Today I’m going to share a delicious recipe for homemade Black Forest Cake! This recipe consists of three decadent chocolate cake layers brushed with Kirsch and filled with a luscious cherry filling and whipped cream frosting.
Any occasion will feel more special with this elegant dessert, thanks to its flavorful pairing of rich chocolate and cherries, as well as its impressive height and presentation.
Although it’s packed with flavor, Black Forest Cake isn’t overly sweet, and it’s boozy Kirsch(wasser) flavored cherry filling places it into the category of a more sophisticated adult cake- don’t serve it up to the kids unless you make an adjustment or two :0).
There are tons of variations of Black Forest Cake floating around, but this is the version that we love best- we hope that you love it too!
What is Black Forest Cake? A Little Bit of History…
Black Forest cake is a chocolate layer cake named for the region in Germany where Schwarzwalder Kirsch(wasser) is made. Kirsch is a clear, colorless fruit liquor made from sour cherries and is what gives Black Forest Cake its distinct cherry flavor (in addition to the cherries in the filling).
Black Forest Cake as we know it today was first created by confectioner Josef Keller in a cafe near Black Forest in the early 1900s, and variations of the dessert existed before that as a combination of Kirschwasser, cooked cherries, and cream.
Some claim that the decoration of the Black Forest Cake with its cherry-lined top border was inspired by the traditional costume Bollenhut hats worn by the women of the Black Forest region which featured a circle of large red pom poms. It’s such a fun little bit of trivia, I’m choosing to believe it ;0).
How to Make Black Forest Cake
*find the full recipe further down
For this recipe, we are using our favorite chocolate cake recipe – our Classic Chocolate Cake. This decadent scratch layer cake makes three 8 inch cake layers, so that our tier can stand nice and tall.
For the Cherry Filling: For our cherry filling, we used a can of Sweet Dark Cherries (pitted) in a heavy syrup. We saved the syrup and drained the cherries, setting aside for later. Next, we combined the cherry juice/syrup with a little water and cornstarch, and heated until thickened. Then, we gently stirred in the cherries and Kirsch and allowed to cool.
Next, we mixed up some sweetened whipped cream using a hand mixer. (Chill the bowl and beaters in the freezer for 10 minutes or so before whipping the cream).
Assembling the Cake: I placed the first layer of chocolate cake on the cake pedestal and used a pastry brush to apply a layer of Kirsch to the top. Our chocolate cake is already very moist and so the main purpose of this step is to add cherry flavor to the cake. (You don’t want to soak it).
Next, I applied the cooled cherry filling, followed by a layer of whipped cream. Add the next layer, brushing with more Kirsch, cherry filling, and whipped cream. Top off the cake the final layer, and brush the top with more Kirsch.
*We frosted the outside of the cake with the remaining whipped cream (reserving some for a top border) and pressed chocolate curls and shavings around the sides. See our note below about transport.
An Important Note About Transporting: I love whipped cream as a frosting for this cake, but if you are going to be transporting it, I would recommend a different frosting for around the sides so that you don’t have to worry about the layers sliding. Such a soft frosting that doesn’t firm when chilled can make transporting a little risky. Our Classic Chocolate Buttercream or Classic Vanilla Buttercream would both be good options.
Don’t miss our full collection of favorite cake recipes in our Recipes section, including this delicious Cherry Chocolate Chip Cake!
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We hope that you enjoy this recipe!
Love Cakes with Cherries? Don’t Miss these Other Favorites!
Black Forest Cake Recipe
This Black Forest Cake From Scratch is the Best! Chocolate cake infused with Cherry Liqueur and filled with whipped cream and cherry filling!
Ingredients
For the Chocolate Cake (I use the reverse creaming method with this recipe)
- 2 cups (400g) granulated sugar
- 2 3/4 cup (322g) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (82g) unsweetened cocoa (lightly spoon into cup then sift)
- 2 teaspoons ((10g) baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon (2g) baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon (2g) salt
- 1 cup (2 sticks) (226g) unsalted butter, softened (do not soften in microwave) I cut the butter into 1 inch pieces onto waxed paper leaving on the countertop for 8 to 10 minutes. I
- 1/4 cup (54g) vegetable oil
- 4 large eggs at room temperature
- 1 cup (220g) milk
- 1 teaspoon (4g) vanilla extract
- 1 cup (220) hot coffee, it can be instant or brewed
For the Cherry Filling
- 1 can (15 oz) Sweet Dark Cherries (pitted) in heavy syrup. Separate cherries from syrup.
- 2 Tablespoons Cornstarch (corn flour in the UK)
- Cherry Kirsch Liqueur (2 Tablespoons for filling, plus additional for brushing over layers)
- For the Sweetened Whipped Cream Filling and Frosting
- 3 Cups Heavy Cream
- 3/4 Cup Confectioners Sugar
Decorative Accents
- 2 (4 oz) Bars Semisweet Baking Chocolate for Shavings
- Approximately 8-10 Fresh Cherries with stems for top of cake ( you could also use maraschino cherries)
- Large star piping tip for top border (we used an Ateco 869)
Instructions
For the Chocolate Cake
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- Grease and flour THREE 8 inch cake pans
- In a mixing bowl, add the dry ingredients: sugar, flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Whisk for 1 minute to blend.
- Add softened butter a few pieces at a time while the mixer is on low speed. Mix until the dry ingredients look like coarse sand and the dry ingredients are moistened. Scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl.
- In a separate bowl whisk the eggs, milk , oil and vanilla until blended.
- Method is important when using the Reverse Creaming Method. With the mixer on low speed, SLOWLY add approximately 1/2 of the egg mixture to the dry ingredients. Increase the speed to medium and mix for 1 1/2 minutes at medium speed. Don't mix above medium speed. Scrape the bottom and sides of bowl. Add the remaining egg mixture in 2 pourings, beating for 20 seconds after each pour. Scrape the sides and bottom of bowl.
- Slowly add the cup of hot coffee and mix another 30 seconds until blended. The batter will be very runny. Don't worry!
- Pour into 3 prepared 8" pans and bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes or until the center of the cake springs back to the touch and a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool the cakes 10 minutes on a rack and then turn out of the pans.
For the Cherry Filling
- Drain the cherry syrup into a measuring cup...the juice/syrup will be about 1/2 cup or so. Add water to the syrup to reach the 1 cup mark. Set the cherries to the side and pour the one cup of liquid into a sauce pan.
- In a small bowl, combine two tablespoons cornstarch with a few tablespoons of the cherry syrup mixture stir until well combined. When combined add it back to the saucepan of cherry syrup and stir constantly over medium heat until the mixture thickens. Keep in mind that it will thicken further as it cools. Gently stir in the drained, sliced cherries and Kirsch.
(If you want a sweeter filling, add sugar at this point. Taste and adjust to your liking, the same is true with the amount of Kirsch.)
For the Chocolate Shavings
I used a vegetable peeler to create chocolate curls and shavings. Just glide over the room temperature chocolate bars to create lots of curls and shavings.
For the Sweetened Whipped Cream
- Chill a glass/metal mixing bowl and beaters in the freezer for about 10 minutes
- Beat the heavy cream on high speed until it begins to thicken (to around the soft peak stage), then gradually add the confectioners sugar, continuing to beat until the stiff peak stage -- this can happen quickly so keep an eye on it. (Peaks hold their shape when the mixer is pulled from the bowl). Don't over-beat or you will wind up with butter! I like to do this step with a hand mixer but if you'd prefer, you can do it with the whisk attachment of your stand mixer.
Cake Assembly
Place first cake layer on your pedestal or cake base. Brush over the top with a thin coating of the Kirsch cherry liqueur. Follow with a layer of the cooled cherry filling. (I like to spread to about 1/2 inch from the edge of the cake.)
Spread a layer of whipped cream over the filling.
Add the second cake layer.
Brush over the second layer with the cherry liqueur, and repeat above steps. Add the third chocolate cake layer, brush with a light coating of the liqueur, and frost top and sides with whipped cream.
Press chocolate shavings around the side and on the top center of the cake. Pipe a border of whipped cream stars (I used an Ateco 869 but a Wilton 6B, 8B or your large star tip of choice is good.) I placed the fresh cherries into every other piped star so that they are evenly spaced.
Looking for More Classic Cake Recipes? Here are a few favorites!
In addition to this favorite Black Forest Cake, here are a few more go-to classic cake recipes that you absolutely must try!
We hope that you enjoy this recipe! Thanks for stopping by!
Looks delish! Being a nice German Girl I highly approve :-) LOL!
I love to eat homemade cakes. But I wasn’t able to bake a black forest cake. But this recipe and method to bake the cake looking simple and easy. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
A Chocolate Genoise is the base for an authentic Black Forest. It’s the first cake you learn to make in Pastry School. I’ve won Gold Medals and Best of Show Trophies with one.
If I can not find Kirsch for the Black Forest cake.
Since it’s only 2 tablespoons what can I use in its place.
Hi Sharon, I haven’t tried a substitution, but you could use a plain cherry juice or syrup or maraschino cherry juice. I also wonder if you could use 2 Tablespoons of the cherry juice that the canned cherries are packed in. Hope you will enjoy the cake.
Hi! Is that the cherry pie filling in the can?
Hi Joan, It is in a can but it is not cherry pie filling. The can will say Sweet Dark Cherries in heavy syrup. You should be able to find it on the canned fruit isle of your grocery store. I hope you will enjoy the cake.
Just found your Facebook page and website, im looking forward to making alot of the recipes I’ve looked at today 😋
Hello, Can you give an approxiate temperature for the hot coffee? And since i have only one pan i will cook them one at a time. Should i make the batter and let it rest meanwhile, or mix them for each one?
Hi Asu, I did not check the temperature of the coffee, but it is probably a little too hot to drink. We used 3 eight inch round pans, but if your pan is a 9 inch round, you could make a 2 layer cake. I would let the batter rest between baking each layer.