Black Forest cake, a German cake with cherries and kirsch (cherry liqueur)

Black Forest cake, a German cake with cherries and kirsch (cherry liqueur)

Baking

A classic German dessert: a chocolate sponge cake, layered with cherries soaked in kirsch liqueur and topped with whipped cream, decorated with chocolate …

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The Black Forest cake is a traditional German dessert, perfect for holidays. It consists of a chocolate sponge cake, cherry compote with kirsch (a type of cherry liqueur), and whipped cream, layered in three generous tiers.

Ingredients and directions

  • Prep time40 min
  • Cook time40 min
  • Resting1 hr
  • Total2 hr 20 min
  • DifficultyMedium
  • CostBudget
  • Cooking methodfour
  • Estimated cost$10.47 $1.31 / serving Estimated price; varies by store. Converted from euros at the ECB rate of October 7, 2026.
  • Vegetarian

Ingredients

8 people

Chocolate sponge cake

  • $0.26
  • $0.99
  • $0.23
  • $1.40
  • $0.92
  • $0.09
  • $0.01

🍒 with cherry liqueur

  • $1.65
  • $0.06
  • $2.04
  • $0.01
  • $0.01

Cream and decoration

  • $2.43
  • $0.06
  • $0.31

Prices from US supermarkets for 10 of 15 ingredients; Belgian prices for the rest.

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C.
  2. Whisk the eggs and sugar in a mixing bowl, using a whisk or electric mixer, until the mixture becomes pale and fluffy.
  3. Add the melted butter and a drop of vanilla, then mix again. ≈ 4 min
  4. Sift the flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt over the mixture, then gently fold them in. ≈ 4 min
  5. Pour the batter into a cake pan and bake for 25-30 minutes at 180 °C. Then, let it cool on a wire rack.
  6. Place the cherries in a pot with the sugar, lemon juice, and kirsch. ≈ 3 min
  7. Cook over medium heat until the cherries are soft. If necessary, thicken with Maizena.
  8. Let the compote cool completely, then place it in the refrigerator.
  9. Whip the cream with the sugar and vanilla in an electric mixer until it forms stiff peaks. ≈ 4 min
  10. Cut the cooled sponge cake into three slices.
  11. Spread whipped cream on the first disc and top with cherry compote.
  12. Place the second disc and repeat the whipped cream and cherries. ≈ 3 min
  13. Place the final disc on top and cover the entire cake with whipped cream. ≈ 3 min
  14. Decorate with cherries and grated chocolate. ≈ 2 min

The bill

Black Forest cake, a German cake with cherries and kirsch (cherry liqueur)

  • 200 g of flour$0.26
  • 50 g of cocoa powder$0.99
  • 200 grams of sugar$0.23
  • 4 eggs$1.40
  • 100 g of butter$0.92
  • 2 tablespoons of baking powder$0.09
  • 1/4 cup of salt$0.01
  • 300 g of 🍒 (canned or fresh)$1.65
  • 50 g of sugar$0.06
  • 50 ml of cherry liqueur$2.04
  • 1 tablespoon of lemon juice$0.01
  • 1 tablespoon of Maizena$0.01
  • 500 ml of full-fat liquid cream$2.43
  • 50 g of sugar$0.06
  • 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract$0.31

Total$10.47

that's $1.31 per person

Estimated price; varies by store.

Before you start

Ingredients

  • 200 g of flour
  • 50 g of cocoa powder
  • 200 grams of sugar
  • 4 eggs
  • 100 g of butter
  • 2 tablespoons of baking powder
  • 1/4 cup of salt
  • 300 g of 🍒 (canned or fresh)
  • 50 g of sugar
  • 50 ml of cherry liqueur
  • 1 tablespoon of lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon of Maizena
  • 500 ml of full-fat liquid cream
  • 50 g of sugar
  • 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract
  • a few cherries for decoration
  • grated chocolate

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