INGREDIENTS
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup buttermilk, room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup boiling water
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 3 tbsp powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract (for whipped cream)
- 1 jar (14 oz) of Morello cherries or regular cherries, drained
- 1 tbsp cherry juice (optional, for soaking the cake)
- Chocolate shavings or grated chocolate, for decoration
- Fresh cherries, for topping
Recipe
- Step 1: Prepare the Cake
- - Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans or line with parchment paper.
- - In a medium bowl, sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- - In a large bowl, whisk together sugar, eggs, oil, buttermilk, and vanilla extract until smooth and combined.
- - Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
- - Slowly add the boiling water to the batter. The batter will be thin, but that’s perfectly normal.
- - Divide the batter evenly between the prepared cake pans and bake for 30-35 minutes.
- - or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- - Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Step 2: Prepare the Whipped Cream
- - In a chilled mixing bowl, beat the heavy whipping cream with powdered sugar and vanilla extract until soft peaks form.
- - Continue beating until stiff peaks form. Be careful not to overwhip. Set aside.
- Step 3: Assemble the Cake
- - Once the cakes have cooled completely, slice each cake in half horizontally to create 4 layers of cake.
- - Place the first cake layer on a serving platter. Drizzle with a little cherry juice (or syrup) to soak the cake.
- - Spread a generous amount of whipped cream over the cake layer, followed by a layer of cherries.
- - Place the second cake layer on top, repeating the process: soak, whip cream, and cherries.
- - Continue layering and finishing with a top layer of cake. Cover the entire cake with the remaining whipped cream.
- Step 4: Decorate the Cake
- - Garnish the top of the cake with chocolate shavings or grated chocolate, ensuring a nice even coating.
- - Decorate with fresh cherries and more whipped cream swirls for a classic Black Forest look.
- Step 5: Chill and Serve
- - Refrigerate the cake for at least 1 hour before serving to allow the layers to set.
- - Slice the cake and serve chilled. Enjoy the rich and decadent flavors of Black Forest Cake!