Description
Indulge in the rich flavors of Classic Black Forest Cake Squares, a delightful dessert that combines chocolate sponge cake, cherry filling, and whipped cream frosting.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (125 g) all-purpose flour
- ½ cup (50 g) cocoa powder
- 1½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp salt
- 3 large eggs
- ¾ cup (150 g) sugar
- ½ cup (120 ml) vegetable oil
- ½ cup (120 ml) buttermilk (or milk + 1 tsp vinegar)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 can (21 oz / 595 g) cherry pie filling or 1½ cups pitted cherries with 2 tbsp sugar and 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp kirsch (cherry liqueur) — optional
- 150 g (5 oz) dark or semi-sweet chocolate
- ½ cup (120 ml) heavy cream
- 1½ cups (360 ml) cold heavy cream
- ⅓ cup (40 g) powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Chocolate curls or shavings for garnish
- Maraschino cherries for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 175°C (350°F). Line a 9×13-inch (23×33 cm) pan with parchment paper.
- In a bowl, mix flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- In another bowl, whisk eggs, sugar, oil, buttermilk, and vanilla until smooth.
- Add dry ingredients to wet and mix gently until just combined.
- Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 20–25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Let cool completely, then slice horizontally into two even layers.
- If using fresh or frozen cherries, simmer them with sugar and lemon juice for 5–7 minutes until syrupy.
- Add kirsch if desired. Cool completely before layering.
- Heat cream until hot but not boiling. Pour over chopped chocolate and let sit for 1 minute, then stir until smooth and glossy.
- Cool ganache to room temperature until spreadable.
- Beat heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla until stiff peaks form. Keep chilled until ready to assemble.
- Place one cake layer on a serving tray. Spread chocolate ganache evenly, then add whipped cream and cherry filling. Top with the second cake layer.
- Frost the top with whipped cream. Chill for at least 1 hour before slicing into squares.
- Pipe whipped cream rosettes on top of each square. Add a maraschino cherry and sprinkle chocolate shavings for the perfect finish.
Notes
- For a richer flavor, use high-quality dark chocolate for the ganache.
- Ensure the cake is completely cooled before slicing to prevent crumbling.
- Chilling the cake helps the layers set and makes it easier to cut into squares.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: German
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 square
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 25g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 80mg