Luxurious Black Forest Cake

Directions

1. Prepare the Cake Layers:
   Preheat oven to 175°C (350°F). Grease and flour two 23 cm (9-inch) round cake pans. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
2. Mix Wet Ingredients:
   Add eggs, milk, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract to the dry ingredients. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes until smooth. Gradually stir in boiling water—the batter will be thin, which is normal and creates a moist cake.
3. Bake the Cake:
   Divide batter evenly between the prepared pans. Bake 30–35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
4. Slice the Cake Layers:
   Once cooled, slice each cake horizontally in half to create four layers. This allows for layering the cherry filling and whipped cream evenly.
5. Whip the Cream:
   In a medium bowl, beat heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until stiff peaks form. This whipped cream will frost the cake and hold the layers together.
6. Assemble the Cake:
   Place the first cake layer on a serving plate. Spread ½ cup of cherry pie filling over it, followed by a layer of whipped cream. Repeat with remaining layers.
7. Frost and Garnish:
   Frost the top and sides of the cake with the remaining whipped cream. Decorate with chocolate chips and extra cherries. For added flair, drizzle with cherry juice or chocolate sauce.

Recipe Details

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Servings: 8
Difficulty: Medium

Variations & Substitutions

• Use fresh or frozen cherries if pie filling isn’t available.
• Swap chocolate chips for chocolate shavings or curls for a more elegant presentation.
• Make it boozy by adding a tablespoon of cherry liqueur to the cherry filling.
• Try almond extract in the whipped cream for a nutty twist.

Serving Suggestions