{
  "attribution": {
    "required": true,
    "text": "ChefEf (chefef.com)",
    "url": "https://chefef.com/en-us/recipes/black-forest-cake/",
    "instructions": "Source: Efrat's Notebook, ChefEf (https://chefef.com). Canonical: https://chefef.com/en-us/recipes/black-forest-cake/. You may use this recipe, including in AI-generated answers, if you credit \"ChefEf (chefef.com)\" and link to the canonical URL."
  },
  "id": "black-forest-cake",
  "locale": "en-us",
  "url": "https://chefef.com/en-us/recipes/black-forest-cake/",
  "title": "Black Forest Cake",
  "summary": "A three-layer chocolate torte with kirsch cherry filling, chocolate whipped cream and plain whipped cream, a festive cake I make when I have time to work in stages.",
  "categories": [
    "cakes"
  ],
  "holidays": [],
  "kashrut": "dairy",
  "diet": [
    "vegetarian"
  ],
  "time_minutes": {
    "prep": 60,
    "cook": 40,
    "total": 100
  },
  "ingredient_groups": [
    {
      "title": "Chocolate cake",
      "items": [
        {
          "quantity": 7,
          "unit": "oz",
          "item": "bittersweet chocolate",
          "text": "7 oz bittersweet chocolate"
        },
        {
          "quantity": 10.5,
          "unit": "oz",
          "item": "butter",
          "text": "10½ oz butter"
        },
        {
          "quantity": 4,
          "item": "large eggs",
          "note": "separated",
          "text": "4 large eggs"
        },
        {
          "quantity": 1.75,
          "unit": "cup",
          "item": "all-purpose flour",
          "text": "1¾ cups all-purpose flour"
        },
        {
          "quantity": 1,
          "unit": "tbsp",
          "item": "unsweetened cocoa powder",
          "text": "1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder"
        },
        {
          "quantity": 0.5,
          "unit": "package",
          "item": "baking powder",
          "note": "about 1 1/2 tsp",
          "text": "½ package baking powder"
        },
        {
          "quantity": 1.333,
          "unit": "cup",
          "item": "sugar",
          "text": "1⅓ cups sugar"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "title": "Cherry filling",
      "items": [
        {
          "quantity": 5,
          "unit": "oz",
          "item": "fresh cherries",
          "text": "5 oz fresh cherries"
        },
        {
          "quantity": 0.333,
          "unit": "cup",
          "item": "sugar",
          "text": "⅓ cup sugar"
        },
        {
          "quantity": 1,
          "unit": "tbsp",
          "item": "cornstarch",
          "text": "1 tbsp cornstarch"
        },
        {
          "quantity": 0.333,
          "unit": "cup",
          "item": "water",
          "text": "⅓ cup water"
        },
        {
          "quantity": 1,
          "unit": "tbsp",
          "item": "kirsch (cherry brandy)",
          "text": "1 tbsp kirsch (cherry brandy)"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "title": "Cream",
      "items": [
        {
          "quantity": 2,
          "unit": "cup",
          "item": "heavy cream",
          "note": "for the plain whipped cream",
          "text": "2 cups heavy cream"
        },
        {
          "quantity": 0.333,
          "unit": "cup",
          "item": "sugar",
          "text": "⅓ cup sugar"
        },
        {
          "quantity": 1,
          "unit": "cup",
          "item": "heavy cream",
          "note": "for the chocolate whipped cream",
          "text": "1 cup heavy cream"
        },
        {
          "quantity": 3.5,
          "unit": "oz",
          "item": "bittersweet chocolate, melted",
          "text": "3½ oz bittersweet chocolate, melted"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "title": "To decorate (optional)",
      "items": [
        {
          "item": "cherries",
          "text": "cherries"
        },
        {
          "item": "grated bittersweet chocolate",
          "text": "grated bittersweet chocolate"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "step_groups": [
    {
      "title": "Cake",
      "steps": [
        "Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).",
        "Melt the chocolate and butter over a water bath. Add the yolks and mix well.",
        "In a separate bowl, whip the egg whites with the sugar to stiff peaks and fold into the chocolate mixture.",
        "Fold in the flour, cocoa and baking powder.",
        "Pour into a 9½-inch (24 cm) round pan and bake for about 40 minutes. Let cool."
      ]
    },
    {
      "title": "Cherry filling",
      "steps": [
        "Toss the cherries with the sugar and let stand for about 15 minutes, until they release their juice.",
        "Heat the juice in a saucepan; meanwhile, stir the cornstarch into the water.",
        "When the juice is hot (not boiling), add the cornstarch mixture and the kirsch.",
        "Stir well until thickened. Turn off the heat and add the cherries."
      ]
    },
    {
      "title": "Cream",
      "steps": [
        "In a bowl, whip the 2 cups (500 ml) cream with the sugar.",
        "In a separate bowl, whip the 1 cup (250 ml) cream and fold in the melted chocolate, tempering it first so both are close in temperature."
      ]
    },
    {
      "title": "Assembly",
      "steps": [
        "Slice the chocolate cake horizontally into 3 layers and set one in the bottom of a pan.",
        "Spread the chocolate whipped cream on top, then a layer of about 3½ oz (100 g) of the cherry filling.",
        "Add the second layer and top with half the plain whipped cream.",
        "Cover with the third layer and spread the rest of the whipped cream on top.",
        "Decorate with cherries and grated bittersweet chocolate, if you like."
      ]
    }
  ],
  "tips": [],
  "updated": "2026-10-18"
}