Black Forest Cake Recipe (2024)

Black Forest Cake Recipe, delicious layered chocolate sponge cake with a rich cherry filling that is based on the German dessert which translates as Black Forest Cherry-torte. The Black Forest cake is typically made up of several layers of chocolate sponge cake sandwiched with whipped cream and cherries. The cake itself is made with plain flour, cocoa, eggs, yogurt, oil & hot water. For Egg free option, check this Eggless Black Forest Cake and this white forest cake. Learn how to make a delicious three layered Black forest cake with step by step pictures and video.

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Black forest cake

A Special Black Forest cake which I baked for my sister Anusha’s Friend. Actually this is the first I cake I baked since I started my baking business.This chocolate cake taste so moist and rich. The cake itself is super dense and chocolaty. If you are looking for a best chocolate cake recipe then your search ends here. This recipe is everything you want in a chocolate cake.

About Black Forest Cake

The Black Forest cake, also known as The Black Forest gateau, is a chocolate sponge cake with a rich cherry filling that is based on the German dessert Schwarzwalder Kirschtorte, which translates as Black Forest Cherry-torte.; The Black Forest cake is typically made up of several layers of chocolate sponge cake sandwiched with
whipped cream and cherries.

It's topped with whipped cream, maraschino cherries, and chocolate shavings. Sour cherries are used both between the layers and to decorate the top in some European traditions. Kirschwasser, a clear spirit made from sour cherries, is traditionally added to the cake. The cake has a whipped cream frosting all over it. The cake has cherries in between cakes which makes it more tasty.

Black forest cake is one of the most popular fresh cream cakes made around the world. It is the most loved recipe just like my Chocolate mud cake. The cake is easily adaptable to your taste and preference.

Why is it called the Black Forest cake?

The dessert does not take its name from the Black Forest mountain range in southwestern Germany. According to one school of thought, the name derives from the regions specialty liquor, Schwarzwälder Kirsch(wasser), which is distilled from tart cherries. It also has a good amount of cherry liqour added.

Why this recipe works?

• Rich, Moist, Fluffy
• The cake is light and soft and very chocolaty
• Easy to make and simple recipe to follow

Similar Fresh Cream Recipes

Pineapple Fresh Cream Cake

Swedish Summer Cake

Whipped Cream Topping

Eggless Black Forest Cake

Microwave Black Forest Cake

White Forest Cake Recipe

Watch Black Forest Cake Video

Black Forest Cake Ingredients

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All Purpose Flour - Refined flour is used in the black forest cake which makes the cake super soft, light & fluffy.

Cocoa - use dark finest quality dark cocoa for maximum flavour. Best quality cocoa makes the cake intense.

Eggs - whole eggs which are large in size is mixed with the cake batter which makes the cake light & fluffy. For egg free cake, check Eggless Black forest cake recipe.

Yogurt | Curd - curd makes the cake super moist and tender when mixed with eggs.

Sugar - I used refined sugar for the cake. You can directly mix with the flour.

Oil - instead of oil, you can use melted butter for more flavour.

Raising Agent - use baking powder, baking soda is used for raising of the cake.

Flavourings - a pinch of salt, vanilla extract is used in the cake batter for flavour.

Hot Water - boiling hot water is mixed in the cake batter to intensify the chocolate flavour. It makes the cake the moist and tender.

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How to Make Black Forest Cake

Making Cake Batter

Black forest cake has a rich chocolate flavoured cake. Usually it is made with several layers of cake. Bu the most common recipe has three layers of chocolate cake. You can make eggless black forest cake and microwave black forest cake as per your requirement.

Baking Cakes

once the batter is made, divide it between the cake pans. Bake it until cooked. Once the cakes are baked, you can check by inserting a toothpick in the centre of the cake. If the toothpick comes out clean then the cakes are baked. Remove the cakes from oven, allow it to cool completely.

Making Frosting & Decorations

Take some canned cherries, strain the cherries. Take the cherries, remove the pit from it. Reserve the flesh and juice separately. Whip cream till thick and stiff. Make chocolate sauce by melting chocolate and cream in a sauce pan or microwave. Make chocolate shavings and chocolate curls.

Decorating Cake

Place the cake in a decorating stand, brush top with some cherry syrup, top with cherries and whipped cream. Top with another cake and repeat the same till all the cakes are stacked. Decorate the cake with whipped cream, chocolate sauce, cherries and chocolate curd.

Refrigerate & Serving

Once the cakes is assembled, place the cake in fridge for few hours so it sets nicely. slice and serve.

Frosting a Cake with Whipped Cream

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Before frosting a cake with whipped cream or any frosting. You have to allow the cake to cool completely. If you try to frost the cake when your cakes are still warm, the frosting may melt off.

Place the cake on a cake board, place few strips of parchment paper around the cake before frosting. once the cake is frosted, you can remove the strips. This will make the serving platter clean.

Brush the cake with syrup generously. Layer the cakes with cherries and whipped cream. Repeat this for all the cakes. Cover the cake entirely with whipped cream and try to smooth the frosting as best as you can.

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How to Make Black Forest Cake (Stepwise Pictures)

1)Preheat oven to 180 degree C. Line Three 8 inch round cake pan with parchment paper or grease it lightly with oil and dust it generously with plain flour. Tap off the excess and set aside.

Mixing Dry Ingredients

1)Take a large mixing bowl. Add in sugar and plain flour in the mixing bowl. This batter is mixed in one bowl. Use a large mixing bowl for the cake batter.

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2)Add in cocoa powder, salt. Use dark finest quality dark cocoa for maximum flavour. Best quality cocoa makes the cake intense.

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3)Add in baking soda, baking powder and mix well.

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4)Mix the dry ingredients using a whisk or spatula.

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Make Cake Batter

5)Add in eggs, oil. Instead of oil you can use melted butter.

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6)Add in yogurt and use an electric beater to mix the cake batter. Once the cake batter is almost mixed, add in boiling hot water to mix the cake batter.

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7)Add in vanilla extract and mix well. The cake batter will look liquidy.

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Baking Cakes

8)Divide the cake batter between three cake pans. Make sure you distribute it evenly between the cake pans. Place the cake pan into the preheated oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes.

Pro Tip: If your oven is small, and you cannot bake all the cakes at the same time. you can keep the cake batter covered at room temperature once the first batch is done baking.

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9)Remove the cake pans from oven and allow it to cool for 10 minutes. Use a spatula to remove the sides of the cake. Un mould the cake from mould onto a wire rack. Allow it so it cools completely.

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Cherries for Cake

10)I used canned cherries. Strain the cherries in a sieve. Reserve the cherry syrup for brushing on top of the cake. For the cherries, remove the pit and use the cherries for the cake.

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Chocolate Sauce

11)Take cream and chocolate in a sauce pan or microwave safe bowl. Place it in microwave for 20 to 30 seconds until the chocolate melts. Mix till smooth. Set this aside till use.

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Whipped Cream

12) Take whipping cream, icing sugar and vanilla extract in a mixing bowl. Use an electric beater to whip till thick and stiff.

If you are using non dairy whipped topping. You can whip it directly from frozen till thick and stiff.

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Frosting Black Forest Cake

13)Take the cooled cake in a rotating stand or serving plate. Brush the top with cherry syrup generously.

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14)Add in cherries on top, spread with whipped cream.

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15)Top with another layer of cake. Brush the cake with syrup, top with cherries, whipped cream. Now Repeat this for all the cake.

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16)Spread frosting all around the cake. Spread the frosting all over the cake.

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17)Pipe the whipped cream over the cake, drizzle with chocolate sauce. top with cherries.

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18)Place the cake in fridge for few hours. Slice and serve.

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How to Decorate Black Forest Cake (2 Layers)

1)This cake I made in my second attempt. I made a two layer black forest cake. For making this I divided the batter between two 8 inch round cake pans and baked for 35 to 40 minutes. Allow the cake to cool completely before decorating.

For making chocolate curls or chocolate shavings. Use a peeler, to shave the chocolate. make white chocolate the same way. These chocolate curls makes great decoration for cakes.

You can use a grater to grate chocolate for decoration as well.

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2)This version of the cake, I used whipped cream and chocolate for decorating the cake

• Pipe the whipped cream all over the cake.
• Decorate the sides with chocolate sprinkles.
• Top the cake with chocolate shavings and curls.
• Decorate with cherries.

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3)Delicious two layered black forest cake is ready to serve.

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Expert Tips

• You can bake the cake 2 days in advance and store in fridge until needed.
• Decorated cake can be kept in fridge for 2 to 3 days.
• You can decorate black forest as per your desire.
• Fresh cherries can be pitted and used in the cake instead of canned cherries. If you are using fresh cherries make sure you cook them with some sugar to soften them.
• For easy black forest cake, you can use cherry pie filling too.

Tips For Whipped Cream Frosting

How to Make Whipped Cream for Fresh Cream Cakes

You can use fresh whipping cream for cakes. For that you have to add icing sugar and vanilla to the cream when whipping. You can refer my whipped cream recipe for learning how to stablize fresh cream for whipping.

You have to remember few things.

• First put your mixing bowl and beater hook in freezer for around 1 hour.
• Now take your bowl out and add in cream in it, add in sugar and vanilla. Use your beater to whip this till it is creamy. It will start to get thick and fluffy. Make sure you whip till stiff peaks form. When you lift the beater from the cream, the cream holds it shape in the beater.
• Refrigerate until use.

How to Use Non dairy whipping cream for cakes

If you are using non dairy whipped cream, you don't need to add icing sugar. Since the non dairy cream has icing sugar and vanilla added.

Non dairy whipped topping is usually stored in freezer. Use cream straight from freezer. Take it in a mixing bowl or stand mixer bowl and whip using electric beater till thick and fluffy and stiff.

FAQ

What is a Black Forest cake made of?

The Black Forest cake, also known as The Black Forest gateau, is a chocolate sponge cake with a rich cherry filling that is based on the German dessert Schwarzwalder Kirschtorte, which translates as Black Forest Cherry-torte.; The Black Forest cake is typically made up of several layers of chocolate sponge cake sandwiched with cherry, whipped cream and chocolate.

What is the difference between chocolate cake and Black Forest cake?

chocolate cake is made into layered cake with buttercream frosting, chocolate ganache or whipped cream. While black forest cake has whipped cream, chocolate, cherry and some kind of liquour added.

Does Black Forest cake contain alcohol?

Traditional recipe for black forest cake has alcohol added in the sugar syrup or cherry syrup which is brushed over the cake. You can use a shot or two of rum or any liquour of choice. Most popular liquour is cherry brandy.

What to do with leftover chocolate cake or cake trimmings?

This is a recipe which I created when I had lots of leftover chocolate cake trimmings. I assembled it in a mason jar as a trifle using chocolate custard and whipped cream. I have a detailed recipe for it on the blog. Check my black forest trifle recipe.

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