Why This Cake Will Become Your New Favorite

The Black Forest Collapse Cake is a delightful twist on the classic Black Forest cake. It’s rich, chocolatey, and bursting with cherry flavor. You’ll love this recipe not just for its taste, but also for its fun, layered presentation. It’s perfect for celebrations or just a sweet treat at home. The balance of chocolate, cherries, and creamy frosting will win over anyone who tries it!

Making Your Own Black Forest Collapse Cake

Ingredients

• 2 cups (250g) flour
• 3/4 cup (75g) cocoa powder
• 2 cups (400g) sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 + 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup (240ml) buttermilk
• 1/2 cup (120ml) vegetable oil
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup (240ml) hot coffee or hot water
• 2 cups (200g) cherries (fresh or canned)
• 1/4 cup (50g) sugar (for cherry filling)
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice (for cherry filling)
• 1 tablespoon cherry syrup or rum (optional)
• 1 cup (225g) butter (for buttercream)
• 4 cups (500g) powdered sugar
• 3 tablespoons cocoa powder (for buttercream)
• 3 tablespoons milk or cream (for buttercream)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (for buttercream)
• A pinch of salt (for buttercream)
• Chocolate shavings or curls (for decoration)
• Fresh or cocktail cherries (for decoration)

Directions

1. Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (180°C). Grease three 8-inch cake pans and line them with parchment paper. In a large bowl, mix together the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In another bowl, whisk the buttermilk, vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla until smooth. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, then add the hot coffee. Mix until combined. Divide the batter evenly among the prepared pans and bake for 25-30 minutes. Once baked, let the cakes cool completely.

2. For the cherry filling, combine the cherries, sugar, cornstarch, water, and lemon juice in a saucepan. Cook this mixture over medium heat for 5-7 minutes, until it thickens. If you want, you can add the cherry syrup or rum for an extra kick. Allow the filling to cool.

3. To make the buttercream, beat the butter in a bowl until fluffy. Gradually mix in the powdered sugar and cocoa powder, followed by the milk, vanilla, and a pinch of salt until the mixture is smooth and creamy.

4. Now it’s time to assemble your cake! Place one layer on a serving plate and spread a generous amount of buttercream on top. Add some of the cherry filling, then repeat this process with the remaining layers. Once you’ve stacked the layers, cover the entire cake with the remaining buttercream. Decorate with chocolate shavings and fresh cherries. Let the cake rest for at least 1 hour before slicing and serving.

   

Serving Your Black Forest Collapse Cake

This cake is best served at room temperature. Just slice it up and enjoy it with a cup of coffee or tea. The layers of chocolate and cherry will make it a hit at any gathering!

Storing Leftovers

If you have leftover cake, cover it well with plastic wrap or keep it in an airtight container. It will stay fresh at room temperature for about 2 days. For longer storage, you can place it in the fridge, where it will last for about a week.

Helpful Hints for a Perfect Cake

• Make sure your ingredients are at room temperature before you start baking. This helps the cake rise better.
• If using fresh cherries, make sure to pit them first!
• For a more intense chocolate flavor, you can add an extra tablespoon of cocoa powder to the batter.
• Allow the layers to cool completely before stacking to prevent melting the frosting.

Possible Variations

You can easily tweak this recipe to suit your tastes! For a boozy version, add more rum or cherry syrup to the filling. If you prefer a lighter cake, swap out the regular flour for a gluten-free alternative. You could also try different fruit fillings, like raspberries or strawberries, for a unique flavor twist.

Nutritional Information

While the exact nutritional information can vary, a standard slice (about 1/12 of the cake) typically contains around 450 calories, 20g of fat, 60g of carbohydrates, and 5g of protein.

Perfect for Family Gatherings

This cake is a great choice for birthdays, anniversaries, or holiday celebrations. Its rich flavor and delightful presentation will impress your family and friends.

Ideal Pairings

Enjoy your Black Forest Collapse Cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, a dollop of whipped cream, or even some fresh fruit for a refreshing contrast.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I make this cake in advance?
   Yes, you can bake the cake layers a day or two ahead. Just store them wrapped in plastic wrap until you’re ready to assemble.

2. Can I freeze this cake?
   Absolutely! You can freeze the cake layers for up to 3 months. Just make sure they are well-wrapped to prevent freezer burn.

3. What can I use instead of buttermilk?
   You can make your own buttermilk by adding a tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice to regular milk. Let it sit for about 5 minutes before using.

Black Forest Collapse Cake

A delightful twist on the classic Black Forest cake, rich in chocolate and bursting with cherry flavor, perfect for celebrations or a sweet treat.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 30 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr

Course Cake, Dessert

Cuisine German

Servings 12 servings

Calories 450 kcal

Ingredients

  

Cake Ingredients

• 2 cups flour
• 3/4 cup cocoa powder
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1.5 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 pieces eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup hot coffee or hot water

Cherry Filling Ingredients

• 2 cups cherries (fresh or canned)
• 1/4 cup sugar (for cherry filling)
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice (for cherry filling)
• 1 tablespoon cherry syrup or rum (optional)

Buttercream Ingredients

• 1 cup butter (for buttercream)
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 3 tablespoons cocoa powder (for buttercream)
• 3 tablespoons milk or cream (for buttercream)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (for buttercream)
• a pinch of salt (for buttercream)

Decoration Ingredients

• Chocolate shavings or curls for decoration
• Fresh or cocktail cherries for decoration

Instructions

 

Preparation

• Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Grease three 8-inch cake pans and line them with parchment paper.
• In a large bowl, mix together the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
• In another bowl, whisk the buttermilk, vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla until smooth.
• Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, then add the hot coffee. Mix until combined.
• Divide the batter evenly among the prepared pans and bake for 25-30 minutes. Once baked, let the cakes cool completely.

Creating Cherry Filling

• Combine the cherries, sugar, cornstarch, water, and lemon juice in a saucepan.
• Cook this mixture over medium heat for 5-7 minutes, until it thickens. If desired, add cherry syrup or rum.
• Allow the filling to cool.

Making Buttercream

• Beat the butter in a bowl until fluffy.
• Gradually mix in the powdered sugar and cocoa powder, followed by the milk, vanilla, and a pinch of salt until smooth.

Assembling the Cake

• Place one layer of the cake on a serving plate and spread a generous amount of buttercream on top.
• Add some of the cherry filling, then repeat this process with the remaining layers.
• Cover the entire cake with the remaining buttercream and decorate with chocolate shavings and fresh cherries.
• Let the cake rest for at least 1 hour before slicing and serving.

Notes

This cake is best served at room temperature with coffee or tea. Store leftovers in plastic wrap or airtight container; will stay fresh at room temperature for 2 days or in the fridge for about a week. Make sure ingredients are at room temperature before baking for better rise.

Keyword Black Forest Cake, Celebration Cake, Cherry Cake, Chocolate Cake, Layer Cake