Black Forest Cake Recipe
Ingredients:
For the cake:
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 ½ tsp baking powder
- 1 ½ tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup whole milk
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup boiling water (or hot coffee for added depth of flavor)
For the cherry filling:
- 1 jar (about 24 oz) of Morello cherries (or fresh cherries if available)
- 1/2 cup cherry juice (from the jar or fresh)
- 2 tbsp sugar (optional, depending on the sweetness of your cherries)
- 1/4 cup Kirsch
For the whipped cream:
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
For decoration:
- Chocolate shavings or curls
- Fresh cherries (for topping)
- A few tablespoons of Kirsch for soaking the cake layers
Instructions:
1. Prepare the cake:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
- In a large mixing bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- In another bowl, whisk together the eggs, sugar, milk, oil, and vanilla extract until well combined.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
- Slowly pour in the boiling water (or hot coffee) and stir until smooth. The batter will be thin.
- Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cakes cool completely on a wire rack.
2. Prepare the cherry filling:
- Drain the cherries, reserving the juice. If you’re using fresh cherries, pit them and slice them in half.
- In a small saucepan, heat the reserved cherry juice and sugar (if desired), simmering for 5 minutes until slightly thickened. Remove from heat and let it cool.
- Stir in the Kirsch into the cooled syrup. This will soak into the cake layers for added flavor.
3. Make the whipped cream:
- In a chilled mixing bowl, beat the heavy cream with powdered sugar and vanilla extract until stiff peaks form. Be careful not to over-beat.
4. Assemble the cake:
- Once the cakes are cooled, slice each cake in half horizontally to create four layers.
- Place the first layer on a serving plate. Drizzle it generously with some of the cherry juice/Kirsch mixture.
- Spread a layer of whipped cream on top, followed by a handful of the cherries.
- Repeat the process with the remaining layers, finishing with whipped cream on top.
- Decorate with chocolate shavings, fresh cherries, and a final drizzle of the cherry syrup.
5. Chill and serve:
- Refrigerate the cake for at least 2 hours to allow the flavors to meld.
- Serve chilled and enjoy your delicious, boozy Black Forest Cake!
This recipe has a rich cherry and alcohol flavor thanks to the Kirsch, which pairs beautifully with the cocoa in the cake.
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