Description
A show-stopping Black Forest Cake featuring moist chocolate layers, billowy whipped cream, sweet cherries, and glossy chocolate ganache. Perfect for birthdays, holidays, and any special celebration.
Ingredients
Chocolate Cake Layers:
1 ¾ cups (219g) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)
¾ cup (65g) unsweetened natural cocoa powder
1 ¾ cups (350g) granulated sugar
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 tsp espresso powder (optional)
½ cup (120ml) canola or vegetable oil
2 large eggs, room temperature
¾ cup (180g) full-fat sour cream, room temperature
½ cup (120ml) buttermilk, room temperature
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
½ cup (120ml) hot water or coffee
Cherry Syrup:
2 cans (15 oz each) dark sweet cherries in heavy syrup
2 Tbsp cherry liqueur (kirsch), optional
Chocolate Ganache:
1 cup (240ml) heavy cream
8 oz (226g) semi-sweet chocolate, finely chopped
1 Tbsp light corn syrup (optional)
Whipped Cream:
2 cups (480ml) cold heavy cream
¼ cup (30g) confectioners’ sugar
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
Instructions
Prep Pans & Oven – Preheat to 350°F (177°C). Grease and line three 9-inch cake pans with parchment paper.
Make Cake Batter – In a large bowl, whisk flour, cocoa, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and espresso powder. In another bowl, beat oil, eggs, sour cream, buttermilk, and vanilla. Combine, then mix in hot water or coffee until smooth.
Bake – Divide batter evenly between pans and bake 21–25 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool in pans for 30 minutes, then transfer to wire racks.
Prepare Cherry Syrup – Drain cherries, reserving ¾ cup syrup. Simmer syrup with kirsch until reduced to ¼ cup.
Make Ganache – Heat cream until simmering, pour over chocolate, let sit 2 minutes, then stir until smooth.
Whip Cream – Beat cold heavy cream, sugar, and vanilla until soft peaks form.
Assemble – Level cakes. Layer cake, whipped cream, cherries, and syrup. Repeat. Spread thin cream layer on sides, smooth, then pour ganache on top. Garnish with whole cherries.
Notes
For an alcohol-free version, replace kirsch with additional cherry syrup or juice.
Cake layers can be made a day ahead; store wrapped at room temperature.
Whipped cream is best made fresh.
- Prep Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: German
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/12 of cake)
- Calories: 540
- Sugar: 46g
- Sodium: 270mg
- Fat: 31g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 62g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 90mg