Name: German Black Forest Cake
Prep time: 1 h
Cook time: 30 min
Yield: 10
Cuisine: ألمانية
Ingredients: For the cake: 1.75 cups flour, 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa, 1.5 tsp baking soda, 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp salt, 2 cups sugar, 2 eggs, 1 cup buttermilk, 1/2 cup vegetable oil, 2 tsp vanilla, 1 cup hot water; For the filling: 3 cups cold heavy cream, 1/3 cup powdered sugar, 1 tsp vanilla; 500 g pitted sour cherries (fresh or canned), 1/4 cup sugar, 1 tbsp cornstarch; 1/2 cup kirsch (cherry brandy) or concentrated cherry syrup as a non-alcoholic alternative; Dark chocolate shavings, for decoration

An indulgent German layer cake of chocolate sponge soaked in kirsch, filled with whipped cream and sour cherries, and finished with chocolate shavings.

المقادير

For the cake: 1.75 cups flour, 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa, 1.5 tsp baking soda, 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp salt, 2 cups sugar, 2 eggs, 1 cup buttermilk, 1/2 cup vegetable oil, 2 tsp vanilla, 1 cup hot water

For the filling: 3 cups cold heavy cream, 1/3 cup powdered sugar, 1 tsp vanilla

500 g pitted sour cherries (fresh or canned), 1/4 cup sugar, 1 tbsp cornstarch

1/2 cup kirsch (cherry brandy) or concentrated cherry syrup as a non-alcoholic alternative

Dark chocolate shavings, for decoration

خطوات التحضير

Preheat the oven to 175°C, and grease three round cake pans, lining them with parchment paper.

Sift the flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, salt and sugar into a large bowl.

Add the eggs, buttermilk, oil and vanilla, and whisk until combined.

Gradually add the hot water while whisking until the batter is fairly thin (this is normal and yields a moist cake).

Divide the batter evenly among the three pans and bake for 25-30 minutes until the centre is set.

Let the cake layers cool completely on a wire rack.

For the cherry filling, cook the cherries with the sugar and cornstarch dissolved in a little water over gentle heat until the liquid thickens, then let it cool.

Whip the cold cream with the powdered sugar and vanilla until stiff peaks form.

Soak each cake layer with the kirsch using a pastry brush.

Place the first layer on a serving plate, spread with a layer of whipped cream, and distribute half the cherries.

Repeat with the second layer, then top with the third layer.

Cover the entire cake on the outside with the remaining whipped cream.

Decorate the top and sides with dark chocolate shavings and whole cherries, and refrigerate before serving.

نصيحة

Let the cake layers cool completely before filling, or the whipped cream will melt. The kirsch can be replaced with concentrated cherry juice syrup and a touch of almond extract for an alcohol-free version.

Black Forest cake (Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte in German) is named after the Black Forest region in southwestern Germany, famous for producing the traditional sour cherry kirsch (a cherry brandy) used in the original recipe. The cake in its modern form is believed to have developed in the early 20th century and has become one of Germany's most famous cakes worldwide.

The authentic cake consists of three layers of chocolate sponge, each soaked in kirsch syrup, and filled with whipped cream and sour cherries cooked in a light sauce. The entire outside is covered in whipped cream and decorated with dark chocolate shavings and whole cherries, giving it a festive, luxurious look fit for special occasions.