Black Forest Cake Recipe – Lauren’s Newest

May 13, 2025

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You possibly can cease your recipe search as a result of this one’s been examined, tweaked, and is completely dependable each time. In case you’re searching for a basic Black Forest Cake recipe made utterly from scratch—with no shortcuts on taste—you’ve discovered it. This straightforward 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 desserts, sandwiched along with recent whipped cream, cherry filling, and Kirsch (a kind of brandy). Though my recipe doesn’t embody cherry brandy and is subsequently alcohol-free, the cherry filling brings loads of taste by itself. Extra concerning the completely different variations under!

Cherry Filling Choices

To make the selfmade cherry filling you’re going to wish substances 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 facet, go for candy cherries as an alternative of tart.
Canned Cherry Filling – Alternatively, you need to use the canned cherry filling as a store-bought shortcut!
Kirsch – As talked about above, a standard 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 selfmade whipped cream, dusted with chocolate shavings, and topped with extra cherries.

Whereas I completely adore whipped cream, I completely get if you happen to want Cool Whip. It’s extra steady and able to use. Or if you happen to’d moderately use an precise frosting recipe, my Vanilla Buttercream Frosting would work nice.

And if you happen to don’t need to purchase a block of chocolate and shave it down, simply purchase a bag of mini chocolate chips. A number of choice to make it your personal!

Elements 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: offers 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
On the spot 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 high of the cake

Variations

Use maraschino cherries as an alternative of recent 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 an alternative of shaved chocolate
Make a layer cake with solely two layers if you wish to skip slicing the desserts in half

The best way to Make Black Forest Cake

For full recipe particulars, together with substances wanted and measurements, see the printable recipe card down under. 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 under, ensure your recipe makes sufficient to make two 8-9 inch desserts.

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, remember to use lighter-colored baking pans (or glass). Utilizing a darker pan will make the sides prepare dinner rather a lot 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 Elements

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, instantaneous espresso granules (if utilizing) and vanilla extract collectively. You need to stir to dissolve the espresso granules. They are going to 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, separately, till combination turns into lighter in coloration. Scrape the perimeters of the bowl and blend once more briefly.

Alternate including in flour combination with milk combination, being positive to start out and finish with flour. Scrape the perimeters and blend once more to make sure a easy batter.

4. Bake + Cool

Divide chocolate cake batter evenly between 2 baking pans and easy the tops. Bake 28-35 minutes within the decrease two thirds of the oven. Cake shall be performed when a toothpick comes out clear or principally clear with a couple of moist crumbs. (Preserve a detailed 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 possibly can deal with the nice and cozy pans along with your naked palms, you possibly can 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 fashioned across the cherries, improve the warmth to medium and hold 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 possibly 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 kind. Refrigerate till prepared to make use of.

7. Time to Assemble the Cake!

As soon as all the pieces 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. (Chances are you’ll not use all of it…FYI! I had about 2 tablespoons left).
Place one other layer of cake on high of cherry filling. Drizzle with the remaining 3 tablespoons of chocolate syrup and unfold. High with the remaining cake layer.

8. Embellish!

Unfold whipped cream over the whole cake.

Professional Tip: I discover it at all times 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 high 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 recent 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 intend on serving. That means you possibly can prolong the lifetime of this scrumptious deal with.

Extra Chocolate Cake Recipes!

Whether or not you’re celebrating a special day or simply need to bake one thing memorable, this recipe brings all of it collectively. The printable recipe card under. Have an ideal day, mates.

In case you make this recipe, I might actually recognize it if you happen to would give it a star score and depart your overview within the feedback! You probably have an image of your completed dish, submit it on Instagram utilizing the hashtag #laurenslatest and tagging me @laurens_latest.