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Monday, June 27, 2011

Black Forest Cake ~ 100 th Post

Two months of blogging and so fast days passed by...I can't imagine myself reaching the 100th post.I never thought I would reach my first mile stone so quick with an average of 5 posts per week.Almost 3900 visitors to the blog and 64 blogger friends.That shows my passion to cooking,isn't it ??The blog has really helped me out a lot to try out variety dishes posted by my blogger friends and I would like to thank each one of them for their constant support and priceless sweet comments throughout my posts.I hope to have your support in coming posts too.



Also, I have changed the outlook of the whole blog as I have not done it since long..thought to give a new refined look and added some pages too..Hope you all liked it..
I couln't have reached this mile stone without my family's support too,so I thought to celebrate this event by preparing their favourite Black forest cake and mine too..:-)





Black Forest Cake(American english) is also known as German Gateau(British English).The cake consists of several layers of chocolate cake ,whipped cream ,maraschino cherries and chocolate shavings.The Black Forest cake had its name from the speciality liquor of that region Schwarzwalder Kirsch wasser (a clear liquor distilled from tart cherries.Traditionally ,Kirschwasser is added to the cake.Now adays rum,brandy or whisky is added to the cake.In the United States,The cake is mostly prepared without alcohol.This is a short insight to the beautifully layered cake.




Coming back to my recipe,I made the cake from scratch and I have not added any kirschwasser or any sort of alcohol.Instead I just baked the cake with baking powder to soften the texture as a matter of challenge to avoid alcohol.The cake came out really well and this was my first attempt in preparing a Black Forest Cake.The cake tasted equally good and was worthwhile the effort.Only drawback I fet was the strong smell of bottled cherries.I surprised everyone at home,all were amazed to see this yummy cake. The recipe is a simple one, only thing is it requires a pre planning and we got to be careful cutting the layers and layering it.The cake can also be prepared using the devil's food cake mix much simpler to bake rather than from scratch.(I read in one of the sites).






Ingredients
for cake
all purpose flour 1/2 cup
cocoa 1/2 cup
sugar 1 cup
eggs 4
butter 100g
vanilla 1tsp
baking powder 1/2 tsp (if you are not using alcohol)
for sugar syrup
water 1 cup
sugar 1/2 cup
kirschwasser/rum / brandy /whisky 3 tsp ( I have not used this)

for frosting n layering
whipping cream 1 1/2 cup
cherries bottled  15 cherries
chocolate bars 2 (for curls)








Method

  1. Preparing the cake -
  • Sift the flour, cocoa and baking powder ,mix together,keep aside.
  • Powder the sugar and keep aside.
  • Beat the eggs until fluffy.Add the sugar and blend well .
  • Add the butter and blend again.
  • Add the flour slowly into the mix and fold over.
  • Add the vanilla extract and mix well.
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and line a baking tray with parchment paper and pour the mix.(I used an oval tin to bake)
  • Bake the cake for 25-30 minutes.
  • Leave it on the wire rack till it cools down completely.
  • Leave the cake in the refrigerator for 2 hours.(easier to cut layers)
     2. For layering and filling -
  • Cut the cake into 3 or 4 layers as per your convenience.(make sure to cut it as thin as posssible as it has to soak the syrup) and place on a parchment paper.

  • Prepare a sugar syrup using water and sugar as listed. Cool the syrup and pour the syrup using a spoon on the different layers.
  • Leave it for 1 hour,keep adding the syrup until you finish the syrup.
  • In the mean time, whip the cream with a spoon or whisker till it reaches the stiff peak.(cream should not fall down once we hold the whisk upside down)
  • Layer the top most part of the cake as the base on a flat plate or cake stand.
  • Then layer the whipped cream and spread the cherries by cutting them.
  • Again alternate next layer of cake(be careful not to break the layer as its soft and soaked) and repeat the same procedure till you reach the top most layer.


  • Spread a layer of whipping cream on top and to the sides.



  • Using a scraper (or a new razor can also be used),chocolate bar can be shaved to curls and spread on the top most layer and sides.
  • Make a flower using the whipped cream (in an icing bag) and place the cherries on top to garnish.
  • Refrigerate the cake for 4 hours and serve chilled.





NOTES
* Wash the bottled cherries thoroughly under running water to avoid the strong smell.
* Leave the cake refrigerated and if you are getting delayed in spreading the whipped cream before layering,its better to refrigerate than keeping outside.





30 comments:

  1. Congratulations on your 100th post and the layers looks amazing and gorgeous. Perfect looking Black forest Cake.

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  2. Hey Julie
    Congratz yaar...wishing you many more milestone...cake looks so delicious n loved your version...new looks was so pleasing n very nice...keep up the great work!!!
    Happy blogging!!!

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  3. wow!!! this cake is tempting me:)...it came out prefect!!!!
    congrats on your 100th post this is the yummy way to celebrate!!!!
    Happy Blogging!!!!
    Food Blog News Daily
    Good Food Recipes

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  4. Congrats dear ..wish you many more ...cake looks delicious

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  5. Congrats dear on ur 100th post !! This cake is perfectly done and beautiful !! looks so delicious and very tempting !!

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  6. Congrats on your 100th Post. Your Black Forest cake looks awesome and very appropriate for such a memorable occasion.

    Deepa
    Hamaree Rasoi

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  7. Congrats on your milestone dear..keep rocking!
    Perfect way to celebrate..perfect and delicious.

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  8. Congrats on ur 100th post...i love this cake

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  9. Congrats on the 100th post!! Awesome looking cake dear!!!

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  10. Congrats dear.. the cake looks yumm...

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  11. Congrats on 100th post..Keep rocking..the cake looks awesome..!!

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  12. Thanks for your birthday cake idea Julie and for being part of my cake-athon :) will link your yum black forest cake tomorrow :)

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  13. Congrats Julie! 100 posts, 5 posts a week is really hard work. Can't wait for your 200th post!

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  14. Congrats on your 100th post. That is such a sweet milestone. Absolutely drooling over your cake, mouth watering :)

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  15. o my god- what a superb effort julie- kudos for that and ur 100th post too !the ake looks finger-licking good !

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  16. Congrats on ur 100th post...keep rocking..wow..black forest cake looks so perfect and tempting , that I feel like grabbing it from the pic....yum yum

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  17. Thank you all for your encouraging and sweet comments..I hope to share many more recipes..Thanx again!

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  18. Congrats on your 100th post dear...This cake is perfect for celebration...Looks superb..

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  19. Congratulations for ur 100th post.You have done it in a very short time.your blog is looking amazing with colorful layers.This yummy cake was an apt choice for ur 100th post.

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  20. Congrats on ur 100th post.Cake looks superb & perfect.Liked ur new blog outlook.
    http://www.easycookingforamateurs.com/

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  21. congrats on ur 100th postand the cake turned so perfect and delicious

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  22. Thank you all again for all the support showered on my 100th post,and liking my cake too..

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  23. Congrats on your 100th post! Wow what a milestone in such a short time.

    Cake looks amazing!

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  24. congrats!!!!expecting more&more recipes....cake looks superb...nice clicks too

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  25. awesome presentation simply superb ....too tempting .... congrats ... wishing you many more centuries ...
    www.rajafood.blogspot.com

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  26. Congratulations Julie on your 100th post, keep up the great work! Your cake looks fabulous. I would like a slice, please :)

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  27. congrats for completing the 100th post.very happy for you...Wishing you to complete 1000 no 10000 recipes soon....by the way cake looks yummy and perfect...:)

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  28. Thank you all for your sweet comments and wishes..

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  29. Laleler ve pastalar çok güzeller :)
    Ellerinize sağlık..
    Türkiye'den sevgilerimle..

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I believe,"A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue,but the parent of all other virtues."So,friends accept my sincere thanks for visiting my space and sparing time to comment too.Your comments and thoughts are my source of inspiration,so please keep them coming !!! :)

PS:
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Regards,
Julie