I have been a true lover of
Black Forest Cake for a very long time. A simple
chocolate cake with luscious whipped cream frosting and adorned with cherries,
this cake speaks of deliciousness and elegance in every bite. This is a very
simple cake to make, just a few simple steps and this baby comes together real
easily. Also you can use fresh cherries if you like here.
Ingredients:
Cherries-
- 24 ounce (700 ml) jar of Morello Cherries in syrup
- 4 tablespoons Kirsch or Cherry Brandy
- 1/4 cup (50 grams) granulated white sugar
Chocolate Genoise-
- 3 tablespoons (42 grams) hot melted unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup (60 grams) cake flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/3 cup (30 grams) unsweetened regular or Dutch-processed cocoa powder
- 4 large eggs
- 2/3 (135 grams) granulated white sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Whipped Cream Frosting-
- 2 1/2 cups (600 ml) heavy whipping cream
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 3 tablespoons (35 grams) granulated white sugar
Instructions:
Cherries-
Drain the cherries, reserving the liquid. Place the cherries in bowl and toss
with 2 tablespoons Kirsch. Cover the bowl and toss with 2 tablespoons Kirsch.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and set aside. Place 1 cup (240 ml) of the
reserved cherry syrup in a small saucepan, along with the sugar and heat until
sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat, add 2 tablespoons Kirsch, and let
cool.
Chocolate Genoise-
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C). Butter or spray, a 9 inch
round cake pan and line the bottom of the pan with parchment or wax paper. In a
bowl, sift the flour,salt and cocoa powder. In a heatproof bowl whisk the eggs
with the sugar. Place over a saucepan of simmering water, and whisking
constantly, heat until lukewarm (about 5 minutes). Remove from the heat and
transfer to the bowl of your electric mixer. Beat on high speed until the
mixture is thick (about 5 minutes) (the batter will fall back into the bowl in a
ribbon-like pattern). Beat in the vanilla extract. Then sift about one-third of
the flour mixture over the egg mixture and gently fold in using a rubber spatula
or whisk.Sift and fold in another third, and the fold in the rest. Take 1 cup of
the batter and fold it into the melted butter (to lighten it). Then gently fold
it into the egg batter. Pour into your pan, smoothing the top. Bake for about
20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean
(cake starts to shrink from the sides of pan). The cake can be stored for two
days or frozen for a month.
Whipped Cream Frosting-
In your mixing bowl place the whipping cream,vanilla extract and sugar and
stir to combine. Cover and chill the bowl and the wire whisk in the refrigerator
for at least 30 minutes, then beat the mixture just until stiff peaks form.
Assemble Cake-
Using a sharp knife cut the genoise, horizontally, into two layers.Turn over
the top layer of the cake (top of the cake becomes bottom) and place on your
serving plate. Brush the cake layer with 1/4 cup (60 ml) cherry syrup. Take 1
cup of whipped cream and spread on the moistened genoise. Place the cherries
evenly over the cream. Brush the cut-side of the second genoise layer with 1/4
cup of the syrup. Place cut-side down on top of the cherries,gently pressing to
compact. Reserve one cup (240 ml) of whipped cream and spread the remaining
cream over the top and sides of the cake. Place the reserved cream in a pastry
bag fitted with large star tip and pipe rosettes on the top of cake. Cover and
refrigerate the cake for several hours (or overnight) before serving. Decorate
with fresh cherries and shaved chocolate.