Black Forest Cake

An overview of Black Forest Cake

Black forest cake suitable eaten at any time, but black forest cake most eaten during birthday parties or weddings. But have you ever wondered where the black forest cake originated? Okay, so that's pretty obvious, in the region of black forest in Germany, but who was it that first made the black forest cake and when? Well, let's find out all about the history of black forest cake.

The Black Forest region of southern Germany (Der Schwarzwald) is known for its sour Morello cherries and for Kirsch, or Kirschwasser, a double-distilled, clear cherry brandy made from them. It’s not surprising, then, that desserts made with both the cherries and the Kirsch are part of the regional repertoire. Its German name is Schwarzwälderkirschtorte, Black Forest Cherry Torte (torte is the German word for cake).

Black Forest Cake is a chocolate layer cake, with added layers of whipped cream and Kirsch-soaked morello cherries. The cake is then decorated with more whipped cream, morello or maraschino cherries, and chocolate curls or shavings. The cake layers are also soaked in a Kirsch syrup (although brandy or rum can be used). American recipes tend to omit the spirits to make the cake more family-friendly.

The earliest version of the recipe possibly dates back to the late 16th century when chocolate was first integrated into cakes and cookies (and was extremely expensive). The first “Black Forest Cake” was probably not a conventional cake but a dessert comprising cooked cherries, cream, Kirsch and a biscuit—similar to the original berry shortcake.

The original name of this popular German dessert is Schwarzwälderkirschtorte, Black Forest cherry torte. It is known by different names in different parts of the world. In India, its popular as black forest pastry, in the US, as black forest and in the UK, as black forest gateau. The authentic black forest is a multiple chocolate genoise layer cake which is soaked in Kirschwasser liqueur (a clear liqueur distilled from cherries) and covered with whipped cream and cherry filling.

In India most bakeries that offer black forest on the menu replace the Kirsch liqueur with tinned cherry syrup. The black forest cake that I have eaten and know of has 3 to 4 layers of chocolate cake, with whipped cream and maraschino cherries between each layer, topped with whipped cream and decorated with cherries and grated chocolate or chocolate shards. If you are planning on preparing sweet recipes for kids for a get together or birthday party, you should consider black forest cake. I used tinned maraschino cherries and Rich’s whipping cream. I’d suggest you do not skip the brewed coffee which gives a lovely flavor to the cake.

Well, whatever the original recipe for black forest cake is, after reading about black forest cake history, I am sure that you are already craving it! So go on and simply indulge!

Chocolate Cake Ingredients

• 3/4 cups unsweetened cocoa
• 2 cups cake flour
• 1-3/4 cups sugar
• 1-1/4 cups milk
• 3/4 cup shortening
• 1-1/4 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 3 large eggs

Chocolate Cake Preparation

STEP 1 : Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease two 9-inch round  

cake pans; dust with cocoa.

STEP 2 : Using an electric mixer, on low speed with the

paddle attachment, incorporate all ingredients slowly; mix 

until well-blended.

  

STEP 3 : Increase mixer speed to high; mix for two more

minutes, scraping sides of bowl occasionally.

STEP 4 : Pour batter into pans. Bake for 30-35 minutes

until cake springs to the touch. Set aside to cool.

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