Black Forest cake is as quintessential to German cuisine as pretzels and beer. The decadent combination of chocolate, cherries, and whipped cream is hard to beat! Which is why I've created many other ways to enjoy these flavors in five delicious Black Forest cake recipes inspired by traditional Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte.
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What is Black Forest Cake?
Black Forest cake is called Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte in German, which translates to "Black Forest Cherry Cake". It was created around the early 20th century.
It is technically a torte, which is a type of multilayered cake filled with rich, decadent fillings.
Usually the chocolate cake layers are soaked with Kirsch, which is a cherry brandy.
The cakes are then layered with whipped cream and dark cherries.
Extra whipped cream, whole cherries, and chocolate shavings are the most common decorations on this traditional German cake.
More About Kirsch
Kirschwasser (or Kirsch for short) is a German brandy made from dark cherries.
Traditional Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte recipes soak the chocolate cake in Kirsch made from cherries from Germany's Black Forest, hence the origins of its name.
And while traditional German Black Forest Cake contains a lot of kirsch, you can still make this classic cake without any booze. I usually use syrup from canned dark cherries!
Variations on Black Forest Cake
Growing up in Germany, we'd often see this elaborate cake in Konditorei (pastry shops). However, it'd mostly be in the touristy places, since a lot of Germans consider this cake old-fashioned.
But you really can't be the flavor combo of dark cherries, chocolate, and whipped cream. Which is why in addition to traditional Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte, I'm sharing some unique twists on this nostalgic German dessert!
Baking Tips
Creating a delicious Black Forest Cake requires attention to detail and quality ingredients. Below are some of my top tips!
- Use Quality Ingredients: Use high-quality chocolate, fresh heavy cream, and the best cherries you can find.
I usually get a bittersweet or dark chocolate bar for the shavings, and fresh heavy cream for the whipped cream.
Test-taste your cherries to make sure they're ripe and sweet. - Moisture Matters: When making a traditional layer cake, make sure your chocolate sponge cake layers are moist by brushing them generously with Kirschwasser or cherry syrup. This prevents the cake from drying out.
- Whip to Stiff Peaks: Whip your cream to stiff peaks, so it won't slide off your cake, cupcakes, or brownies. And check it often as you whip it, to make sure it doesn't overwhip.
- Chill Before Serving: Allow your Black Forest cake recipes to chill in the refrigerator for a few hours before serving. This helps the flavors meld together and makes slicing cakes way easier. It also helps prevent the whipped cream from melting.
The Best Black Forest Recipes
1. Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte
This traditional four-layer Black Forest Cake is impressive yet deceptively easy to make! The syrup from canned dark cherries is thickened to create a delicious syrup. And homemade whipped cream lightens this rich yet delicate Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte.
2. Black Forest Bundt Cake
This easy Black Forest Bundt cake is made of rich chocolate cake with a simple canned cherry filling, and topped with homemade whipped cream. Shaved chocolate and fresh cherries top it all in a delicious, effortless masterpiece!
3. Black Forest Cupcakes
These decadent Black Forest Cupcakes are a miniature version of classic Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte. They're made from rich chocolate cupcakes, a dark cherry filling from scratch, homemade whipped cream & shaved chocolate!
4. Black Forest Sheet Cake
This Black Forest Sheet Cake has all the beloved flavors of traditional Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte - tart & fruity cherries and rich chocolate cake. The only difference is that this version is much easier & faster to make, since there's no need to stack cake layers! And vanilla buttercream frosting makes this dessert more stable for travelling and storing.
5. Black Forest Chocolate Brownies
These Black Forest brownies are super fudgy and delicious! A homemade cherry sauce is swirled on top of the brownie batter, adding a fruity flavor to the rich chocolate. And for a classic Black Forest cake look and taste, top your brownies with whipped cream and shaved chocolate!
6. Chewy Black Forest Cookies
These chunky Black Forest cookies capture the nostalgic flavors of German Black Forest cake in the form of a delicious cookie! Chewy chocolate cookies are mixed with dark chocolate chips for a rich chocolatey flavor. And white chocolate chips are added to be reminiscent of whipped cream. Finally fresh cherries are mixed in for that essential fruity flavor!
7. Black Forest Cheesecake
This decadent Black Forest cheesecake is made from a creamy chocolate cheesecake, Oreo crust, canned cherry pie filling, whipped cream, and shaved chocolate. It has all the nostalgic flavors of German Black Forest cake, in the form of a rich and luxurious cheesecake.
More German Cake Recipes
Looking for more German-inspired cakes? Try these!
I'm eggcited to hear from you :)