Black Forest Cake


I love frosted cakes, but as a rule I prepare them only on special occasions. There was one last week, it was Manoj's Birthday and this is what I made for him. It was no surprise but he really loved it. It was a working day, but this cake and a wonderful dinner at Cheesecake Factory made it real special.
The recipe is from Chococraft, the best part is that though it looks so rich, its quiet low fat actually. The cake is a fatless sponge and this time I used the non fat whipped cream topping and filling that you get here. Makes you almost guilt free:). You could use any chocolate sponge cake as the base. I also used cherry pie filling for a change. The sweetened canned cherries work just fine.


Black Forest Cake




Ingredients:
4 eggs
4 tbs sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
6 tbs all purpose flour
2 tbs cocoa powder

1 cup sugar syrup
2-3 tbs rum
1 can cherry pie filling
1 1/2 cups whipping cream
3 tbs fine sugar
Chocolate and cherries for decoration

Method:
Preheat the oven to 390˚F/ 200˚C.
Sift the flour and cocoa powder together at least 3 times.
Take the eggs, sugar and vanilla extract in a large bowl. Beat on high for 10 mins. The mixture will be extremely light and airy.
Using a large rubber spatula, fold in the flour very gently in about 3 batches using the cut and fold method. Do not over mix. Be very careful not to lose much aeration.
Pour into a greased and lined baking tin and bake for 20 - 25 mins till done.
Cool the cake completely and then slice into two layers. ( I can never slice a cake perfectly as is evident from the picture below. So if you are like me, I think its better to bake the two layers separately).

Whip the cream and sugar to stiff peaks.
Add the rum to the sugar syrup and fill in a squeeze bottle.
Such fatless cakes are extremely dry, so they need to be soaked well with syrup. Soak both the layers especially the edges, till really moist, but they should not fall apart.
Place the bottom layer on a cake board. Top with a layer of whipped cream topping and then the cherry pie filling. You could also use chopped glazed cherries.
Place the second cake layer on top and ice the sides and top with the remaining whipped cream.
Decorate the top and sides with chocolate shavings, cherries and swirls of whipped cream.
Refrigerate the cake for at least 2 hours for it to set completely. Serve cold.



*******************************************************
This is another entry for my event 'For the Love of Chocolate'.

57 comments:

  1. Very nicely decorated and looks really appetizing!! Wonderful cake! :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. wowww cake looks gorgeous! wish i had that slice near me now :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. The cake looks so decadent Poornima, so delicious! Cherry pie filling sounds very tempting...I have bookmarked this recipe to try later :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. The cake is perfect Poornima..looks delicious and moist! Perfect for any occasion :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hey Poorni.. What a surprise? I thought of checking balckforest cake, found ur post first on my blog page..! Thanks a lot dear, its perfect easy and health-conscious too..! Yummy!!:)

    ReplyDelete
  6. this looks way better than the store bought cake. great job.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hai poornima black forest is one of my favourite dessert.But i cant do it.but i want to try dear.if u post some more fotos it will be nice for the begginers in baking .

    ReplyDelete
  8. lovely Poornima. This cake reminded me of sweet chariot pastry shop in Bangalore. they are just awesome & out of this world. Hope to try this. Only concern is " what could be the substitute for eggs?"

    ReplyDelete
  9. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hey Guys...thank you all for your lovely comments...I feel so proud of myself when I read them:)...
    Vineela do check out those videos on You Tube for cake decorating, you can see and practice, they are really helpful...
    Sushama, you could make an eggless cake for the base, I'm sure it would be great...

    ReplyDelete
  11. Wow, Wonderful! marvelous! OMG, Cake is moist and lovely decorations! Gorgeous cake! Perfect and romantic treat for your hubby!:D

    ReplyDelete
  12. Wow!! our favourite, Looks yum!! YOu are really a very good baker, Really a great job.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Fabulous looking Cake, I made an eggless version few months ago. I'm drooling now :-)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hi Poornima,
    The cake looks gorgeous and sinful.Love the melt in the mouth feel of this cake. Fits well for all occassions.
    TC

    ReplyDelete
  15. I am amazed to see such a lovely black forest cake..It does look like th eone from the bakeries, Wish I had a piece here! :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. Mouthwatering cake. Looks perfectly baked & cutely decorated. Very inviting.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Absolutely delicious Black forest, belated b'thday wishes to Manoj dear, Cake looks so moist and prefect with all those cherries, fabulous frosting ya!

    ReplyDelete
  18. WOW!!!!!!The cake looks scrumptious..I can never imagine myself making this cake..Well done,Poornima!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Ur last snap is too tempting,great job poornima.Loved the cake:)

    ReplyDelete
  20. The cake looks delicious..one of my favorites, beautifully done poornima, grt job :)

    ReplyDelete
  21. that looks so gorgeous..will try to make this for our anniversary next month..

    ReplyDelete
  22. wow.. Fantastic .. looks perfect & delicious..nice entry..

    ReplyDelete
  23. Wow..yummy poornima..My fav cake and what a yummy presentation..
    Btw,can imagine the happiness your hubby had..(hey the law fat thing makes me go for it again )

    ReplyDelete
  24. A perfect cake shud be like this, awesome!!If u see my first cake in my blog, its horrible:)really i am craving for ur cake dear:)

    ReplyDelete
  25. Slurrp, looks very yummy and chocolicious...

    ReplyDelete
  26. Oh wow this cake is my all time favourite.....Looks simply scrummy.....

    ReplyDelete
  27. This is one of my favourite cake and yours looks really super super yummy delicious, wish i had a slice with my coffee later.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Wow lovely cake and perfect presentation..

    ReplyDelete
  29. My husband loves black forest cake too. Looks awesome Poornima and very nicely done... Must've been a great treat for your husband's birthday. Best wishes to him.

    ReplyDelete
  30. My husband loves black forest cake too. Looks awesome Poornima and very nicely done... Must've been a great treat for your husband's birthday. Best wishes to him.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Love the recipe without any butter or oil. Will try your recipe next time I make a black forest.
    Wow. So I guess it was such a good birthday for manoj. My hubby hates choco cakes and anything with frosting. We are 2 extremes.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Thats ssssssssssoooooooo goooo..PRofessional

    ReplyDelete
  33. Decadent cake,you bake like a pastry chef:)

    ReplyDelete
  34. Hi Poornima,
    I have been following your blog recently.. the cake looks awesome!! i have to try to make this!

    ReplyDelete
  35. This is my dad's absolute fabourite. He looks for it everywhere we go and is constantly disappointed. He would be drooling at this point. You made a really good job of that cake :)

    ReplyDelete
  36. This cake is absolute perfection. :)

    ReplyDelete
  37. My favv..:) n u actually did it..wow ..great job Poornima..Its awesme..slurp..!!

    ReplyDelete
  38. You mean you actually made this good looking cake. It looks like something straight out of a professional bakery.

    Need your mail id to add you to our book club, and to send you details on next month's book.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Oh my god ! Thats a lovely cake poornima. wonderfully decorated and very tempting.

    ReplyDelete
  40. Black Forest looks perfect and belaaaaaaated birthday wishes to Manoj :)

    ReplyDelete
  41. wow..the cake looks so yummy and chocolaty..

    ReplyDelete
  42. Beautiful cake Poornima....looks perfect and delicious....lovely decoration....good job....Hope u had a great time.

    ReplyDelete
  43. Black forrest is my fav' cake...this awesome creation makes me very tempting...love it.

    ReplyDelete
  44. thank you...this cake looks fantastic...

    ReplyDelete
  45. ery nice decoration poornima.......THe cake looks fantastic

    ReplyDelete
  46. Thats surely delicious, i have a piece of this cake yesterday for a bakery. i think i will try to make it some time soon. Nice clicks there!!

    ReplyDelete
  47. Wow, wat a wonderful B'day treat !! Looks so perfect an yum !!

    ReplyDelete
  48. Black forest is my favourite.....Looking yummy...Nice decoration..

    ReplyDelete
  49. wonderfully decorated........i love this cake!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  50. Black forest is one of my favourite cakes and yours looks beautiful. How do you manage to get those chocolate shavings on the sides?

    ReplyDelete
  51. Convey my belated birthday wishes to Manoj. Some how I missed a lot of ur yummy posts. Cake looks guilt free and yummy.
    Very tempting pics:)

    ReplyDelete
  52. Wow this is my all time favorite. Nicely decorated. Looks yummy.

    ReplyDelete
  53. Divine! You made me go craving for some black forest cake now!

    ReplyDelete
  54. Woooow...perfectly frosted cake!!Verrrrrrrrry nice...how did u put chocoloate shavings on sides?Nice click too....i liked ur chocolate meringue as well.....Very nice click of that one too...

    ReplyDelete
  55. Hi Poornma,

    First time in ur blog.I Have been into extensive baking lately.Loved your cake and have bookmarked it, will bake it soon let u know.

    ReplyDelete
  56. First time here...from your visual treat i picked Droolworthy Black Forest Cake my hot fav. Nice Presentation, Perfectly organised blog

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for visiting Tasty Treats...
Do leave your comments and feedback. I would love to hear from you...

Hugs
Poornima