Black Forest Cake

Ingredients

For chocolate cake

1/2 cup all purpose flour

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/4 tsp baking powder

a pinch of baking soda
a pinch of salt

1 cup granulated sugar

5 large eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 cup melted butter

For cherry filling and syrup

15 to 20 fresh cherries

3/4 cup water
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3 tbsp whiskey/brandy/rum (I used whiskey)

For frosting

2 cups heavy whipping cream
5 tbsp confectioner's sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract

For decoration

7 fresh cherries
5 or 6 semisweet baking chocolate squares

Preparation

For chocolate cake

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degree F. Butter a 9 inch round cake pan and line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper.

2. In a bowl, combine the all purpose flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt together and keep aside.

3. Take eggs, sugar and vanilla extract in a large bowl. Using an
electric mixer, beat on high speed for 8 to 10 minutes. (At this stage, it will be thick and fluffy)

4. To this egg mixture, add the flour mix slowly and fold gently using a spatula until the flour is combined well with the egg mix.

5. Now, pour the melted butter to this and fold gently so that it is combined well with the whole mix.

6. Pour the batter to the prepared cake pan smoothing the top with a rubber spatula. Only 2/3 of the pan need to be filled.

7. Bake the cake for about 30 to 35 minutes or until a fork inserted on the center of the cake comes out clean.

8. Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Then remove the cake to wire racks to let it cool completely for frosting.

For cherry filling and syrup

1. Pit the cherries and chop them.

2. In a pan, add water, chopped cherries and sugar and allow to boil in medium heat. Turn off the heat once the cherries are soft enough.

3. Strain the cherries and mix them with 2 tbsp of whiskey. To the sugar syrup, add 1 tbsp of whiskey and keep aside until they are cool.

For frosting

In a large bowl, combine the whipping cream, confectioner's sugar and vanilla extract. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until stiff peaks are formed.

OR

You can use ready made vanilla flavored frosting available in market and follow the instructions mentioned on the label.

For decoration

Using a vegetable peeler, make chocolate shavings from the semi sweet baking chocolate bars.

Arranging the cake 

1. Using a long knife, slice the cake horizontally into 3 layers.
Place the bottom layer on the plate.

2. Pour 1/3 rd of the sugar syrup evenly on this layer.

3. After spreading a thick layer of frosting on top of it, add the cherry  whiskey mix on it.

4. Now place the second layer of cake on it. Pour 1/2 of the remaining sugar syrup evenly on it. Then do the frosting and cherry filling exactly the same way we did for the first layer.

5. Place the top most layer on and pour the remaining sugar syrup evenly.Now cover the top and sides of the cake with a thin layer of  frosting and keep the cake in refrigerator for 5 to 10 minutes.

6. For the finishing, frost the top and sides of the cake with a thick layer of frosting. Decorate the cake with frosting curls, cherries and chocolate shaving. ( I used star tip to get the frosting curls).

7. Cover and refrigerate the cake until serving time.