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Traditional Black Forest Cake

A classic German layered dessert featuring rich chocolate cake, tart sour cherries and fresh whipped cream.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine German
Servings 12

Ingredients
  

Chocolate Cake Layers:

  • 2 cups All-Purpose Flour
  • 2 cups Polski Cukier Granulated Sugar
  • ¾ cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
  • 2 tsp Baking Soda
  • 1 tsp Baking Powder
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 2 large Eggs
  • 1 cup Buttermilk
  • ½ cup Vegetable Oil
  • 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
  • 1 cup Hot Coffee or Hot Water

Cherry Filling & Syrup:

  • 1 jar 680g Hofgut Sauerkirschen (Pitted Sour Cherries) drained with juice reserved
  • cup Polski Cukier Sugar
  • 2 tbsp Cornstarch
  • cup Kirsch Cherry Liqueur or reserved cherry juice

Whipped Cream Frosting & Garnish:

  • 3 cups Heavy Whipping Cream cold
  • cup Powdered Sugar
  • 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
  • 1 bar Dark Ritter Sport Chocolate shaved into curls

Instructions
 

Bake the Layers:

  • Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
  • Grease and flour three 8-inch round cake pans.
  • Whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Add eggs, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla; beat on medium speed for 2 minutes.
  • Stir in hot coffee until smooth (batter will be thin).
  • Divide evenly between pans and bake for 22–25 minutes. Cool completely.

Prepare Cherries & Syrup:

  • In a saucepan, whisk 1 cup reserved cherry juice, sugar, cornstarch, and Kirsch.
  • Simmer over medium heat until thickened.
  • Stir in drained Hofgut Sauerkirschen and let cool completely. Reserve 8-10 cherries for the garnish.

Make Frosting:

  • Beat cold heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla until stiff peaks form.

Assemble:

  • Brush each cake layer with cherry syrup.
  • Spread whipped cream over the bottom layer and top with half the cherry filling.
  • Repeat with the second layer. Top with the third layer.
  • Frost the top and sides with remaining whipped cream, then garnish with shaved Ritter Sport chocolate and cherries. Chill 4 hours before serving.