Description
An indulgent and authentic German Black Forest cake made from layers of light chocolate sponge, cherry filling, stabilized whipped cream, and dark chocolate. This moist and rich dessert is a showstopper for any special occasion.
Ingredients
Cherry Filling
2 cups (400 g) Morello cherries (syrup removed)
3 tbsp (40 g) cherry juice
¼ cup (50 g) sugar
1 tbsp (14 g) lemon juice
2 tbsp (15 g) cornstarch
⅛ tsp almond extract
⅛ tsp cinnamon
Cherry Syrup
⅔ cup (150 g) cherry juice
⅛ tsp almond extract
Chocolate Sponge Cake
¾ cup (90 g) all-purpose flour
¼ cup (30 g) cornstarch
⅓ cup (35 g) Dutch-process cocoa powder
1 tsp instant coffee powder
¼ tsp salt
2 tbsp (30 g) vegetable oil
2 tbsp (28 g) melted butter
6 large eggs
1 cup (200 g) sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
Stabilized Whipped Cream
1 cup (225 g) mascarpone, cold
½ cup (60 g) icing sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 cups (670 g) cold whipping cream (34%+ fat)
Decoration
1 block (180 g) dark chocolate (50%)
10–12 fresh, glacé, or maraschino cherries
Instructions
Make Cherry Filling:
Heat cherry juice, sugar, lemon juice, cornstarch, almond extract, and cinnamon in a saucepan until thickened. Stir in Morello cherries and cool.
Prepare Cherry Syrup:
Mix cherry juice and almond extract. Set aside.
Bake Chocolate Sponge:
Preheat oven to 160°C (320°F, fan on). Prepare 3 x 8” cake pans (line bottoms only).
Sift dry ingredients together.
In a bowl over simmering water, whisk eggs, sugar, and vanilla until 45°C. Beat until tripled in volume.
Gently fold in dry mix, then oil/butter. Pour into pans and bake 20–22 mins. Cool upside down.
Shave Chocolate:
Use a potato peeler to create chocolate shards. Refrigerate.
Make Whipped Cream:
Beat mascarpone, sugar, and vanilla. Add whipping cream and beat to stiff peaks.
Assemble Cake:
Place the first sponge on a plate. Brush with cherry syrup.
Pipe whipped cream dam. Add half the cherry filling and a cream layer.
Repeat with second layer.
Add third layer, brush with syrup. Frost with cream.
Decorate with chocolate shards, cream swirls, and cherries.
Chill 4+ hours before serving.
Notes
Use almond extract as a family-friendly alternative to Kirsch.
Make cake layers a day ahead and store airtight.
Cake improves overnight as flavors meld.
Always use cold whipping cream and mascarpone for best results.
No baking powder is needed eggs provide leavening.
- Prep Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 22 minutes
- Category: 12 servingsDessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: German
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 559 kcal
- Sugar: 26g
- Sodium: 119mg
- Fat: 39g
- Saturated Fat: 23g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0.1g
- Carbohydrates: 53g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 189mg