Decadent Black Forest Chocolate Cake
A rich chocolate cake layered with creamy frosting and tangy cherries, perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
Cake Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- 1 cup buttermilk room temperature
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup hot coffee
Cherry Filling
- 2 cups cherries, pitted and halved fresh or frozen
- 1/3 cup sugar for cherry filling
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 2 tbsp water for cherry filling
Frosting and Decoration
- 3 cups heavy whipping cream
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract for frosting
- 2 cups dark chocolate curls or shaved chocolate for decoration
- to taste whole cherries with stems for decoration
Instructions
Preparation
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease and line two 8-inch cake pans.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Add the eggs, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla. Mix until smooth.
- Slowly stir in the hot coffee; the batter will be thin.
- Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans and bake for 30-35 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Let the cakes cool completely.
Cherry Filling
- Add cherries and sugar to a saucepan over medium heat.
- Mix cornstarch with water and stir it in.
- Cook until thickened and glossy, about 5 minutes. Cool completely.
Assembly
- Beat the heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla until stiff peaks form.
- Slice each cake layer in half horizontally to create four layers.
- Spread whipped cream and cherry filling between each layer.
- Frost the outside of the cake with the remaining whipped cream.
- Press chocolate curls around the sides and pipe whipped cream swirls on top.
- Garnish with whole cherries and chill for at least 1 hour before slicing.
Notes
Use hot coffee for the batter to enhance the chocolate flavor. Chill mixing bowls and beaters for better volume when whipping cream. Fresh cherries are best, but you can substitute with cherry preserves. Use dark cocoa powder for a more intense chocolate flavor.