Name: Black Forest Cake Recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 50 min
Cuisine: German
Ingredients: 1 cup flour; ½ cup cocoa powder; 1 tsp baking powder; ½ tsp baking soda; ½ tsp salt; 2 eggs; ¾ cup sugar; ½ cup buttermilk; ⅓ cup vegetable oil; ½ cup brewed coffee; 1 tsp vanilla; 2 cups whipped cream; 1 can cherry pie filling or jarred morello cherries; ½ cup chocolate ganache; Fresh cherries for garnish

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This Black Forest Cake is an irresistible showstopper, perfect for celebrations or simply treating yourself to a slice of German decadence. Imagine layers of tender, ultra-moist chocolate cake embracing pillows of lightly sweetened whipped cream, a crown of dark cherries, and a silky sweep of glossy ganache on top. Everything comes together in each bite—a delightful balance of flavors and textures that makes Black Forest Cake one of the world’s most beloved desserts.

Ingredients You’ll Need

With just a handful of easily available ingredients, you can recreate the magic of Black Forest Cake at home. Every element—each chocolatey layer, cream, and cherry—plays a starring role, bringing rich flavor, luscious texture, and beautiful color to your dessert.

Flour: Provides structure for the cake while keeping it pleasantly tender.
Cocoa powder: Dark and fragrant, this delivers deep chocolate flavor and that classic dark hue.
Baking powder: Ensures your cake rises beautifully and stays fluffy.
Baking soda: Works alongside the buttermilk and cocoa to lighten the crumb.
Salt: Enhances the chocolate notes and balances sweetness.
Eggs: Bind everything together while giving the cake richness and lift.
Sugar: Sweetens the cake without overwhelming the chocolate and cherry flavors.
Buttermilk: Adds moisture and a subtle tang that pairs wonderfully with cocoa.
Vegetable oil: Keeps the cake incredibly moist, even days after baking.
Brewed coffee: Intensifies the chocolate flavor—if you’re not a coffee fan, don’t worry, you can’t taste it!
Vanilla: Rounds out the flavors and adds a lovely aroma to your cake batter.
Whipped cream: Light, fluffy, and gently sweetened, whipped cream is essential for that airy finish between the chocolate layers.
Cherry pie filling or jarred morello cherries: The signature cherry component brings bright flavor, juiciness, and a pop of color.
Chocolate ganache: Smooth and glossy, ganache adds pure chocolate decadence to the top.
Fresh cherries: A playful finishing touch and a little hint to what’s inside every slice.

How to Make Black Forest Cake

Step 1: Prepare Your Cake Pans and Mix the Batter

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lining two 8-inch round cake pans with parchment. In one bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a larger bowl, beat the eggs and sugar until fluffy and pale—this gives your cake that soft, inviting crumb. Add in the buttermilk, oil, coffee, and vanilla, mixing gently. Gradually fold in the dry ingredients, stirring just until combined for a smooth, thick batter.

Step 2: Bake the Cakes

Divide the batter evenly between your two prepared pans. Smooth the tops and bake for 25–30 minutes, or until a toothpick poked in the center comes out clean. Let the cakes cool in their pans for about 10 minutes, then turn them onto a rack to cool completely—there’s nothing quite like the anticipation as the chocolaty aroma fills your kitchen!

Step 3: Whip the Cream

While your cakes cool, whip up the cream. Use a chilled bowl and whisk for best results. Beat the cream until soft peaks form—it should be light, airy, but still hold its shape. For a hint of sweetness, add a little powdered sugar and vanilla if you like.

Step 4: Layer Cake, Cream, and Cherries

Now the fun part! Place one cake layer on your serving plate. Spread a generous layer of whipped cream over the top, then spoon on plenty of cherries and a little of their syrup or filling for extra flavor. Carefully set the second cake layer on top and repeat with more whipped cream and cherries—it’s okay if some cherry juice drips down the sides, that just adds to the rustic charm!

Step 5: Drizzle with Ganache and Decorate

Warm your chocolate ganache to a pourable consistency and drizzle it over the top of your cake, letting it flow gently down the sides. Spoon or pipe on more whipped cream as you like, then finish by piling fresh cherries on top. Now step back and admire your Black Forest Cake masterpiece—almost too pretty to eat!

How to Serve Black Forest Cake

Garnishes

Dress up your Black Forest Cake with a cloud of extra whipped cream, glossy shards of dark chocolate, and a crown of fresh cherries or even chocolate curls—every bite should feel as luxurious as it looks!

Side Dishes

This cake is rich enough to stand alone, but if you’d like to pair it, keep things simple and refreshing. A scoop of vanilla bean ice cream or a small dish of tart cherry sorbet works wonders, creating a delightful contrast to the intense chocolate layers.

Creative Ways to Present

For a playful spin, try building mini Black Forest Cake parfaits in glasses, layering cake cubes, cream, and cherries for individual servings. Or bake the recipe as cupcakes for a portable party treat—everyone loves their own personal dessert!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

To keep your Black Forest Cake tasting fresh, cover it with plastic wrap or store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It stays moist and delicious for up to 3 days—if it lasts that long!

Freezing

If you’d like to freeze the cake, wrap the layers (before filling and decorating) tightly in plastic and foil. They’ll keep well for up to 2 months. Fill and frost once thawed for the freshest flavor and texture.

Reheating

Since this cake is best served chilled or at cool room temperature, there’s no need to reheat! Simply bring it out of the fridge about 20 minutes before serving so the flavors come alive and the cream softens slightly.

FAQs

Can I use fresh cherries instead of canned or jarred?

Absolutely! When cherries are in season, pitting and halving fresh cherries adds vibrant flavor and a lovely tartness. If they’re not as juicy, simmering them with a little sugar and lemon juice makes a delicious filling.

What’s the best way to make chocolate ganache?

Gently heat equal parts chopped dark chocolate and heavy cream until the chocolate melts, then stir until smooth. Let it cool a few minutes before drizzling so it thickens just enough to hold those tempting drips.

Can I make this recipe gluten-free?

Yes! Substitute a high-quality 1:1 gluten-free flour blend for the all-purpose flour—you’ll get the same moist, rich result but everyone can dig in without worry.

Is it possible to make Black Forest Cake ahead of time?

You can bake the cake layers a day ahead (or freeze them), then assemble everything with fresh cream and cherries just before serving for the best texture and freshness.

How do I keep my whipped cream from deflating?

For extra stability, add a spoonful of powdered sugar or a bit of cream stabilizer to your whipped cream. Always keep cakes with whipped cream chilled until serving, and whip just until soft, fluffy peaks form.

Final Thoughts

I hope you feel inspired and excited to bake this Black Forest Cake at home—the joy of assembling those luscious layers is truly unmatched, and every bite delivers a little taste of celebration. Go on, treat yourself and those you love to an unforgettable dessert adventure!