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Home » Cakes Recipes » Black Forest Cake Recipe

Black Forest Cake Recipe

Published October 12, 2021 Last Modified October 30, 2021 By Greedy Eats

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Perfectly moist and sweet, this Black Forest Cake Recipe will have you craving one more bite. With layers of cake filled with homemade sweet cream and chocolate ganache, what more could you ask for in a decadent dessert? How about topping it with sweet cherries for starts? Literally one of my best cake recipes, ever.

Try my Cherry Dump Cake next. Find all Chocolate Dessert Recipes on the blog here.

Black forest cake topped with whipped cream topping and layered with cherries.

TASTE AND TEXTURE:

  • Decadent moist yet fluffy cake layers
  • Perfectly sweet and light with homemade whipped cream 
  • Topped with rich chocolate ganache
  • Dotted with loads of cherry flavor

RECIPE INGREDIENTS:

Ingredients like oil, eggs, sugar, flour, vanilla, flour, cocoa and coffee to make chocolate cake.

Chocolate Cake Ingredients:

  • all-purpose flour - This is the base of the cake so give it texture.
  • cocoa powder - Using cocoa powder adds a flavorful chocolate flavor. Both unsweetened or dutch cocoa can be used here.
  • granulated sugar - To sweeten the cake.
  • leaveners - For lift and rise in the cake.
  • canola or vegetable oil - Either oil is fine so just use what you have at home.
  • eggs - Make sure the eggs are at room temperature.
  • buttermilk - If you don't have buttermilk, you can make your own. Add 1 Tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice to a liquid measuring cup and then fill the rest with milk till you reach one cup mark.
  • hot water or coffee - Hot liquid blooms cocoa and allows it to mix well in the batter. Add coffee in the cake batter for an extra kick of chocolate flavoring. You won't taste any coffee in the baked cake.

Step by step process to make chocolate cake, cool it down and assembling with whipped cream and cherries.

Cherries and Syrup:

  • Cherries - You have two options here-
    1. Use canned dark sweet cherries in heavy syrup. Then reduce the heavy syrup with cherry liquor for brushing cake layers.
    2. Or if you want your cherries to look even prettier in these layers, add bright red ones in the layers and make simple syrup using sugar, water and cherry liquor.
  • cherry liquor - This is optional but adds a wonderful cherry flavor.

Chocolate Ganache:

  • heavy cream or heavy whipping cream
  • semi-sweet chocolate: If you want a sweeter chocolate ganache, reach for milk chocolate chips.

Soft and moist German Black Forest Cake with whipped cream, cherries and chocolate ganache.

How to make homemade Whipped Cream:

Add a few tablespoon of confectioners’ sugar to very cold whipping cream and whip it with a tsp of pure vanilla extract. Take care not to over whip it or the cream may curdle. Just whip till stiff peaks are formed. 

HOW TO MAKE BLACK FOREST CAKE:

  1. Start by making the cake. Whisk together the ingredients (full directions are found below) using a mixer. Combine the wet and dry mixtures.
  2. Add the cake mixture to your baking pans. Bake your cake till they pass toothpick test.
  3. Make the tops of the cakes flat. In order to top with the ganache and cherries, you'll need a smooth surface for the ingredients to stay on.
  4. Prepare the syrup topping. Mix together the syrup ingredients and brush on top of all the baked cakes.
  5. Create the homemade ganache. Make the ganache following the recipe steps and then set aside to cool down completely.
  6. Make homemade whipped topping. Beat together whipping cream, confectioners' sugar and vanilla until stiff peaks have formed.
  7. Start to assemble the cake. This three-layer cake has a process that is outlined below to get constructed and once you have all the components created, it's time to start creating the cake masterpiece.
  8. Top with ganache. Top the cake with the chocolate ganache, chocolate shreds and cherries for your completed dessert!

Easy Black Forest Cake Recipe, baked in 6 inch pans, layered with cherries and whipped cream topping.

What is the difference between chocolate cake and black forest cake?

Traditionally, Black Forest Cake is layered with a lot of cherries. The layers of chocolate cake are soaked in cherry liqueur syrup. Instead of any heavy frosting, the cake is covered in whipped cream filling.

CAN CHOCOLATE CAKE BE MADE AHEAD OF TIME?

You can make this cake recipe ahead of time so that you can assemble it in stages. If you want to make cakes first, you can easily create the batter and bake them ahead of time. 

Store the cake layers covered tightly overnight at room temperature until you're ready to assemble and use.

Moist, fluffy and decadent Black Forest Cake with whipped cream and homemade chocolate ganache.

HOW DO YOU MAKE CHOCOLATE GANACHE SWEETER?

You can change up sweetness of homemade ganache by changing up the sweetness of chocolate that you're using. I like the semi-sweet chocolate because it pairs well with the other added sweeteners on the cake.

QUICK TIPS TO MAKE BLACK FOREST CAKE:

  1. Make sure that you're using canned cherries for this recipe. The heavy syrup that is added to them will flavor this cake.
  2. There is also an option to add a tad bit of corn syrup in the ganache to make it look all shiny. This is an optional step but a fun one!

MORE CAKE RECIPES FOR YOU:

  • Easy Chocolate Cake
  • Easy Banana Cake Recipe
  • Chocolate Bundt Cake
  • Chocolate Layer Cake

If you liked this recipe, give it a star review. Also, tell me in the comments below, how did this turn out for you! And don’t forget to share your creations with me on Instagram at #greedyeatsblog And lets be friends on Pinterest and Facebook too! 🙂

Black Forest Cake Recipe

This is the best homemade cake recipe that looks like it was actually created by a professional baker!
5 from 11 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Cooling Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours 55 minutes
Servings 10 Slices
Calories: 436kcal
Author: Neha

Equipment

  • Electric beater/mixer

Ingredients

To make the cake:

  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder (I used dutch processed)
  • 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
  • 1 ½ tsp baking soda
  • ¾ tsp baking powder
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 2 large eggs (Room temperature)
  • ¼ cup oil (vegetable or canola)
  • ¾ cup Buttermilk (Room temperature)
  • ¾ cup strong brewed coffee or hot water
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 can (15 oz) cherries (to place between cake layers)
  • ½ cup Shredded chocolate (for topping on frosted cake)

For Syrup:

  • ½ cup water
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 2 Tbsp cherry liquor

To make the chocolate ganache:

  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • 4 ounce semi-sweet chocolate bars (finely chopped)
  • ¾ tsp corn syrup (optional)

To make the whipping topping:

  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • ¼ cup confectioners’ sugar
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Make the cake: Preheat the oven to 350°F. To make this recipe as written with the ingredients listed, grease three 6-inch pans and then add parchment paper. Once the parchment paper is added, grease the top of that as well. .
  • Whisk together the cocoa powder, flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. Set the bowl aside. Grab your mixer and beat together the eggs, oil, vanilla, and buttermilk. Once mixed, combine the dry and wet ingredients together, add in the hot water or coffee, and beat until mixed.
  • Take and divide the cake batter between your three greased baking pans evenly. Pop them in the oven. Bake for 20-25 minutes or till they pass toothpick test. Once they're done baking, take them out of the oven and allow to cool on a wire rack. They will need to cool for about 15 minutes in their baking pans and then you'll want to take them out of the baking pans and allow cooling on the rack.
  • Once the cakes have cooled down completely, take a serrated knife and cut off a thin layer of the tops of cake layers. This will create a flat surface.
  • To make the syrup: Add water and sugar to a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium/high heat. This will take about 2-3 minutes. Turn off the heat and add and cherry liquor. Cool down and then use that liquid to brush over the tops of all the cakes.
  • To make the chocolate ganache: add the corn syrup and chocolate bits into a bowl. Put the cream into a small saucepan and heat it up on the stove. Once it starts to simmer a bit (no boiling - that's too much heat!) you can take off the heat and pour over the top of the chocolate. Let this sit for about 3 minutes and then stir slowly. *You can also make this chocolate ganache in microwave, using small increments.* Set the melted chocolate aside to let it cool for about 10 minutes.
  • To make the homemade whipped cream: grab an electric mixer and whip the sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla on medium high. You're wanting to create sift peaks which will take about 3 minutes of time or so.
  • Now is the time to assemble the cake! Put the first cake layer on your cake plate. Grab 1 heaping cup of the homeamde whipped cream and spread it carefully on top of the cake. Add some cherries and then put second layer of cake and repeat the same exact process. Then add the third cake later and use the remaining whipped topping on the top and around the sides of the cake. Make it as smooth as possible.
  • Grab the ganache that was made earlier and pour it on top of the cake. Spread it around gently so that it falls down over the sides of the cake. Make whipped cream swirls and add your whole cherries on top and put the frosted cake in the fridge to chill for 30 minutes before slicing.

Notes

Storing Information:

You can store leftover cake at room temperature covered tightly at all times for 1-2 days or it can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Cherry syrup:
  • Use canned dark sweet cherries in heavy syrup. Then reduce the heavy syrup with cherry liquor for brushing cake layers.
  •  Or if you want your cherries to look even prettier in these layers, add bright red ones in the layers and make simple syrup using sugar, water and cherry liquor.
Buttermilk - If you don't have buttermilk, you can make your own. Add 2 teaspoons of vinegar or lemon juice to a liquid measuring cup and then fill the rest with milk till you reach ¾ cup mark.
hot water or coffee - Hot liquid blooms cocoa and allows it to mix well in the batter. Add coffee in the cake batter for an extra kick of chocolate flavoring. You won't taste any coffee in the baked cake.
Cocoa Powder: Both natural unsweetened or dutch processed cocoa will work well in this batter. You can even use a combination of both.
Cherries: I used red glazed cherries. You can find them here- not affiliated. Canned dark sweet cherries in heavy syrup, fresh dark sweet cherries or even  maraschino cherries can be used here..
 
 

Nutrition

Serving: 1Slice | Calories: 436kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 23g | Sodium: 282mg | Sugar: 35g
Tried this recipe? Pin it for later!Mention @greedyeats or tag #Greedyeats!
« Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls Recipe
Pumpkin Cupcake Recipe »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Anosa Malanga

    October 17, 2021 at 11:16 am

    I haven't tried making something like this. Looking at the picture makes me drool over it and now I am thinking if I can really do this. Will be taking note of your recipe. Thank you.

    Reply
  2. Neely Moldovan

    October 15, 2021 at 2:50 pm

    This sounds so good! I would love to try some!

    Reply
  3. Milton Coyne

    October 14, 2021 at 11:47 am

    5 stars
    Oh Black Forest.. One of my favorite cake.. This is one of my mom's first attempt in cake baking and it was a success for her.. Although she always get mad at me as i always consume all the cherries on top every time she makes it.. I haven't tried baking yet but i will surely give this a try someday
    Thank you for sharing us the recipe

    Reply
  4. Emman Damian

    October 14, 2021 at 12:07 am

    5 stars
    I would like to have a slice of that Black Forest Cake! Looks so good! I can't wait to bake it too.

    Reply
  5. Anna

    October 13, 2021 at 8:59 pm

    This black forest cake looks delicious! I love cherries and chocolate together, so I'll definitely give this recipe a try!

    Reply
  6. Dominique

    October 13, 2021 at 7:43 pm

    5 stars
    This was a delicious recipe! Thank you for sharing, my whole family loved it!

    Reply
  7. Alita Pacio

    October 13, 2021 at 7:02 pm

    5 stars
    I love to discover new recipes, especially that I have more time now at home. Thanks for sharing this Neha

    Reply
  8. briannemanzb

    October 13, 2021 at 7:01 pm

    5 stars
    This black forest cake looks really good! I cant wait to try it myself

    Reply
  9. Beth Pierce

    October 13, 2021 at 7:01 pm

    5 stars
    The process looks complicated but it`s actually easy when you do it yourself. Thanks for sharing this. My family loved it

    Reply
  10. Gervin Khan

    October 13, 2021 at 9:28 am

    5 stars
    This black forest cake looks really delicious, and it makes my mouth-watering!

    Reply
  11. Talya Stone

    October 13, 2021 at 8:34 am

    5 stars
    Oh wow that cake looks absolutely incredible! I'd like to dive right in an eat that right now.

    Reply
  12. Nyxie

    October 13, 2021 at 6:37 am

    Looks amazing! I'm not much of a baker but my nana is and I bet she'd love to try make this.

    Reply
  13. Stephanie

    October 12, 2021 at 8:26 pm

    My husband loves Black Forest Cake. This would be perfect to make for his birthday in December as a great surprise for him.

    Reply
  14. Heather

    October 12, 2021 at 6:41 pm

    I don't think I've ever had black forest cake before. I can't wait to try this recipe.

    Reply
  15. Leanne Wong

    October 12, 2021 at 4:18 pm

    5 stars
    That looks so decadent and delicious! I love how moist the cake is, and all of that frosting has me drooling!

    Reply

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About Neha

I'm Neha, baker, recipe developer, photographer and writer at Greedyeats.com I aim to create kitchen tested and quality recipes, accompanied by helpful process clicks and lots of tips & tricks along the way. I truly hope my recipes give you confidence to bake and cook from scratch! Read More…

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