Luscious Black Forest Cherry Cake

by

Step 1: Prepare the Chocolate Cake

  1. Preheat Oven:
    • Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour three 8-inch round cake pans.
  2. Mix Dry Ingredients:
    • In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until well combined.
  3. Add Wet Ingredients:
    • Add the eggs, milk, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract to the dry ingredients. Mix on medium speed until well combined. Reduce the speed to low and carefully add the boiling water. The batter will be thin.
  4. Bake:
    • Divide the batter evenly among the prepared cake pans. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

Step 2: Prepare the Cherry Filling

  1. Cook Cherry Filling:
    • In a medium saucepan, combine the reserved cherry juice, sugar, and cornstarch. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens and boils. Boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir in the kirsch and drained cherries. Let cool to room temperature.

Step 3: Prepare the Whipped Cream

  1. Whip Cream:
    • In a large mixing bowl, beat the heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract on high speed until stiff peaks form. Be careful not to overwhip.

Step 4: Assemble the Cake

  1. Layer Cake:
    • Place one chocolate cake layer on a serving plate. Spread a third of the cherry filling over the cake layer, followed by a layer of whipped cream. Repeat with the second cake layer, another third of the cherry filling, and more whipped cream. Top with the third cake layer.
  2. Frost Cake:
    • Spread the remaining whipped cream over the top and sides of the cake.

Step 5: Decorate the Cake

  1. Add Chocolate Shavings:
    • Press the chocolate shavings or curls onto the sides of the cake. Sprinkle some on top for decoration.
  2. Add Fresh Cherries:
    • If desired, decorate the top of the cake with fresh cherries.

Step 6: Chill and Serve

  1. Chill:
    • Refrigerate the assembled cake for at least 2 hours to allow the flavors to meld and the cake to firm up.
  2. Serve:
    • Slice and serve your luscious Black Forest Cherry Cake chilled. Enjoy the layers of rich chocolate, tangy cherries, and light whipped cream in every bite!

Tips for a Perfect Black Forest Cherry Cake

  • Room Temperature Ingredients: Ensure that your eggs and milk are at room temperature for a smoother batter.
  • Stiff Peaks: Whip the cream until it holds stiff peaks, but be cautious not to overwhip as it can turn into butter.
  • Kirsch Substitute: If you prefer a non-alcoholic version, you can use cherry juice instead of kirsch.
  • Even Layers: For even cake layers, use a kitchen scale to divide the batter equally among the cake pans.

Conclusion

This Luscious Black Forest Cherry Cake is a show-stopping dessert that combines the richness of chocolate cake with the freshness of cherries and the lightness of whipped cream. Perfect for any celebration or just to indulge your sweet cravings, this cake is sure to delight everyone who tastes it. Follow the steps carefully, and you’ll have a stunning and delicious cake that looks as good as it tastes. Enjoy!

2 of 2Next

Leave a Comment