
1 ½ cups flour
1 cup sugar
½ cup cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
4 eggs
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup cherries, pitted
Chocolate shavings for garnish
Steps (5)
Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Mix Dry Ingredients:
In a large bowl, sift together 1 ½ cups of flour, 1 cup of sugar, ½ cup of cocoa powder, and 1 teaspoon of baking powder. This ensures there are no lumps and the ingredients are well combined.
Add Wet Ingredients:
Beat Eggs: In a separate bowl, beat 4 eggs until they are light and fluffy.
Combine: Gradually add the beaten eggs to the dry ingredients, mixing until you have a smooth batter. You can use an electric mixer on medium speed for this step to ensure the batter is well combined.
Bake:
Prepare Pan: Grease a 9-inch round cake pan or line it with parchment paper.
Pour Batter: Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top with a spatula.
Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Cool: Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely.
Assemble:
Whip Cream: In a chilled bowl, whip 1 cup of heavy cream until stiff peaks form.
Slice Cake: Once the cake is completely cooled, carefully slice it horizontally into two layers using a serrated knife.
Layer: Spread a generous layer of whipped cream on the bottom half of the cake. Arrange 1 cup of pitted cherries evenly over the whipped cream.
Top Layer: Place the top half of the cake back on. Spread another layer of whipped cream on top and around the sides of the cake.
Garnish: Sprinkle chocolate shavings generously over the top of the cake.
Additional tips
- Cherries: You can use fresh, canned, or even frozen cherries. If using canned cherries, make sure to drain them well. For an authentic touch, you can soak the cherries in a bit of Kirsch (cherry brandy) for added flavor.
- Whipped Cream: For extra stability, you can add a tablespoon of powdered sugar and a teaspoon of vanilla extract to the heavy cream before whipping.
- Chocolate Shavings: Use a vegetable peeler to shave a bar of dark chocolate for beautiful, delicate shavings.
- Storage: Store the cake in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. It’s best served chilled, so refrigerate for at least an hour before serving.
- To make more: double the ingredients.