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Black forest gateau

Name: Black forest gateau
Total time: 1 h 10 min
Ingredients: dark chocolate 250g, roughly chopped; butter 150g, plus extra for the tin; eggs 5, separated; caster sugar 150g; ground almonds 30g; kirsch 1 tbsp; double cream 250ml; icing sugar 2½ tbsp; kirsch 1½ tbsp; Opies Black Cherries with Kirsch ½ a jar; dark chocolate curls to decorate, (see notes below)

1 hour 10 minutes
serves 10
Easy

Turn the clock back with our nostalgic black forest cake with a modern twist. This chocolate and cherry gateau is perfect for a dinner party dessert.

By Janine Ratcliffe

Published: December 11, 2019 at 10:24 am

Try our black forest cake recipe then check out our chocolate fudge cake, cherry cake and red velvet cake.

Ingredients

dark chocolate 250g, roughly chopped
butter 150g, plus extra for the tin
eggs 5, separated
caster sugar 150g
ground almonds 30g
kirsch 1 tbsp

TOPPING

double cream 250ml
icing sugar 2½ tbsp
kirsch 1½ tbsp
Opies Black Cherries with Kirsch ½ a jar
dark chocolate curls to decorate, (see notes below)

Method

Step 1

Heat the oven to 160C/fan 140C/gas 3. Butter and base-line a 23cm round springform cake tin with baking paper.
Step 2

Melt together the chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl over (but not touching) a pan of gently simmering water (or melt in short bursts in the microwave).
Step 3

Put the egg yolks and whites in separate bowls. Beat the yolks until light and fluffy.
Step 4

Cool the chocolate mixture until just-warm then stir in 50g of the sugar. Gradually stir in the egg yolks. Stir in the almonds and kirsch.
Step 5

Whisk the egg whites until soft peaks form, then whisk in the rest of the sugar, 2 tbsp at a time, until you have stiff, glossy meringue. Add a large spoonful of the egg whites to loosen the chocolate mixture then gently fold in the rest of the meringue, keeping in as much air as possible.
Step 6

Spoon into the tin and bake for 30-35 minutes, then leave to cool completely in the tin. It will sink and crack a little but you’ll cover this with decoration.
Step 7

To finish, whip together the cream, icing sugar and kirsch until soft peaks form. Dollop over the cake, then add cherries and chocolate curls to finish.

Dark chocolate curls

You can buy dark chocolate curls in most supermarkets or make them at home. Melt 100g of chocolate then spread a thin layer over the base of a clean baking tray. Chill until set, then hold a large sharp knife horizontally and draw it towards you to create the curls.