Black Forest Cake Recipe – Lauren’s Newest

May 13, 2025

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You may cease your recipe search as a result of this one’s been examined, tweaked, and is completely dependable each time. In case you’re in search of a basic Black Forest Cake recipe made utterly from scratch—with no shortcuts on taste—you’ve discovered it. This simple Black Forest Cake has moist chocolate cake layers, sweet-tart cherry filling, actual whipped cream, and loads of chocolate shavings for good measure. It’s an absolute show-stopper!

What’s Black Forest Cake?

Black Forest Cake (Black Forest Gateau), is a German dessert made out of chocolate sponge muffins, sandwiched along with contemporary whipped cream, cherry filling, and Kirsch (a kind of brandy). Though my recipe doesn’t embody cherry brandy and is due to this fact alcohol-free, the cherry filling brings loads of taste by itself. Extra concerning the totally different variations beneath!

Cherry Filling Choices

To make the do-it-yourself cherry filling you’re going to wish elements like frozen tart cherries, sugar, cornstarch, butter, and almond extract. These all come collectively to make a sweet-tart gelatinous filling.

Candy Cherries – In case you like issues on the sweeter aspect, go for candy cherries as a substitute of tart.
Canned Cherry Filling – Alternatively, you should utilize the canned cherry filling as a store-bought shortcut!
Kirsch – As talked about above, a conventional black forest cake recipe accommodates Kirsch so be happy so as to add in a wholesome splash to the cherry filling, whereas cooking, if desired.

Black Forest Cake Ornament

The entire exterior of this Black Forest Cake is roofed in do-it-yourself whipped cream, dusted with chocolate shavings, and topped with extra cherries.

Whereas I completely adore whipped cream, I completely get in the event you desire Cool Whip. It’s extra steady and able to use. Or in the event you’d quite use an precise frosting recipe, my Vanilla Buttercream Frosting would work nice.

And in the event you don’t wish to purchase a block of chocolate and shave it down, simply purchase a bag of mini chocolate chips. Numerous choice to make it your personal!

Components Wanted For Black Forest Cake

For the chocolate cake–

All-purpose flour: the bottom of the cake batter that creates construction
Dutch processed cocoa powder: provides the cake deep chocolate taste
Baking powder + baking soda: helps the cake rise and keep fluffy
Salt: balances sweetness
Buttermilk: provides moisture and tang
Vanilla extract: enhances taste
Prompt espresso granules: optionally available, however boosts the chocolate taste
Vegetable oil: retains the layers of chocolate sponge cake tender
Granulated sugar: for sweetness and construction
Giant eggs + egg white: provides richness and helps bind the batter

For the cherry filling + syrup layers–

Granulated sugar + cornstarch: thickens the cherry syrup
Tart cherries: frozen or canned, drained (keep away from heavy syrup)
Unsalted butter: provides richness to the filling
Almond extract: enhances cherry taste
Chocolate syrup: unfold between layers for an additional chocolate hit

For the whipped cream + toppings–

Heavy whipping cream: base for the whipped cream frosting
Powdered sugar: sweetens with out graininess
Vanilla extract: provides taste
Bittersweet baking chocolate or block of chocolate: use a vegetable peeler to make chocolate shavings or chocolate curls
Recent cherries or maraschino cherries: for garnish on prime of the cake

Variations

Use maraschino cherries as a substitute of contemporary cherries for simpler garnish
Sub bitter cream for buttermilk if wanted
Add cherry brandy (kirsch) to the cherry syrup or brush it over the cake layers
Use chocolate chips or chocolate bark as a substitute of shaved chocolate
Make a layer cake with solely two layers if you wish to skip slicing the muffins in half

The right way to Make Black Forest Cake

For full recipe particulars, together with elements wanted and measurements, see the printable recipe card down beneath. Right here is step-by-step what to anticipate when making this cake:

The very first thing to do to make this black forest cake is to make the chocolate cake! In case you don’t use the cake recipe I’ve down beneath, make certain your recipe makes sufficient to make two 8-9 inch muffins.

1. Preheat Oven + Prep Pans

Preheat oven to 350° F. Line two 8-inch spherical baking pan with parchment paper and/or spray properly with nonstick cooking spray and put aside.

Professional Tip: No matter the way you bake this cake, make sure to use lighter-colored baking pans (or glass). Utilizing a darker pan will make the sides prepare dinner lots faster than the middle of the cake, providing you with darker, crispier edges which isn’t what we’re going for with this chocolate cake recipe.

2. Put together the Dry + Moist Components

In a big bowl, whisk flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt collectively to mix. Put aside.

In a liquid measuring cup, stir buttermilk, immediate espresso granules (if utilizing) and vanilla extract collectively. You wish to stir to dissolve the espresso granules. They may slowly dissolve over the course of 5-10 minutes as they sit within the buttermilk and as you add them into the chocolate cake batter. Put aside.

wet cake ingredients in a liquid measuring bowl

3. Make the Cake Batter

In a big bowl, combine oil and sugar collectively till mixed. Add within the eggs and egg white, one by one, till combination turns into lighter in shade. Scrape the perimeters of the bowl and blend once more briefly.

Alternate including in flour combination with milk combination, being certain to begin and finish with flour. Scrape the perimeters and blend once more to make sure a clean batter.

4. Bake + Cool

Divide chocolate cake batter evenly between 2 baking pans and clean the tops. Bake 28-35 minutes within the decrease two thirds of the oven. Cake will likely be achieved when a toothpick comes out clear or principally clear with just a few moist crumbs. (Preserve an in depth eye on the cake across the 25 minute mark, as ovens range!)

round cake pans with parchment paper inside

Cool 15-20 minutes in cake pans earlier than making an attempt to invert on cooling racks. As soon as you may deal with the nice and cozy pans together with your naked fingers, you may flip them out. Cool utterly earlier than frosting and adorning.

5. Make Cherry Filling

For the cherry filling, stir sugar and cornstarch collectively in a chilly small pot till mixed. Add in cherries and toss. Place over medium-low warmth to soften frozen cherries. As soon as a paste has shaped across the cherries, improve the warmth to medium and preserve stirring till all of the liquid has come out of the cherries and the combination is boiling. Proceed to stir till it turns into very thick, about 4 minutes or boiling. Watch out to not stroll away from this combination as a result of it may well burn simply. Take away from warmth and stir in butter and almond extract. Cool utterly.

6. Make the Whipped Cream

For the whipped cream, whip heavy whipping cream, sugar, and vanilla extract till stiff peaks type. Refrigerate till prepared to make use of.

7. Time to Assemble the Cake!

As soon as every little thing is ready, it’s time to stack and assemble the cake. This creates a complete of seven layers: cake, chocolate syrup, cake, cherry filling, cake, chocolate syrup, and cake.

Slice each 8-inch cake rounds in half horizontally (this leaves you with 4 8-inch cake rounds).
Place one spherical onto a cake plate then drizzle the highest of the cake with 3 tablespoons of chocolate syrup and unfold utilizing the again of a spoon. High with the opposite half of the cake spherical.
Add on cooled cherry filling leaving a 1-inch border. (It’s possible you’ll not use all of it…FYI! I had about 2 tablespoons left).
Place one other layer of cake on prime of cherry filling. Drizzle with the remaining 3 tablespoons of chocolate syrup and unfold. High with the remaining cake layer.

8. Adorn!

Unfold whipped cream over all the cake.

Professional Tip: I discover it all the time higher so as to add means an excessive amount of after which as I clear up the cake, I take away the surplus. This helps guarantee not a ton of crumbs get into your cream.

If desired use a vegetable peeler to create chocolate shavings with the chocolate baking bar. Freeze 5 minutes earlier than making use of to the perimeters and prime of the black forest cake. Garnish with cherries if desired. Serve!

woman's hand using a veggie peeler to shave off a chocolate bar

Storage + Make Forward Instructions

Any cake leftovers can keep contemporary within the fridge for as much as 2 days (sadly Black Forest Cake doesn’t final very lengthy). And sure, this cake does want to remain refrigerated due to the filling and the whipped cream “frosting”.

Can I make Black Forest Cake forward of time?

To make this cake forward of time, I wouldn’t suggest freezing it complete (as soon as once more, due to the whipped cream). To get round these hurdles, make the cake and filling forward of time and frost the day you propose on serving. That means you may lengthen the lifetime of this scrumptious deal with.

Extra Chocolate Cake Recipes!

Whether or not you’re celebrating an important day or simply wish to bake one thing memorable, this recipe brings all of it collectively. The printable recipe card beneath. Have a fantastic day, buddies.

In case you make this recipe, I might actually respect it in the event you would give it a star ranking and depart your evaluate within the feedback! In case you have an image of your completed dish, publish it on Instagram utilizing the hashtag #laurenslatest and tagging me @laurens_latest.