Black Forest Cake

For me, there are few desserts that compare to classic chocolate cake. One that can easily outshine it, though? A Black Forest cake. It’s the perfect elevated treat, with just a few extra steps required to pull it off.

This Black Forest cake recipe starts with beating the wet ingredients and adding the dry ingredients to make the chocolate cake batter. Once the cakes are baked and cooled, you’ll layer them with homemade whipped cream and a cherry filling made from canned tart cherries. These bursts of cherry make it a refreshing cake to serve at birthday parties, Christmas dinners or on anniversaries.

In the world of homemade cake recipes, this one stands out as one of the prettiest. Its tri-colored layers provide all sorts of inspiration for garnishing: top it with chocolate-covered cherries or chocolate curls. You can also make a chocolate bark (like the one in this chocolate peanut butter cake) to crack and spear into the frosting in an ode to the mysteriousness of a dark forest.

What is Black Forest cake?

Also known as a Black Forest gateau, Black Forest cake is made of chocolate cake layered with whipped cream and a cherry filling, which is often made with punchy cherry brandy. Each bite of chocolate cake is tender and moist, with textural contrast thanks to the cream and cherry filling.

Though its origins are contested, Black Forest cake is suspected to have been inspired by the Black Forest region of Germany. There, sour cherries are common and the deep brown shade of chocolate is reminiscent of the darkness of the forest.

Black Forest Cake Ingredients

• Milk: Milk serves as the liquid base to add moisture to this cake. This cake recipe uses whole milk for a rich texture, but you can use 2% if you prefer.
• Eggs: Three large eggs help the cake rise while also providing moisture.
• Oil: Canola oil is added for moisture and plays a role in texture. You could also use vegetable oil instead.
• Vanilla extract: Vanilla extract enhances the flavor of the cocoa powder in the chocolate cake batter.
• Flour: All-purpose flour is crucial to creating proper structure in this cake recipe.
• Sugar: Granulated sugar adds sweetness to the cake batter and helps offset the tartness of the cherry filling.
• Cocoa: This easy Black Forest cake recipe uses cocoa powder as the flavoring agent for its simple chocolate cake batter.
• Baking powder and baking soda: Baking powder and baking soda are both leavening agents, which interact with other ingredients in the batter to make the cake rise.
• Salt: A touch of salt balances the sweetness of the whole cake.
• Tart cherries: It wouldn’t be a Black Forest cake without cherries! Sweet varieties like Bing or Black cherries will make the cake almost too sweet. Instead, canned, pitted tart cherries are the best type of cherry for this cake.
• Cornstarch: A small amount of cornstarch is added to the filling. The cornstarch helps to thicken the cherry mixture.
• Cherry brandy: Cherry brandy is used as a flavoring agent. It enhances the flavor of the cherry filling for the Black Forest cake’s classic flavor. When shopping, you might see labels that say “cherry liqueur.” Though the name is different, it’s actually the same as brandy in this instance.
• Heavy whipping cream: This cake is topped with homemade whipped cream, which is made from heavy whipping cream.
• Confectioners’ sugar: A small amount of confectioners’ sugar stabilizes and sweetens the whipped cream topping.

Directions

Step 1: Mix the wet ingredients

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line the bottoms of two greased 9-inch round baking pans with parchment and grease the paper. In a large bowl, beat the milk, eggs, oil and vanilla until they’re well blended.

Step 2: Add the dry ingredients

In another bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Gradually beat the dry ingredients into the milk mixture.

Step 3: Bake the cakes

Divide the cake batter between the prepared cake pans. Bake the cakes for 30 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool the cakes in their pans for 10 minutes before removing them to wire racks. Remove the paper and let the cake layers cool completely.

Step 4: Make the filling

While the cakes cool, make the filling. Drain the cherries, reserving 1/2 cup of the juice. In a small saucepan, whisk together sugar, cornstarch and the reserved juice. Add the cherries. Cook and stir the mixture over low heat for 10 to 12 minutes or until it’s thickened and bubbly. Remove the filling from the heat and stir in the brandy. Let the filling cool completely.

Step 5: Make the whipped cream topping

In a large bowl, beat the cream until it begins to thicken. Add the confectioners’ sugar and beat until stiff peaks form.

Step 6: Assemble and frost the cake

Using a long serrated knife, cut each cake horizontally in half. Place one cake layer on a serving plate. Top it with 1-1/2 cups of whipped cream. Spread 3/4 cup of the filling on top, spreading to within an inch of the edge. Repeat this step twice. Top the stacked cake with the remaining cake layer, resulting in four layers of chocolate cake. Frost the top and sides of the cake with the remaining whipped cream, reserving a portion to pipe decorations, if desired. Spoon the remaining filling onto the top of the cake. Refrigerate the cake until serving.

Black Forest Cake Variations

• Add more chocolate: Love this chocolate and cherry combo? Add even more chocolate by mixing mini chocolate chips into the cake batter. You could also choose to top the cake with a chocolate ganache, surrounded by a whipped cream border.
• Make cupcakes: It will require a bit more effort, but this easy Black Forest cake recipe can be transformed into cupcakes. Divide the chocolate cake batter and bake the cupcakes. Use a piping bag or cupcake corer to add the filling to the middle of the cupcakes, then top each with whipped cream and a bit of extra cherry filling.
• Skip the alcohol: Prefer to make this Black Forest cake recipe alcohol-free? You can replace the cherry brandy with cherry or vanilla extract if desired.

How to Store Black Forest Cake

Since Black Forest cake is topped with homemade whipped cream, it needs to be stored in the refrigerator. Store it covered or in an airtight container to preserve its freshness.

How long does Black Forest cake last?

Stored properly in the refrigerator, this Black Forest cake will last in the fridge for up to four days.

Can you make Black Forest cake ahead of time?

Because it’s topped with fresh whipped cream, a Black Forest cake isn’t the best make-ahead cake. However, you could prep some components ahead of time to save time. Bake and cool the chocolate cake layers and wrap them in storage wrap so they’re ready to use. You could also make the filling ahead of time. Make the whipped cream and assemble the cake the day you plan to serve it.

Black Forest Cake Tips

What else can you serve with Black Forest cake?

Like other chocolate and cherry desserts, Black Forest cake doesn’t need much in terms of pairing. Keep things simple with a scoop of vanilla or cherry ice cream. Enjoy a double shot of espresso with your dessert, too.

How do you decorate a Black Forest cake?

Black Forest cake can be decorated in a number of ways. Use a piping bag to pipe decorative whipped cream on top. You could also choose to dress up the top and sides with chocolate shavings or mini chocolate chips. Fresh, whole cherries also make a wonderful garnish on top.