Black Forest Cake

Cake

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Fill a medium sized pot with water. Choose a bowl large enough to sit on the rim of the pot to create a double boiler.
3. Put the chocolate and butter in the bowl, and turn the heat to medium-high. Bring the water in the pot to a simmer, and stir the chocolate/butter mixture together until melted.
4. Separate the eggs, putting the yolks in a medium-sized mixing bowl, and the whites in the bowl of a stand mixer.
5. Turn the stand mixer to a high speed, and whip the egg whites until stiff.
6. In the medium bowl, add the granulated sugar to the egg yolks and beat with a hand mixer until the mixture turns foamy.
7. Pour the egg yolks into the melted chocolate and use a whisk to combine the batter.
8. Sift the flour, cornstarch, and baking powder into the bowl with the chocolate. Use a rubber spatula or wooden spoon to mix. The batter will be dry and crumbly, this is okay.
9. Add the whipped egg whites into the chocolate batter and gently fold the egg whites into the chocolate batter using a rubber spatula until fully combined.
10. Grease a 9” springform pan. Cut out a piece of parchment paper the size of the bottom of the pan, then lay the parchment paper in the pan.
11. Pour the batter into the pan and bake for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Cherry Filling

1. Put the cherry juice, brandy, and water in a small pot on the stove. Remove about ¼ cup of the cherry juice and pour it into a small bowl.
2. Add the granulated sugar and cornstarch into the small bowl of cherry juice and whisk until smooth. Then pour it back into the pot.
3. Bring the cherry juice to a simmer and allow it to simmer until thickened. Once thickened, add the cherries into the thickened juice and stir. Set aside to cool.

Whipped Cream

1. Add the heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla in the bowl of an electric stand mixer (or use a hand mixer) and beat on high until whipped cream is formed. Set aside.

Assembly

1. Cut the cake into 3 layers.
2. Add the bottom layer to a cake stand, then brush it with some cherry brandy using a pastry brush.
3. Pour half of the cherry filling to the bottom layer. Then, spoon about ⅓ of the whipping cream filling onto the cake.
4. Add the second layer of cake, then repeat with cherry brandy, cherry filling, and then whipped cream.
5. Add the top cake layer to the cake. Brush the top layer with cherry brandy, then spoon the rest of the whipped cream onto the top of the cake.
6. Use a cheese grater to grate the dark chocolate onto the whipped cream on the cake. Decorate the top with fresh cherries. Enjoy!