Germany · Europe

Black Forest Cake

Whipped cream engineered to hold its layer between sponge and kirsch cherries.

Black Forest cherry cakeSchwarzwälder Kirschtorte

The Chemistry in This Bake

Whipping cream to a stable structure that holds up as a layer between sponge and cherries without collapsing.

Learn the full technique →

Ingredients

  • Eggs
  • Sugar
  • Flour and cocoa (for sponge)
  • Heavy cream
  • Morello cherries
  • Kirsch (cherry brandy)
  • Dark chocolate (for shavings)
  • Powdered sugar

Method

  1. Bake a light chocolate sponge and cool; cut into three layers.

  2. Drain cherries, reserve juice, and macerate in kirsch.

  3. Whip cream with powdered sugar to firm, stable peaks that hold a sharp edge.

  4. Layer sponge, cherry syrup, cherries, and whipped cream.

  5. Cover the whole cake with the whipped cream.

  6. Decorate with chocolate shavings and whole cherries; chill to set.