Mile-Prime Black Woodland Cake – Baker through Nature


This pretty black wooded area cake options extremely wet chocolate cake layers, do-it-yourself cherry syrup, and freshly whipped cream frosting. Use a block of chocolate to create chocolate shavings, then embellish the highest of the cake with darkish chocolate and recent cherries. You’ll bake this cake a couple of hours sooner than you wish to have it and refrigerate till able to serve!

Black Woodland Cake Recipe

Reader Amanda says: 5 stars5 stars “The BEST Black Woodland Cake ever! I made this for my daughters thirteenth birthday and she or he stated it’s the most efficient birthday cake I’ve ever made for her. As at all times……Thank You so such a lot for sharing!”

A couple of months in the past I ordered a slice of black wooded area cake from a bakery and it was once… AWFUL! And I’m no longer being dramatic.

The chocolate cake layers had been dry, rubbery, and had 0 taste. The cherry syrup was once sickeningly candy. And the whipped cream frosting was once one way or the other dry and clumpy. I actually took one chunk, dumped it within the trash can, and ran out of there.

However there was once a silver lining to this horror tale! As a result of this lackluster bakery enjoy jogged my memory of why I began baking within the first position. And it impressed me to create my very own model of this vintage chocolate cake. See… satisfied finishing proper?

I’m no longer exaggerating after I let you know that is the ULTIMATE black wooded area cake recipe. This vintage dessert is a complete showstopper… however it tastes even higher than it appears! I introduced this chocolate cake to a Memorial day celebration and it was once the bell of the ball. Everybody wolfed it up in mins and begged me for the recipe!

What’s Black Woodland Cake?

  • Black Woodland cake (aka black wooded area gâteau) is a chocolate sponge cake that’s lined with whipped cream and a wealthy cherry filling. 
  • Many of us extremely contest the particular starting place of this cake. However it perhaps originated within the Black Woodland or even much more likely, in some a part of Germany. 
  • Historically, Black Woodland cake has a number of layers of chocolate sponge cake sandwiched with whipped cream frosting and cherries.
  • Normally, folks embellish it with further whipped cream, chocolate shavings, and recent cherries. 
  • Kirsch (aka Kirschwasser) is a transparent alcohol created from bitter cherries. Nearly all conventional Black Woodland Cake recipes use this cherry alcohol. However you’ll be able to make it with out the kirsch.
  • I attempted to honor the normal Black Woodland cake, whilst nonetheless making this recipe my very own. My model features a wealthy chocolate ganache and mini chocolate chips on best!

make Black Woodland Cake 

  1. Make the Cake Recipe: Bake the chocolate cake layers no less than 2 hours sooner than you propose on serving this cake. The truffles will have to bake and entirely cool sooner than adorning them. You’ll additionally bake the chocolate cake layers upfront and freeze them for as much as 2 months.
  2. Make the Cherry Filling: Make the cherry syrup no less than half-hour sooner than you propose on assembling the cake. The cherry syrup will have to cool totally sooner than use. In a different way it’ll soften the whipped cream frosting. You’ll additionally make the cherry syrup as much as 3 says upfront and refrigerate till able to make use of.
  3. Make the Whipped Cream Frosting: You’ll merely make it through beating heavy whipping cream, confectioners’ sugar, and vanilla. I’d recommend including gelatin to this recipe in the event you’re no longer serving it instantly.
  4. Make the Chocolate Glaze: That is an non-compulsory step, however makes the cake a complete showstopper! Make this 5 mins sooner than you propose on pouring it on best of the cake.
  5. Bring together the Cake: Sandwich the chocolate cake layers with the whipped cream frosting and cherry syrup. Pour the glaze on best and embellish with further recent cherries and chocolate shavings. You’ll additionally upload mini chocolate chips for an additional chocolate kick!
  6. Retailer within the Refrigerator: You’ll need to stay this cake chilled till you’re able to serve! Particularly if it’s hotter outdoor. I as soon as stored this cake on my counter in July… and let’s simply say, it wasn’t beautiful.

Making the Cake Batter: Professional Pointers!

  • I extremely recommend the usage of a virtual scale to weigh your cake recipe components! Particularly the dry components like flour and cocoa powder. Including an excessive amount of of both of those components will reason your cake to be dry.
  • In case you don’t weigh them, be sure you fluff them up of their bag or container sooner than measuring. Then use a spoon to evenly scoop them into the measuring cup, and stage off with the flat fringe of a knife. By no means pack flour or cocoa powder right into a measuring cup.
  • Convey your eggs, bitter cream, and milk to room temperature sooner than including them to the cake batter. Chilly components don’t bond!
  • Don’t sub the all-purpose flour for some other number of flour.
  • Ensure your baking powder and baking soda are each recent, in a different way your truffles may pop out flat or with an “off” style.
  • Spray your cake pans generously with nonstick spray, then line the bottoms with rounds of parchment paper. This will likely be certain that your truffles come out the pan comfortably!
  • Don’t over bake the chocolate cake layers. When a toothpick inserted within the heart of a cake layer comes out blank, the truffles are completed baking.
  • Cool the truffles for 10 mins of their cake pans sooner than moving them to a cooling rack to chill totally. In case you skip this step, the cake layers would possibly fall aside whilst you take away them from the cake pans.

Element Substitutions

  • You’ll use vegetable oil or delicate and melted coconut oil as a substitute of canola oil. Olive oil will technically paintings, however will upload an olive oil taste to the chocolate cake layers.
  • Don’t substitute the oil with butter. This will likely yield dry chocolate cake layers.
  • Be at liberty to overlook the coffee powder. This element does beef up the chocolate taste, however the chocolate cake layers will probably be high-quality with out it. You’ll substitute the recent espresso with scorching water.
  • If you’ll be able to’t to find bitter cream, full-fat undeniable Greek yogurt is the most efficient change. I don’t recommend the usage of extra milk or buttermilk.
  • You’ll substitute Kirsch liqueur with 100% natural cherry juice. Or you’ll be able to use water, however this will likely yield a miles much less flavorful cherry syrup.
  • The chocolate glaze is non-compulsory, and is also left off. The cake received’t be as beautiful, however it’ll be simply as scrumptious.
  • The chocolate shavings and mini chocolate chips are non-compulsory, so be happy to skip them.

Making the Cherry Syrup Filling

  • I used common crimson cherries for the cherry syrup as a result of they’re broadly to be had. However bitter cherries will paintings in the event you’re ready to seek out them! I don’t recommend the usage of maraschino cherries.
  • Contemporary OR frozen cherries will paintings for the cherry filling. The usage of frozen cherries will even prevent time as a result of they’re virtually at all times already pitted.
  • I strongly recommend the usage of recent cherries for the adorning! If you’ll be able to’t to find them, merely depart them off the cake.
  • Kirsch is a cherry liqueur that’s fabricated from cherry juice, cane sugar, and brandy. The logo I exploit is Schladerer schwarzwalder.
  • If you’ll be able to’t to find kirsch or don’t need to use it, you’ll be able to sub natural cherry juice. Or simply depart it out totally.

Whipped Cream Frosting

  • This cake makes use of a gentle and ethereal whipped cream topping as a substitute of the standard buttercream or cream cheese frosting discovered on maximum layer truffles. No longer too candy, it we could the chocolate and cherry flavors shine!
  • To make the whipped cream frosting, you’ll want a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment. Or a big bowl and a hand-held electrical mixer. You’ll beat the cream till stiff peaks shape, including a bit little bit of the powdered sugar at a time.
  • In case you’d love to stabilize this whipped cream frosting, you’ll be able to upload some gelatin.

Use a Serrated Knife to Bring together the Cake

  • The usage of a protracted, serrated knife, slice each and every cake in part horizontally, so that you’ve 4 even layers. Take your time right here, however don’t tension out if the truffles aren’t completely even.
  • Position one cake layer on a big plate or cake stand. Unfold 1/2 cup of the whipped cream frosting on best of the cake. Then best with 1/3 cup of the cherry filling.
  • Most sensible with any other cake layer, and repeat the layering job, finishing with the closing chocolate cake layer on best.
  • Unfold all ultimate whipped cream frosting excessive and aspects of the cake. This can be a semi-naked cake, so don’t be alarmed if it’s no longer a thick coating of whipped cream frosting.
  • In case you’d like a thicker quantity of frosting, double the recipe for the whipped cream frosting.

Make the Chocolate Shavings

  • Making the chocolate shavings is an non-compulsory step, however they make the cake so beautiful! And you’ll be able to use any further chocolate shavings for long run muffins.
  • You’ll want a big block of chocolate to make the chocolate shavings. Use darkish chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate. I don’t recommend the usage of milk chocolate or white chocolate for this recipe.
  • The chocolate must be at room temperature. Chilly chocolate doesn’t grate neatly.
  • You’ll want a cheese shaver or scraper to make the chocolate shavings. Or use a cheese grater. The cheese grater is the perfect choice. However received’t produce particularly beautiful shavings.
  • Press the cheese shaver on best of the block of chocolate and gently scrape. This movement must create tiny chocolate curls!
  • All chocolate shavings will probably be distinctive, so don’t worry in the event you most effective get a couple of huge curls. Apply makes easiest.
  • Stay chocolate curls chilled, within the refrigerator, till wanted. You’ll retailer them for your refrigerator for as much as 2 weeks. So it is a nice step to do upfront. It’ll prevent time and mess the day of meeting.

Refrigerate Till Able to Serve

  • Retailer this refined cake within the refrigerator till able to serve. You’ll want to have sufficient room cleared for your refrigerator, because it’s a big and vast cake. It’ll want various room within the refrigerator.
  • Even with stabilized whipped cream, you’ll wish to stay the subtle whipped cream frosting refrigerated till able.
  • This cake is very best served inside of a couple of hours of creating it. Retailer it within the refrigerator till you propose on serving.
  • The whipped cream will unfastened quantity because it sits. For a extra solid frosting, I recommend a cream cheese or buttercream. Each will probably be a lot sweeter, however will stay for hours on finish!
  • It’s essential to additionally make this cake right into a trifle! Easy minimize the cake layers into cubes. Then layer the chocolate cake cubes with whipped cream frosting and cherry filling in a big trifle dish. Most sensible with chocolate shavings and recent cherries.

Extra Cake Recipes:

Mile-Prime Black Woodland Cake

Ashley Manila

This pretty black wooded area cake options extremely wet chocolate cake layers, do-it-yourself cherry syrup, and freshly whipped cream frosting. Use a block of chocolate to create chocolate shavings, then embellish the highest of the cake with darkish chocolate and recent cherries. You’ll bake this cake a couple of hours sooner than you wish to have it and refrigerate till able to serve!