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Black Forest gâteau
Black Forest gâteau is a sophisticated dessert which comes from Germany. It is essentially a combination of four flavours: chocolate, cherries, cream and kirsch. Here is my own version.
177 K 4.6/5 (19 reviews)542576
Last modified on: October 13th 2026
For 1 Black Forest gateau, you will need:
- 1
1 génoise (genoa sponge) - 2
2 tablespoons powdered cocoa - 3
200 g Griottine cherries - 4
1 sheet gelatin - 5
3 tablespoons Kirsch - 6
200 ml liquid cream - 7
10 g vanilla sugar - 8 1 teaspoon powdered cocoa
- Total weight: 975 grams
Times for this recipe
Preparation
2 hours 35 min.
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Step by step recipe
Step 1 - ⌛ 1 hour 25 min.
Prepare a chocolate-flavoured 1 génoise (genoa sponge): make the genoa sponge as usual, but add 2 tablespoons powdered cocoa to the flour before adding the beaten eggs.
You can scatter a few flaked almonds in the bottom of the mould or tin before pouring in the mixture, but this is not essential.
You can scatter a few flaked almonds in the bottom of the mould or tin before pouring in the mixture, but this is not essential.
Step 2 - ⌛ 5 min.
Slice the sponge in two horizontally.
For real attention to detail, you can trim off the the top crust, which will help the cake to absorb the syrup later.
For real attention to detail, you can trim off the the top crust, which will help the cake to absorb the syrup later.
Step 3 - ⌛ 3 min.
Place a layer of sponge on the serving plate.
Step 4 - ⌛ 3 min.
Drain 200 g Griottine cherries but save all the syrup.
Step 5 - ⌛ 5 min.
Use a brush to soak the sponge on the plate with the syrup from the cherries.
Step 6 - ⌛ 5 min.
Surround the sponge with a band of paper or plastic to make the assembly which follows easier.
Of course, if you have a dessert ring of the right size, use this.
Of course, if you have a dessert ring of the right size, use this.
Step 7 - ⌛ 15 min.
Soak 1 sheet gelatin in cold water.
Warm 3 tablespoons Kirsch in a small pan, then incorporate the gelatine and leave to cool.
Make a chantilly (whipped cream) with 200 ml liquid cream, 10 g vanilla sugar and the kirsch.
We add the gelatine to make the cake firmer and easier to asemble. It also keeps better.
Warm 3 tablespoons Kirsch in a small pan, then incorporate the gelatine and leave to cool.
Make a chantilly (whipped cream) with 200 ml liquid cream, 10 g vanilla sugar and the kirsch.
We add the gelatine to make the cake firmer and easier to asemble. It also keeps better.
Step 8 - ⌛ 5 min.
Spread a layer of cream on top of the sponge. If your cream is not in a cream whipper, use a forcing bag to make this easier.
Step 9 - ⌛ 5 min.
Spread an even layer of cherries on the cream.
Step 10 - ⌛ 5 min.
Then a second layer of cream.
Step 11 - ⌛ 5 min.
Soak the second half of the sponge with cherry syrup and sit it on the cream layer.
Step 12 - ⌛ 5 min.
Add a third layer of cream on the top.
Step 13 - ⌛ 3 min.
Sprinkle with cocoa powder or scatter with chocolate chips.
Step 14 - ⌛ 5 min.
Remove the band of paper and refrigerate until serving.
Remarks
If you can't get griottines, you can use amarena cherries in syrup or fresh cherries (when in season, of course). In which case, you will need to stone them first, then simmer them in a pan with a little sugar and kirsch.
For a richer and more sophisticated gâteau, you can slice the genoa sponge into 3 layers (rather than two) and add an extra layer of cherries and cream.
Heston Blumenthal, the famous English chef, is a fan of Black Forest gâteau, which he calls BFG. He includes surprising variations on his menu, including a little individual kirsch spray.
For a richer and more sophisticated gâteau, you can slice the genoa sponge into 3 layers (rather than two) and add an extra layer of cherries and cream.
Heston Blumenthal, the famous English chef, is a fan of Black Forest gâteau, which he calls BFG. He includes surprising variations on his menu, including a little individual kirsch spray.
Keeping: 1 or 2 days in the fridge, covered with film.
Source: Homemade.
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Nutritional information
| Proteins | Carbohydrates | Fats | Calories | Energy | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Per 100 g | 5 g RDI=7 % | 38 g RDI=14 % | 13 g RDI=18 % | 301 kcal RDI=15 % | 1,259 kJ RDI=15 % |
| Whole recipe | 45 g RDI=69 % | 370 g RDI=140 % | 128 g RDI=176 % | 2,918 kcal RDI=146 % | 12,217 kJ RDI=146 % |
How much will it cost?
For 1 Black Forest gateau
10.55 €
Note: Be careful, these prices are only an estimate, you can consult the table of prices by ingredients used for this estimate.
This recipe uses (among others)
Liquid cream
Like these other recipes:
Griottine cherries
Like these other recipes:
Vanilla sugar
You can get more informations, or check-out other recipes which use it, for example:
Kirsch
Like these other recipes:
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