If I had one last meal on earth and could choose whatever I wanted, alongside a beautiful prime rib dinner, this Easy Black Forest Cake would be my #1 choice for dessert!
Seriously. That’s how much I love this cake! And once you try it, I know you’ll feel the same…
Homemade Black Forest Cake
Black Forest was the very first cake I ever made (with a box mix and canned cherries) and I’ve spent years trying to create the perfect homemade Black Forest cake combination of cake, filling and frosting. Now I’m happy to be able to share it with you! However, this cake is special because not only does it taste spectacular, it’s easy to make and decorate. I use my Old Fashioned Sour Cream Chocolate Cake but you could use a chocolate sponge cake or your favorite chocolate cake. But I especially love this cake because although it’s easy, it still tastes like it’s from a high-end bakery.
Easy Black Forest Cake
But there’s no fancy decorating here, folks. And it would only be a waste of time anyway because this cake is devoured as soon as you set it down. This easy cake is frosted with a simple Easy Stabilized Whipped Cream Icing, adding a few dollops of whipped cream on the top, then maraschino cherries and chocolate shavings. That’s it! The filling itself, is made with canned sweet black cherries and kirsch. And although this filling takes a little more time than using canned cherry pie filling it’s much closer to the traditional black forest cake flavor. I promise -it’s totally worth the time investment!
Cake History
Black Forest cake is traditionally made with a chocolate sponge cake and a rich cherry filling. It’s based on the German dessert Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte, literally translated to “Black Forest Cherry-torte”. Traditionally, kirschwasser (known commonly as kirsch), a brandy made from sour cherries, is added to the cake. Historians believe that this cake originated in the late 16th century in the Black Forest Region, located in the state of Baden-Wttemberg; a region known for its sour cherries and Kirsch or Kirschwasser. It is thought that the cake is named after this brandy. You can read more about that HERE and HERE.
So if you are looking for the perfect easy and simply decorated, traditional Black Forest cake that tastes amazing, then this cake is for you!
Check out my other Black Forest Recipes!
Black Forest Ice Cream Sandwiches (WW friendly)
Easy Black Forest Cake
Ingredients
Cake
- 1 double layer chocolate cake recipe * I use my Old Fashioned Sour Cream chocolate fudge cake (See NOTES)
Cherry filling:
- 398 ml -can of dark, sweet pitted cherries and juice
- 2 ½ tbsp cornstarch
- 3 tbsp sugar
- 1 tbsp kirsch
Icing:
- 1 recipe for stabilized whipped cream icing * See recipe in NOTES
Garnish
- 9 maraschino cherries with stems, patted dry with paper towels -or use fresh cherries, if in season
- 1 ounce semi-sweet chocolate, grated -approximately
Instructions
Cake:
- Bake cake in two 8 inch cake pans, as per directions (of whichever recipe you choose to use). Cool and trim uneven tops off cakes.
Cherry Filling
- Combine cornstarch and sugar in saucepan, stir in cherries and juice.
- Cook over medium heat until thick and clear. * See VIDEO
- Add kirsch. Chill until thick
Assembly
- Make a border around the edge of the bottom cake, then add some whipped cream.
- Add cooled cherry filling
- Add 2nd cake on top of cherry filling.
- Add whipped cream all over cake.
- Top with about about 8 dollaps of whipped cream frosting and one in the centre, using a 1M icing tip and a pastry bag.
- Top each dollop of whipped cream with a maraschino cherry (*make sure you pat the cherries dry with a paper towel or they will leak all over your cake!). You can use fresh cherries instead if they are in season.
- Shave some chocolate (I use a small grater) and sprinkle over the top and sides of cake. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
This post is part ofThe Country Cook Weekend Potluck!
This is a decadent dessert! We were all fighting over the last piece.
I’m glad you loved it!
This cake looks beautiful and a great way to use cherries!
Thank you, Erica!
Black forest cake used to be my favourite cake, and I always requested it for my birthday. I have got to try this one, because I haven’t had one in FOREVER!!
Yes – it’s definitely time to bring this oldie but goodie back into your life, Cathleen!
This is such an amazing cake! Everyone at my house loved it!
Thank you – I’m glad to hear you liked it!
This looks fantastic!! I love Black Forest anything and so does my husband! This would disappear quickly in my house!
Thanks, Annie!