Recipe

Black forest cake

Layers of rich chocolate cake with cherries, kirsch, and whipped cream create a truly indulgent dessert.

Dec 08, 2020 1:00pm
  • 35 mins preparation
  • 1 hr 50 mins cooking
  • Serves 12
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Originating in Germany, black forest cake consists of layers of delicious chocolate cake delicately laced with kirsch and held together by whipped cream and tart cherries. Definitely one for the grownups.

Ingredients

Black forest cake
  • 250 gram butter, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon instant coffee granules
  • 1 1/2 cup (375ml) hot water
  • 200 gram dark eating chocolate, chopped
  • 2 cup (440g) caster sugar
  • 1 1/2 cup (225g) self-raising flour
  • 1 cup (150g) plain flour
  • 1/4 cup (25g) cocoa powder
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 600 millilitre thickened cream
  • 1/4 cup (60ml) kirsch
  • 2 425g cans cherries, drained, halved

Method

Black forest cake
  • 1
    Preheat oven to 150°C (130°C fan-forced). Grease deep 22cm-round cake pan, line base and side with baking paper.
  • 2
    Melt butter in medium saucepan over low heat, stir in combined coffee and the water, then chocolate and sugar; stir over low heat, without boiling, until smooth. Transfer to medium bowl, cool to warm.
  • 3
    Beat mixture on low speed with electric mixer; beat in sifted dry ingredients, in three batches. Beat in eggs, one at a time, then extract. Pour into pan.
  • 4
    Bake about 1 3/4 hours (105 minutes). Stand 5 minutes before turning onto wire rack to cool.
  • 5
    Beat cream until firm peaks form.
  • 6
    Trim top of cake to make it flat. Split cake into three even layers. Place one layer on serving plate, brush with a third of the kirsch, top with a third of the cream and half the cherries. Repeat layering once more, then top with final layer of cake.
  • 7
    Brush top of cake with remaining kirsch; spread with remaining cream. Decorate with grated chocolate and fresh cherries, if desired.

Notes

If you like, decorate the cake with mini chocolate curls. To do this, pull a vegetable peeler down the side of a bar of dark chocolate. Black forest cake will keep for up to 3 days if stored, covered, in the fridge.

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