What Are The Elements That Make Up the Perfect, Cult Favorite Black Forest Cake?

The gothic cake is a fun and visually striking one to make. Here’s your checklist to bake the perfect one.

With German origins, the Black Forest cake has spread far and wide enough that most neighborhood bakeries around you will have it on their menu. It is, at this point, a classic. What makes it stand apart from other cakes in the market is its multiple layers, the generous amount of whipped cream, and the bright red cherries and dark chocolate shavings contrasting each other. There are several variations of its recipe, but a few elements are non-negotiable when making it.

Layers

The base of the Black Forest cake consists of several layers of moist chocolate cake. They should be soft and decadent and consist of a deep chocolate flavor. Make at least two cakes, if not more. A simple chocolate cake recipe will do, but you can also look up a traditional German chocolate cake recipe to add to the cake’s authenticity.

Cherries

The Black Forest cake has cherries not just on top but even with its layers. You can use fresh cherries, but they’re not always in season, so canned cherries will also do the job well. In fact, the added sweetness of the syrup of canned cherries will beautifully complement the cake and whipped cream, and the red of the syrup will flow dramatically into the cake, creating an interesting visual effect.

Whipped cream

Between each layer of cake, and on top of the cake, one should find generous layers of sweetened whipped cream. Make sure it's not too runny; the idea is that it should sit nicely between the layers and hold them strongly together, acting almost like an adhesive. While it should be stable, it should also be light and fluffy, adding to the cake’s dramatically soft texture. The whipped cream also acts as a nice visual contrast to the dark brown of the cake, creating striking layers altogether.

Kirsch

Kirsch is essentially cherry brandy. It’s clear and a traditional ingredient, often used to soak the cake layers. Not only does this add a moistness to the delicacy, but also results in a distinct cherry flavor running throughout the cake, adding a cohesiveness that ties its layers together. For non-alcoholic substitutes, consider a light cherry juice or a cherry flavor-infused syrup.

Chocolate shavings

According to a legend, the Black Forest cake gets its name from Germany’s Black Forest mountain range. And the chocolate shavings on and around the cake are reminiscent of fallen leaves on the forest floor. The shavings are normally acquired from dark chocolate, since it contributes not only to the look of the cake, but also adds another flavor to this already dynamic dessert. To create the shaves, use a vegetable peeler or invest in a chocolate shaver tool.

Decorations

Once your layers are standing strongly in front of you, it’s time to decorate. One option is to place cherries at the center of the cake and chocolate shavings all around, with a line of cherries at the border.

Another option is to make whipped cream flowers with a decorating tip to add to the cake’s wild glory feel. Consider adding a chocolate ganache drizzle around the sides of the cake as well. The ganache can be added between the layers too, to add more depth to the cake’s flavor. In some variations, bakers also add slivered or sliced almonds on the cake, sprinkling them on top and pressing them onto the sides for an added crunch and the visual sumptuousness, since the brown of almonds is reminiscent of tree barks.

Here are some additional tips when baking a Black Forest cake at home:

- In terms of order of assembly, start with baking the cakes and brush some kirsch or another alternative into them. On top of the cake, add whipped cream, cherries and perhaps chocolate shavings too. Then go in with the second layer and repeat the steps. The top and sides of the cake are then covered with whipped cream and decorated with cherries, chocolate shavings, and almonds, if you wish.

- Since the whipped cream plays such a crucial structural role, Black Forest cakes are best served chilled. This lets the cream settle, which makes slicing and serving easier.

- And always remember to have generous helpings of the cake, because you not only eat for your tummy, but also eat for your soul!