German Black Forest Cake: A Taste of Home

The German Black Forest cake, also known as Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte, is a rich and decadent dessert that has captured the hearts of many around the world. This classic recipe is a staple in Germany, and its unique combination of chocolate, cherries, and whipped cream makes it a true taste sensation.

The key to this cake's success lies in its preparation, which requires a bit of patience but yields impressive results. To begin, prepare the sponge by whisking together eggs, sugar, and vanilla sugar until fluffy. Sift flour, cornstarch, baking powder, cinnamon, and cocoa into the egg mixture, and stir quickly to combine.

Next, grease a springform pan and line it with baking paper. Spoon in the sponge dough and smooth out the surface. Bake for 30 minutes at 180°C/350°F, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool before removing it from the pan and transferring it to a wire rack.

While the cake cools, prepare the shortcrust pastry by sifting flour, baking powder, and cocoa into a mixing bowl. Add butter, sugar, vanilla sugar, and Kirschwasser (a cherry liqueur), and mix until a smooth dough forms. Roll out the dough and line the bottom of the springform pan with it.

Now it's time to assemble the cake. Remove the sponge from the pan and place it on top of the shortcrust pastry. Soak gelatine in cold water for 10 minutes, then warm it up while stirring until dissolved. Add the sifted icing sugar and vanilla sugar, and whip until stiff.

Heat the Kirschwasser with cherry juice until boiling, then reduce heat and simmer for a minute. Remove from heat and let cool. Stir in canned cherries (reserving two tablespoons of juice) and add to the whipped cream.

Decorate the cake by spreading a layer of whipped cream on top, reserving two tablespoons of juice from the canned cherries. Arrange reserved cherries on top of the whipped cream for a beautiful finish. Slice and serve, enjoying every bite of this rich and indulgent German Black Forest cake.

In the words of many who have tried it, 'Dump everything into a dish and let the magic happen' – that's how easy it is to make this incredible dessert at home!

German black forest cake taste of home