Black Forest Cake Delight: A Decadent Recipe for a Classic Treat

Indulge in the magic of the Black Forest with our delightful Black Forest Cake recipe! Experience the enchanting tale behind this classic treat, inspired by a love story woven among the lush landscapes of the Black Forest. Savor each layer of moist chocolate sponge cake, velvety whipped cream, and juicy cherries, all adorned with a sprinkling of chocolate shavings. Unearth the essence of this legendary dessert and create your own sweet memories with every heavenly bite.

Whispers of the Black Forest

The Enchanting Tale of the Black Forest Cake

In the picturesque region of southwestern Germany, nestled between the Rhine River and the Black Forest mountains, lies the charming village of Todtnauberg. It is here, amidst the lush forests and rolling hills, that the delightful tale of the Black Forest Cake begins.

Long ago, in the 16th century, the village of Todtnauberg was a place of enchantment and mystery. Its inhabitants were known for their passion for culinary delights and their exceptional skills in pastry making. Among them was a young woman named Anna, whose radiant beauty and culinary prowess earned her the admiration of all who knew her.

Anna’s love for baking was matched only by her fascination with the forest. She would often wander deep into the Black Forest, gathering inspiration from its captivating beauty and the abundance of ingredients it offered. Wild cherries, with their sweet and juicy flavor, were her favorite treasure to find during her expeditions.

One fateful summer’s day, while she was picking cherries near a sparkling stream, Anna encountered a wounded knight seeking refuge. The gallant man introduced himself as Sir Wilhelm, a brave knight from a distant kingdom, who had been injured during his quest to protect his people from an invading force. Unable to continue his journey, he sought shelter and care.

Moved by his plight, Anna took Sir Wilhelm back to her humble home and nursed him back to health with her warm heart and nourishing food. As the days turned into weeks, the two of them grew close, sharing stories, dreams, and a love for the culinary arts.

With his strength restored, Sir Wilhelm was ready to depart, but before he left, he wanted to show his appreciation for Anna’s kindness. Drawing inspiration from her forest gatherings and cherries, he collaborated with her to create a special cake, one that would capture the essence of their encounter and the enchanting beauty of the Black Forest.

Together, they crafted a cake that consisted of multiple layers of moist chocolate sponge cake, symbolizing the deep connection between them. The layers were separated by luscious whipped cream, representing the care and tenderness they had shown to each other during Sir Wilhelm’s recovery.

To honor the forest that had brought them together, they adorned the cake with layers of dark, juicy cherries, reflecting the sweet memories they had shared among the trees. Finally, they topped it all off with a dusting of chocolate shavings, reminiscent of the forest’s fertile soil and earthy scents.

As they took their first bites of the masterpiece, Anna and Sir Wilhelm knew they had created something truly magical. The combination of flavors and the love they poured into every ingredient made the Black Forest Cake an instant sensation among their friends and neighbors.

Word of this extraordinary cake spread like wildfire, drawing visitors from far and wide to Todtnauberg. People came to taste the wondrous creation and to hear the tale of Anna and Sir Wilhelm. The cake became known as “Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte” in German, which translates to Black Forest Cherry Torte.

As time went on, the legend of the Black Forest Cake endured, passing from generation to generation, and it became an essential part of German culinary heritage. Today, in bakeries and patisseries across the world, the delightful flavors of chocolate, cream, cherries, and the magic of the Black Forest live on, enchanting dessert lovers with every delectable slice, a reminder of the tale of Anna and Sir Wilhelm, whose love and creativity gave birth to the marvelous Black Forest Cake.

How to make a Black Forest Cake

16 Servings

PREP 50min ; COOK 1h 20min; RESTING 20min; READY IN 2h 30min

German Cuisine

You need

For the shortcrust pastry base:

1/2 cup + 2 tbsp sugar
1 cup + 2 tbsp butter
4 cups + 1 tbsp + 1 tsp flour
a pinch of baking powder
1 egg
salt
1 + 1/2 tsp vanilla sugar
lemon juice

Do like this: Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F and start making the shortcrust pastry base.

Mix the flour and cold butter in a large bowl by hand or in a food processor until the mixture starts resembling breadcrumbs.
Add the remaining ingredients, knead the mixture well, and then shape into a ball. Place the dough in the refrigerator for 30 minutes, then take it out and leave to warm up to room temperature.
Roll out the dough and place it in a round tin (as far as size, any of the following will do: 24 cm (9.4-inch), 25 cm (9.8-inch), 26 cm (10.2-inch)), cover with baking paper, and fill with rice or dried beans. Bake for 20 minutes in a preheated oven, remove the paper with rice or beans, and continue baking for the next 20 minutes.

For the Chocolate Sponge Cake:

6 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 + 1/2 cup flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 cup cocoa
1/4 cup melted butter
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
a pinch of salt

Do like this: For the chocolate sponge, beat eggs with sugar, fold in the flour and baking powder together with cocoa and salt, then add the melted butter and vanilla extract. Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C/350°F in a buttered and floured tin for 40 minutes. Once cooled, cut crosswise in half.

For the Cream and Decoration:

3 to 4 tbsp redcurrant or raspberry jam
4 cups + 2 tbsp whipped cream (sweetened with 1/2 cup of sugar)
3 tabs of gelatin
1 + 1/2 cup sour cherries, pitted
6 to 7 tbsp kirsch
3 to 4 tbsp chocolate flakes
16 cherries for decoration

Do like this: To make whipped cream, combine gelatin with some water until it becomes thick. Place it on the stove, stirring until it dissolves, then remove from heat to cool. In a separate bowl, whisk cream with sugar until slightly stiff, then add in the gelatin with half of the kirsch and beat until stiff.

To assemble the cake, do like this:

Cover the shortcrust pastry base with jam, cream, and then cherries. Place the first layer of sponge cake on top and use the remaining kirsch to sprinkle the sponge. Layer the sponge with cream and cherries and place the second half of the sponge on top.
Coat the top and edges of the assembled cake with whipped cream, then decorate the top with swirls and mounds of whipped cream. Sprinkle with chocolate shavings and place the cherries on mounds of cream.

Buy Now: Black Forest Cake Decorations

Ingredient substitutes

The original Black Forest cake is created with kirsch, a unique form of cherry schnapps produced uniquely in the Black Forest region from sour Morello cherries. Use cherry juice or cherry spirit as an alcohol-free alternative to kirsch. Given that the dessert shouldn’t be very sweet, the shavings used for decorating should be made of dark chocolate.

Preparation Tips

The easiest way to maintain the cake’s porosity is to combine the melted butter with one cup of the batter mixture before gently adding it back into the remaining batter. The batter should then only be gently folded a second time to incorporate. Use cold butter for the shortcrust pastry in order to prevent the pastry from hardening. Before adding gelatin to the chilled cream, mix it with a few teaspoons of cream that has been warmed to room temperature to prevent lumps.