If you are looking for an easy cake recipe, look no further! Black Forest Cake features a rich, chocolate cake frosted with whipped cream frosting and topped with chocolate shavings and cherries. This cake is not only delicious, it’s also easy.
It was my in law’s 43rd anniversary last week and we had the hardest time coming up with something to get for them. It’s not easy to get a gift for someone who has everything already. Finally, hubby suggested that I bake them a cake. It was a perfect idea because they love cake and they can share a special dessert all week.
I mentioned above that it’s an easy cake. Don’t be scared by all the ingredients and steps, it really is an easy cake! All you have to do is whisk the ingredients together, bake, frost and cover in chocolate flakes. That’s it and you get a soft, moist cherry chocolate cake! The flavor is also amazing, it really tastes like chocolate covered cherry. Something about the cherry coke syrup and almond extract mixed together is what gives it that special flavor. I learned this trick while baking the Red Velvet Cake Roll.
Ingredients
For Cake:
- 3 cups of flour
- 2 cups of sugar
- 2 cups of cherry coke it will reduce to 1/2 cup of syrup
- 2/3 cup of cocoa
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1 1/2 cup water
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup of vegetable oil
- 4 tbs white vinegar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tsp almond extract important for cherry flavor
For Frosting:
- Whipped cream frosting I used COOL Whip vanilla frosting, 15 oz
- 1 jar Maraschino cherries
- 1 chocolate bar keep refrigerated until ready to use
Instructions
- 1. Preheat the oven to 350. Line 3 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper circles. Lightly grease the pans and set aside.
- 2. In a small sauce pan, bring cherry coke to boil on medium high heat. Let it simmer on medium high heat until it reduces to 1/2 cup of syrup (about 10 minutes.) Let it cool a little.
- 3. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the liquid ingredients.
- 4. Sift in the flour, baking soda, sugar, salt and cocoa powder. Whisk until all combined.
- 5. Separate the batter between the 3 cake pan equally.
- 6. Bake for 15-17 minutes, until the toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- 7. Let the cakes stand in the pans for about 10 minutes before taking them out. After taking the cakes out of the pan, cool them completely before frosting.
- 8. Use whipped cream frosting between the layers and some maraschino cherries.
- 9. After frosting the cake, grate the chocolate bar all over the cake. I suggest putting a large towel underneath while grating the chocolate. Top off with a few more maraschino cherries.
Make sure to let me know if you try the cake and live it!! Enjoy everyone!
Maria says
Your cake looks wonderful! Black Forest is one of my favorites, and this sounds like a delicious recipe!
lyuba says
Thank you so much, Maria!
Carla says
This was a wonderful surprise and a great tasting cake. Thank you so much!
lyuba says
You are welcome!
Winnie says
It’s a wonderful cake – really delicious, and yours looks absolutely beautiful
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust says
It’s beautiful!!
Nichi - The Mandatory Mooch says
Looks delicious, Lyuba. Would love for you to share at my linky party going on right now. http://www.mandatorymooch.blogspot.com/2013/02/tasty-thursdays-29.html
Thanks, Nichi – The Mandatory Mooch
Diana Rambles says
WOW! That looks amazing!
Holly Lefevre says
Cherry coke and almond extract – my hubby would love me forever!
Ruthie says
Oh my. YUM! Chocolate cake is amazing… I’d love to have come and share them at Super Saturday Show & Tell party today! http://www.whatscookingwithruthie.com xoxo~ Ruthie
Lizy @ http://justdipitinchocolate.blogspot.com/ says
This looks delicious! I believe is the adult version of the one I made! Thanks for this beautiful post!
Heidi Ferguson says
This looks amazing–I wish I was eating it right now! I’m a sucker for chocolate and cherry together. I found this through flamingo toes linkup!
Miz Helen says
Hi Lyuba,
Oh girl, this is just amazing, we will just love this Black Forest Cake! Hope you have a fabulous week and thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
Rossana says
It looks amazing! I am baking it right now, but I added 2 eggs, the recipe does not call for eggs, I got worry that perhaps it was a missprint. I hope it turns out as good as yours. Thank you for the recipe.
lyuba says
Thank you, Rossana! Yes, it was a mistake, I’m sorry!! Hope it turns out delicious 🙂 (all fixed now)
Cake Addicted says
Thanks for sharing the secret about cherry coke and almond extract. Gotta give it a try!
lyuba says
No problem! Thank you for coming by!
Sandara says
Can you please suggest a substitute for cherry coke?
lyuba says
Hi Sandra!
Hmmm, you can try one of those syrups they sell for at-home soda machines. Or you can try finding cherry extract but remember to compensate for the amount of syrup taken away from ingredients.
Sandara says
thank you very much. I’ll definitely try that. I’ll let you know how it turns out. Thanks a ton again.
lyuba says
Of course! Pleas do 🙂 Good luck!