BLACK FOREST TRUFFLES: National Black Forest Cake Day!

The Black Forest

Today is Black Forest Cake Day. Usually I post one of two Black Forest Cake recipes--one a layer cake, and another a Bundt Cake. But for today's holiday, I'm posting a very easy recipe for Black Forest Truffles. Enjoy.

Black Forest cake is the English name for the German dessert Schwarzwalder Kirschtorte or “Black Forest cherry torte.” Black Forest cake is made of several layers of chocolate cake with whipped cream and cherries between each layer. The cake is then decorated with whipped cream, maraschino cherries, and chocolate shavings. In some traditional recipes, sour cherries are used between the layers and a Kirschwasser (a clear liquor distilled from tart cherries) is added to the cake. In the U.S., alcohol is usually not used. However, in Germany the liqueur is a mandatory ingredient otherwise, the cake can not legally be sold under the Schwarzwalder Kirschtorte name.

The following is a great recipe for a variation of Black Forest Cake--Black Forest Truffles! These are really good, and as always the flavor will depend on the chocolate --and in this case, also the cherries--that you use.

BLACK FOREST CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES 

Ingredients
3 cups dark chocolate, chopped
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup chopped dried bing cherries
2 tsp almond extract
Cocoa powder

Directions
In saucepan over another saucepan over simmering water, melt chocolate with condensed milk. Remove from heat, and add cherries and almond extract.
Chill in refrigerator for two hours.
When firm, shape with hands into one-inch balls and coat with cocoa (roll the balls in the cocoa).
Chill in refrigerator for 1 hour.
Remove truffles from refrigerator for 1/2 hour before serving.

BLACK FOREST PIE: Retro Ad & Recipe for Black Forest Cake Day!

You've heard of Black Forest Cake, but have you made Black Forest Pie? Here's a Retro Ad with Recipe for Black Forest Pie from Kraft Foods.  Happy Black Forest Cake Day!

BLACK FOREST PIE

1 KEEBLER READY-CRUST Chocolate Flavored or Graham Pie Crust
3-1/2 cups (8 oz.) thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping
1 cup cold milk
1 package (4-serving) JELL-O Chocolate Flavor Instant Pudding and Pie Filling
1 cup cherry pie filling
Spread 1 cup of whipped topping on bottom of pie crust.
Combine milk and pudding mix in medium bowl. Blend with wire whisk or electric mixer (low speed) for 1 minute. Fold in 1-1/2 cups whipped topping. Spread over whipped topping in crust.
Spread remaining whipped topping over top, leaving a 1-inch border and forming a depression in center of the whipped topping. Spoon cherry pie filling in the center. Chill at least three hours.
Garnish with melted chocolate, if desired. 

BLACK FOREST BUNDT CAKE: National Black Forest Cake Day!

Today is Black Forest Cake Day. A traditional Black Forest cake has multiple (usually 4) layers of chocolate sponge cake, cherries, frosted with whipped cream, and covered with chocolate shavings and cherries for decoration. Kirschwasser (cherry schnapps) is used to flavor the whipped cream. The bottom layers of sponge cake are also brushed with Kirschwasser (cherry schnaps) to provide moisture and a little extra flavor.

Over the years, I've posted recipes for traditional Black Forest Cake, but here's a great and easy recipe from Challenge Butter for Black Forest Bundt Cake. Want to make this more traditional? Serve with Cherry Schnapps Whipped Cream (recipe below).   

As to how Black Forest Cake got its name, some historians say it's possible that the name came from the traditional costume worn by women in the Black Forest. The dress was black (just like the chocolate flakes), the blouse is white (like the cream), and the hat has red pom-poms that look just like cherries. Well, maybe??

Black Forest Bundt Cake

Ingredients
1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1-1/2 cups sugar
1 cup sour cream
2 eggs
2 tsp almond extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup unsweetened DARK cocoa powder
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup milk
1 can (21 ounces) cherry pie filling  (I use Chukar's)

Directions
Preheat oven to 325°F. Generously butter (1-1/2 Tablespoons) a 12-cup Bundt pan (or similar sized pan).
Cream butter and sugar. Beat in sour cream, eggs, and almond extract.
Stir together flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt; add dry mix to creamed mixture alternating with the milk. Mix until well blended.
Spread 1/2 of batter into prepared Bundt pan, spreading batter slightly up the sides to form a trough. Spoon pie filling on top of batter; avoid touching sides and center of pan. Cover filling with remaining batter.
Bake 60 minutes or until cake tests done. Cool in pan 10-15 minutes; turn out onto wire rack or serving plate to complete cooling.
Sprinkle with confectioners sugar before serving.
Serve plain or with Cherry Schnapps Whipped Cream

Cherry Schnapps (Kirsch) Whipped Cream

Ingredients
1-1/2 cups chilled whipping cream
2 Tbsp sugar
1 Tbsp Kirsch

Directions
Beat cream, sugar, and kirsch in large bowl until peaks form. Cover and refrigerate up to 2 hours.

 

BLACK FOREST BUNDT CAKE with KIRSCH WHIPPED CREAM: Black Forest Cake Day

March 28 is Black Forest Cake Day. A traditional Black Forest cake has multiple (usually 4) layers of chocolate sponge cake, cherries, frosted with whipped cream, and covered with chocolate shavings and cherries for decoration. Kirschwasser (cherry schnapps) is used to flavor the whipped cream. The bottom layers of sponge cake are also brushed with Kirschwasser (cherry schnaps) to provide moisture and a little extra flavor.

Over the years, I've posted recipes for traditional Black Forest Cake, but here's a great and easy recipe from Challenge Butter for Black Forest Bundt Cake. Want to make this more traditional? Serve with Cherry Schnapps Whipped Cream (recipe below).   

As to how Black Forest Cake got its name, some historians say it's possible that the name came from the traditional costume worn by women in the Black Forest. The dress was black (just like the chocolate flakes), the blouse is white (like the cream), and the hat has red pom-poms that look just like cherries. Well, maybe??

Black Forest Bundt Cake

Ingredients
1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1-1/2 cups sugar
1 cup sour cream
2 eggs
2 tsp almond extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup unsweetened DARK cocoa powder
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup milk
1 can (21 ounces) cherry pie filling  (I use Chukar's)

Directions
Preheat oven to 325°F. Generously butter (1-1/2 Tablespoons) a 12-cup Bundt pan (or similar sized pan).
Cream butter and sugar. Beat in sour cream, eggs, and almond extract.
Stir together flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt; add dry mix to creamed mixture alternating with the milk. Mix until well blended.
Spread 1/2 of batter into prepared Bundt pan, spreading batter slightly up the sides to form a trough. Spoon pie filling on top of batter; avoid touching sides and center of pan. Cover filling with remaining batter.
Bake 60 minutes or until cake tests done. Cool in pan 10-15 minutes; turn out onto wire rack or serving plate to complete cooling.
Sprinkle with confectioners sugar before serving.
Serve plain or with Cherry Schnapps Whipped Cream

Cherry Schnapps (Kirsch) Whipped Cream

Ingredients
1-1/2 cups chilled whipping cream
2 Tbsp sugar
1 Tbsp Kirsch

Directions
Beat cream, sugar, and kirsch in large bowl until peaks form. Cover and refrigerate up to 2 hours.

BLACK FOREST BUNDT CAKE: National Black Forest Cake Day

March 28 is Black Forest Cake Day. A traditional Black Forest cake has multiple (usually 4) layers of chocolate sponge cake, cherries, and whipped cream. It's frosted with whipped cream and covered with chocolate shavings and cherries for decoration. Kirschwasser (cherry schnapps) is used to flavor the whipped cream. The bottom layers of sponge cake are also brushed with Kirschwasser (cherry schnaps) to provide moisture and a little extra flavor.

Over the years, I've posted recipes for traditional Black Forest Cake, but here's a great and easy recipe from Challenge Butter for Black Forest Bundt Cake. Want to make this more traditional? Serve with Cherry Schnapps Whipped Cream (recipe follows).   

As to how Black Forest Cake got its name, some historians say it's possible that the name came from the traditional costume worn by women in the Black Forest. The dress was black (just like the chocolate flakes), the blouse is white (like the cream), and the hat has red pom-poms that look just like cherries. Well, maybe??

Black Forest Bundt Cake

Ingredients
1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1-1/2 cups sugar
1 cup sour cream
2 eggs
2 tsp almond extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup unsweetened DARK cocoa powder
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup milk
1 can (21 ounces) cherry pie filling  (I use Chukar's)

Directions
Preheat oven to 325°F. Generously butter (1-1/2 Tablespoons) a 12-cup Bundt pan (or similar sized pan).
Cream butter and sugar. Beat in sour cream, eggs, and almond extract.
Stir together flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt; add dry mix to creamed mixture alternating with the milk. Mix until well blended.
Spread 1/2 of batter into prepared Bundt pan, spreading batter slightly up the sides to form a trough. Spoon pie filling on top of batter; avoid touching sides and center of pan. Cover filling with remaining batter.
Bake 60 minutes or until cake tests done. Cool in pan 10-15 minutes; turn out onto wire rack or serving plate to complete cooling.
Sprinkle with confectioners sugar before serving.
Serve plain or with Cherry Schnapps Whipped Cream

Cherry Schnapps (Kirsch) Whipped Cream

Ingredients
1-1/2 cups chilled whipping cream
2 Tbsp sugar
1 Tbsp Kirsch

Directions
Beat cream, sugar, and kirsch in large bowl until peaks form. Cover and refrigerate up to 2 hours.

Photo: Challenge Butter

Black Forest Chocolate Truffles

The Black Forest

Black Forest Cake Day (March 28) came and went, and I was so caught up in other holidays that I totally forgot to post this recipe for Black Forest Truffles.

Black Forest cake is the English name for the German dessert Schwarzwalder Kirschtorte or “Black Forest cherry torte.” Black Forest cake is made of several layers of chocolate cake with whipped cream and cherries between each layer. The cake is then decorated with whipped cream, maraschino cherries, and chocolate shavings. In some traditional recipes, sour cherries are used between the layers and a Kirschwasser (a clear liquor distilled from tart cherries) is added to the cake. In the U.S., alcohol is usually not used. However, in Germany the liqueur is a mandatory ingredient otherwise, the cake can not legally be sold under the Schwarzwalder Kirschtorte name.

The following is a great recipe for a variation of Black Forest Cake--Black Forest Truffles! These are really good, and as always the flavor will depend on the chocolate --and in this case, also the cherries--that you use.

BLACK FOREST CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES 

Ingredients
3 cups dark chocolate, chopped
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup chopped dried bing cherries
2 tsp almond extract
Cocoa powder

Directions
In saucepan over another saucepan over simmering water, melt chocolate with condensed milk. Remove from heat, and add cherries and almond extract.
Chill in refrigerator for two hours.
When firm, shape with hands into one-inch balls and coat with cocoa (roll the balls in the cocoa).
Chill in refrigerator for 1 hour.
Remove truffles from refrigerator for 1/2 hour before serving.