Black Forest Cake
A classic German-inspired dessert made with rich chocolate sponge, whipped cream, and sweet-tart cherries layered together into a light yet indulgent cake.
🛒 Ingredients
🍰 Chocolate sponge
- 1¾ cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 cups sugar
- 1½ tsp baking powder
- 1½ tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup milk (or buttermilk for extra softness)
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup hot water or hot coffee
🍒 Cherry filling
- 2 cups pitted cherries (fresh, canned, or jarred)
- ¼ cup sugar (adjust based on sweetness)
- 1 tbsp cornstarch + 2 tbsp water (optional thickening)
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
🍦 Cream layer
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream (cold)
- ¼–½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
🍫 Decoration
- Chocolate shavings or curls
- Extra cherries 🍒
👨🍳 Instructions
1. Bake the chocolate cake
- Preheat oven to 175°C (350°F)
- Grease and line two 8-inch pans
- Mix dry ingredients in one bowl
- Whisk eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla in another
- Combine, then slowly add hot water/coffee
- Mix until smooth (batter will be thin)
- Bake 30–35 minutes
- Cool completely
2. Prepare cherry filling
- Cook cherries with sugar and lemon juice
- Simmer 5–8 minutes
- Add cornstarch slurry if thicker filling is desired
- Cool completely
3. Whip cream
- Beat cold cream with powdered sugar and vanilla
- Whip until soft to medium peaks
4. Assemble cake
- Slice cake layers in half (optional for extra layers)
- Add whipped cream layer
- Spoon cherry filling on top
- Repeat layers
5. Decorate
- Cover cake with whipped cream
- Add chocolate shavings on top and sides
- Decorate with cherries 🍒
🍽️ Serving Ideas
- Serve chilled for best texture
- Pair with coffee or dessert wine ☕🍷
- Add extra cherry syrup for more richness
🔥 Tips
- Chill cake before slicing for clean layers
- Use stabilized whipped cream if making ahead
- Drain cherries well if using canned to avoid sogginess
- Don’t overmix cake batter for a soft sponge
🍒 Why it’s iconic
This cake balances deep chocolate richness with airy whipped cream and bright cherries—light, creamy, and perfectly layered.