Description
A classic Black Forest chocolate cake with layers of moist chocolate cake, whipped cream frosting, and cherry topping.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
- 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 large eggs
- 3/4 cup buttermilk
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup hot coffee (or hot water)
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream, cold
- 1/3 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 Tbsp instant vanilla pudding mix (optional)
- 2 cups pitted cherries (fresh or frozen)
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1 Tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tsp cornstarch + 2 Tbsp water (slurry)
- Pinch of salt
- Fresh cherries (for garnish)
- Chocolate shavings (for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line an 8-inch round cake pan with parchment.
- In a large bowl, whisk flour, sugars, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Add eggs, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla; mix until smooth.
- Slowly stir in hot coffee (batter will be thin). Pour into pan and bake 30–38 minutes, until a toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs. Cool completely.
- In a saucepan, cook cherries, sugar, and lemon juice over medium heat 6–8 minutes until juicy.
- Stir in cornstarch slurry and simmer 1–2 minutes until thickened. Cool to room temp.
- Beat heavy cream, powdered sugar, vanilla, and pudding mix (if using) until soft-medium peaks form.
- Spread whipped cream over the cooled cake in thick swirls.
- Spoon cherry sauce over the top and gently swirl it through the cream.
- Top with fresh cherries and sprinkle chocolate shavings. Slice and serve.
Notes
- Use cold whipping cream for best results.
- The pudding mix helps stabilize the whipped cream.
- Fresh cherries work best for garnish.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: German
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 490
- Sugar: 45g
- Sodium: 320mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 65g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
Keywords: Black Forest chocolate cake, whipped cream frosting cake, chocolate cake with cherries, easy Black Forest cake, cherry sauce topping, chocolate shavings dessert