Description
Black forest cherry cake weaves German culinary magic with rich chocolate layers, velvety cream, and plump cherries. Sweet indulgence awaits when you slice into this classic dessert that whispers delightful stories of European baking tradition.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Cake Ingredients:
- 1 3/4 cups (220 grams) all-purpose flour
- 1 3/4 cups (350 grams) granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup (75 grams) unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) whole milk
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) vegetable oil
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) boiling water
Leavening and Seasoning Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Binding Ingredients:
- 2 large eggs
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 350F (175C) and prepare three 9-inch round cake pans by greasing and dusting with flour.
- Combine dry ingredients – flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt – in a large mixing bowl.
- Incorporate eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla extract into the dry mixture. Blend thoroughly on medium speed for 2 minutes.
- Gently fold in boiling water until the batter becomes smooth and thin.
- Distribute batter evenly across the prepared cake pans.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center emerges clean.
- Allow cakes to rest in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire racks for complete cooling.
- Create cherry filling by simmering cherries, sugar, cornstarch, and water in a saucepan over medium heat until thickened.
- Remove cherry mixture from heat and cool thoroughly.
- Whip heavy cream with powdered sugar and vanilla until stiff peaks develop.
- Optional: Delicately brush cake layers with cherry liqueur.
- Assemble cake by layering: first cake, whipped cream, cherry filling – repeat for subsequent layers.
- Cover entire cake with remaining whipped cream frosting.
- Decorate with fresh cherries and chocolate shavings.
- Refrigerate for minimum 1 hour before serving to enhance flavor and texture.
Notes
- Ensure cake layers are completely cooled before assembling to prevent whipped cream from melting and sliding off.
- Drain maraschino cherries thoroughly to avoid excess liquid making the cake soggy.
- Replace cherry liqueur with cherry juice or syrup for a non-alcoholic version that maintains authentic flavor.
- Dust cake layers with cocoa powder before adding cream for extra chocolate intensity and moisture prevention.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: German
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 265 kcal
- Sugar: 30 g
- Sodium: 290 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 43 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 37 mg