If you're looking for a special occasion dessert that's both visually stunning and delicious, look no further than a black forest cake. This classic German cake typically features layers of chocolate sponge cake, whipped cream, and cherries, and is finished with a beautiful chocolate ganache or glaze. While it may seem intimidating to make at home, it's actually easier than you think — especially with our easy black forest cake decorations. From simple chocolate shavings to elaborate chocolate curls and marzipan cherries, we've got you covered with a variety of options to make your black forest cake look like it came straight from a bakery.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
BLACK FOREST CAKE RECIPE
Provided by Shiran
Time 2h5m
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- To make the chocolate cake: Preheat oven to 350°F/180°C. Generously butter two 8-inch cake pans that are at least 2-inches high, and dust with cocoa powder, tapping the ramekins slightly to remove any excess.
- In a large bowl, place flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sugar. Mix until combined. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, mix together eggs, oil, vanilla, buttermilk, and water (pour the water slowly so it won't cook the eggs). Whisk until smooth. Add egg mixture into flour mixture and mix until smooth. Don't overbeat - batter will be lumpy at first, but mix gently and eventually stir with a whisk just until smooth. The batter will be thin and liquid. That's ok.
- Scrape batter into prepared pans. Bake cakes for 30-35 minutes (depending on your oven - this might take longer), or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs. Allow to cool for 10 minutes in the pan before unmolding, then let cakes cool completely on a wire rack. I recommend wrapping the cakes in plastic wrap and refrigerate or freeze them for several hours before cutting them. Cut each cake layer in half horizontally.
- To make the syrup: place drained cherries in a medium bowl, and add to the bowl ¼ cup Kirsch and ½ cup cherry juice from can. Leave to soak at room temperature for 30 minutes or more, then drain cherries in a sieve over a bowl, keeping both the cherries and syrup. Add more cherry juice to the syrup to get 3/4 cup syrup (you won't need the rest of the juice, discard it or save for another use). This will be the soaking syrup for the cake layers.
- To make the whipped cream: Using a stand mixer or hand mixer with a whisk attachment, beat heavy cream and powdered sugar until stiff peaks form. Read more about making perfect whipped cream here.
- Assembly: Place one cake layer on a cake stand or plate and brush with 1/3 of the cherry syrup. Cover top with a thick layer of whipped cream frosting (about 1 cup) and top with 1/3 of the cherries. Repeat twice more with remaining layers and top with the last cake layer (there's no need to soak the top layer with syrup). Frost the top and sides of the cake with whipped cream. If you want, reserve some of the whipped cream, about 1½ cups, for decorating the top. Use a pastry bag with a large flower tip, and pipe rounds around the top. Top with whole cherries. Cover the sides and top with chocolate shavings, if desired. Store cake in the fridge, covered, for up to 4 days.
BLACK FOREST CAKE I
This recipe delivers a classic version of the original Black Forest cake with whipped cream frosting and sour cherries.
Provided by Linda Greer
Categories Desserts Fruit Dessert Recipes Cherry Dessert Recipes
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour two 9 inch, round, cake pans; cover bottoms with waxed paper.
- In a large bowl, combine flour, 2 cups sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add eggs, milk, oil, and 1 tablespoon vanilla; beat until well blended. Pour batter into prepared pans.
- Bake for 35 minutes, or until wooden toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool layers in pans on wire racks 10 minutes. Loosen edges, and remove to racks to cool completely.
- Drain cherries, reserving 1/2 cup juice. Combine reserved juice, cherries, 1 cup sugar and cornstarch in a 2 quart saucepan. Cook over low heat until thickened, stirring constantly. Stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla. Cool before using.
- Combine whipping cream and confectioner's sugar in a chilled medium bowl. Beat with an electric mixer at high speed until stiff peaks form.
- With long serrated knife, split each cake layer horizontally in half. Tear one split layer into crumbs; set aside. Reserve 1 1/2 cups Frosting for decorating cake; set aside. Gently brush loose crumbs off top and side of each cake layer with pasty brush or hands. To assemble, place one cake layer on cake plate. Spread with 1 cup frosting; top with 3/4 cup cherry topping. Top with second cake layer; repeat layers of frosting and cherry topping. Top with third cake layer. Frost side of cake. Pat reserved crumbs onto frosting on side of cake. Spoon reserved frosting into pastry bag fitted with star decorator tip. Pipe around top and bottom edges of cake. Spoon remaining cherry topping onto top of cake.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 661.9 calories, Carbohydrate 86.9 g, Cholesterol 129.6 mg, Fat 33.9 g, Fiber 3.4 g, Protein 7.5 g, SaturatedFat 16 g, Sodium 341.9 mg, Sugar 61.8 g
QUICK BLACK FOREST CAKE
This version of Black Forest cake gets you an easy, delicious, and moist cake by using cherry pie filling and devil's food cake mix.
Provided by Donna
Categories Desserts Cakes Cake Mix Cake Recipes
Yield 18
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Mix together: cake mix, beaten eggs, almond extract, cherry pie filling and 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips. Stir until just combined. Pour batter into a greased 9x13 inch pan.
- Bake in a 350 degree F (175 degree C) oven for 45 to 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove cake from oven and let cool.
- To Make Glaze: Heat 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips, butter or margarine, and milk in a saucepan over medium high heat. Once semisweet chocolate chips are melted and mixture is combined stir in confectioners' sugar.
- Spread glaze over cooled cake. Serve cake as is or with whipped cream and a cherry.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 263.4 calories, Carbohydrate 41.7 g, Cholesterol 38.5 mg, Fat 9.7 g, Fiber 1.2 g, Protein 4.1 g, SaturatedFat 4.7 g, Sodium 235.7 mg, Sugar 23.5 g
EASY BLACK FOREST CAKE DECORATIONS
Steps:
- Cut a piece of parchment paper to 6 by 15 inches. Spread the chocolate on the center of the parchment to 1/8-inch thickness using a large offset spatula. Roll up the parchment from a short end and place in the refrigerator until firm, 20 to 30 minutes.
- Unroll the chocolate on a work surface. Place the curved chocolate pieces upright around the sides of the cake. Lightly dust the chocolate pieces with luster dust using a kitchen paintbrush. Spread the pie filling on top of the cake. Transfer the whipped cream to a piping bag fitted with a large star tip. Pipe swirls of whipped cream on top of the cake. Garnish with the maraschino cherries.
EASY BLACK FOREST CAKE
Black Forest Cake is a family favorite- and you will love how simple it is to make this cake!
Provided by Six Sisters
Yield 16
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Spray 2 8" or 9" pans with non-stick cooking spray. Prepare cake mix with water, eggs and vegetable oil called for on cake mix directions. Split batter evenly between both pans and bake, following directions on back of cake mix box. Let cakes cool completely and remove from pans.
- In a large bowl, mix together cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Fold in Cool Whip. Divide evenly and spread half of whipped cream mixture over each cake.
- Top each cake with cherry pie filling. Refrigerate cakes until ready to serve.
Nutrition Facts : Servingsize 1 serving, Calories 3734 kcal, Fat 101 g, SaturatedFat 53 g, Cholesterol 629 mg, Sodium 7774 mg, Carbohydrate 583 g, Sugar 354 g, Protein 30 mg
Tips:
- To achieve a smooth and even ganache, ensure that the chocolate and cream are heated gently and stirred continuously until well combined.
- For a more intense chocolate flavor, use a higher percentage of cocoa solids in your chocolate.
- If you don't have a piping bag, you can use a ziplock bag with the corner snipped off to create your ganache decorations.
- For a more professional look, use a cake turntable to help you evenly coat the cake with ganache.
- To create a drip effect, allow the ganache to cool slightly before pouring it over the cake. You can also use a spoon to drizzle the ganache over the cake for a more rustic look.
- If you are using fresh fruit, be sure to wash and dry it thoroughly before using it to decorate your cake.
- For a more elegant look, you can arrange the fruit in a specific pattern or design on top of the cake.
- If you are using chocolate shavings, you can create a more dramatic effect by using a microplane grater to create very fine shavings.
- For a touch of sparkle, you can sprinkle edible glitter or gold leaf on top of the cake.
Conclusion:
With a little creativity, you can easily create beautiful and delicious black forest cake decorations that will impress your friends and family. These tips will help you achieve perfect results every time, whether you are a beginner or an experienced baker. So get creative and have fun decorating your next black forest cake!
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