This rich dark chocolate cake filled with cherries and decadent kirsch will impress even the most jaded foodies. It's a great recipe to whip out when you don't know what to make, but you need a fantastic dessert.
Black Forest Cake
Ingredients:
1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup shortening
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
1/2 cup kirsch
1/2 cup butter
3 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 pinch salt
1 teaspoon strong brewed coffee
2 (14 ounce) cans pitted Bing cherries, drained
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 Tablespoon kirsch
1 (1 ounce) square semisweet chocolate
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line the bottoms of two 8 inch round pans with parchment paper circles.
2. Sift together flour, cocoa, baking soda and 1 teaspoon salt. Set aside.
3. Cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Beat in flour mixture, alternating with buttermilk, until combined.
4. Pour into 2 round 8 inch pans.
5. Bake at 350 degrees F for 35 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean. Cool completely. Remove paper from the cakes.
6. Cut each layer in half, horizontally, making 4 layers total. Sprinkle layers with the 1/2 cup kirsch.
7. In a medium bowl, cream the butter until light and fluffy. Add confectioner's sugar, pinch of salt, and coffee; beat until smooth. If the consistency is too thick, add a couple teaspoons of cherry juice or milk.
8. Spread first layer of cake with 1/3 of the filling. Top with 1/3 of the cherries. Repeat with the remaining layers.
9. In a separate bowl, whip the cream to stiff peaks. Beat in 1/2 teaspoon vanilla and 1 tablespoon kirsh.
10. Frost top and sides of cake. Sprinkle with chocolate curls made by using a potato peeler on semisweet baking chocolate.
Other Great Desserts to Try
If you need another elegant dessert idea to bring to your next gathering, you're in luck. We've got some great ideas for you right here; all you need to do from here is find a recipe! We have a recipe for many of these suggestions on our site, so be sure to search for it on here.
Making a tiramisu cake is always a great way to add some flair to the table. This cake is certainly not the easiest to make, but it has a lot to offer and will leave your guests star-struck. If you don't want to go through the trouble of making a tiramisu cake, try an angel's food cake or devil's food cake instead. Of course, for the right amount of elegance you should make your own.
Chocolate mousse is another great option for a fancy dessert. This light, airy dessert is a nice complement to a heavy dinner. Having something to cap off a great dinner experience without making your stomach explode is ideal. Another light dessert option is homemade fudge. It may not be quite as fancy as some of the other suggestions we've given, but it can still work in a pinch.
Of course, no list of dessert suggestions would be complete without cheesecake. Cheesecake is an absolute delight. There are so many flavors to enjoy, ranging from the super sweet to the more savory. Pretty much everyone loves a good slice of cheesecake (or two!). We have dozens of cheesecake recipes on our site, so be sure to check them out and pick your favorite!
The image featured at the top of this post is ©erwinova/Shutterstock.com.