Black Forest Cake

Black Forest gateau and Black Forest cake are the English names for the German Dessert Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte, literally “Black Forest Cherry Torte”, where it originated. Typically, Black Forest Gateau consists of several layers of chocolate sponge cake sandwiched with whipped cream and cherries. It is decorated with additional whipped cream, cherries, and chocolate shavings. Traditionally, kirschwasser, a clear spirit made from sour cherries, is added to the cake. But in India, Black Forest cake is generally prepared without alcohol. And thus I have made these without alcohol in it.

The layers of cream, cherry, chocolate and cake make this a lip-smacking creation. This was my birthday cake that i had baked last month. A what would be a more special day than today for sharing this with you all. Wishing you all a very Happy Valentines Day. Have a wonderful day with your loved ones. 🙂

 

ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE. AND A LITTLE CHOCOLATE NOW AND THEN DOESN’T HURT.

-CHARLES SCHULZ

 

INGREDIENTS:

For the Cake:

• 2 cups Sugar
• 1 3/4^th cups All-Purpose Flour
• 3/4^th cup Cocoa Powder
• 2 tsp Baking Soda
• 1 tsp Baking Powder
• 1 tsp Kosher salt
• 2 Eggs
• 1 cup Buttermilk
• 1 cup Strong Black Coffee
• 1/2 cup Vegetable Oil
• 2 tsp Vanilla Extract

 

For the Cherry Syrup:

• 1 ½ cup Pitted Cherries
• 1/4^th cup Water
• 3/4^th cup Sugar
• 1 tsp Vanilla Extract / Cherry Liquor

 

For the Whipped Cream:

• 3 cup Heavy Whipping Cream
• 1/3^rd  cup Confectioners Sugar
• 1 tsp Vanilla Essence

 

For the Decoration:

• Few Cherries
• Fine Chocolate Shavings
• Coarse Chocolate Shavings

 

 

INSTRUCTION:

For the Cake:

1. Preheat oven to 175°C. Grease and flour two 9-inch round baking. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl with an electric mixer; combine the sugar, flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Mix on low until dry ingredients are thoroughly combined.
3. Add eggs, buttermilk, coffee, oil and vanilla. Beat on medium speed for about two minutes; the batter will be thin. Pour batter evenly into prepared pans.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes or until wooden toothpick inserted in centre comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes. Transfer to the wire racks and cool completely.

 

For the Cherry Syrup:

1. Combine sugar and diced cherries in a small sauce pot and keep aside for 10 minutes.
2. Add 1/4^th cup water and bring to a boil and simmer for 5 minutes, until slightly thickened.
3. Stir in vanilla essence and Let cool completely.

 

For the Whipped Cream:

1. Combine whipping cream, vanilla and confectioner’s sugar in a chilled medium bowl.
2. Beat with an electric mixer at high speed until stiff peaks form.

 

For the Decoration:  

1. To make chocolate shavings, you can either melt chocolate in the microwave, spread it thin over the back of a baking sheet with the help of a food scraper. Then refrigerate a few minutes and use a food scraper to create bark-like shavings.
2. Alternatively, you can use a potato peeler to shave a chunk of chocolate.

 

Assembling:

1. With a long knife, trim the domes off each cake to level it.
2. Reserve 1/2 of the whipped cream for decorating cake in a piping bag, and set aside.
3. Brush both layers of the cake with cherry syrup. Place one cake layer on the cake plate.
4. Now top most of the cherry chunks on the cake. Spread 1 cup frosting evenly on the cake. And place the 2^nd layer of the cake, on top of it.
5. Crumb coat the sides and top of the cake and refrigerate for 20 miutes.
6. Frost the cake and pat some fine chocolate shavings onto the frosting, on the side of cake.
7. Using prepared pastry bag, pipe around top and/or bottom edges of cake.
8. Decorate the cake with cherries and coarse chocolate shavings on the top.

 

Note:

• This cake also pairs beautifully with a simple chocolate ganache.

 

My Boy’s waiting patiently for me to finish off my photo sessions and cut the cake. 😉 😛