Black Forest gateau


Black Forest gateau
Black Forest gateau 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.
170 K 4.6/5 (19 reviews)
Grade this recipe:
Keywords:
Last modified on: November 27th 2011
For this recipe: Comment Send to a friend Ask me a question Follow Printable Diaporama
For 1 Black Forest gateau, you will need:

Change these quantities to make:
Change measures:
Times for this recipe
Preparation: 2 hours 35 min.
When should you start or finish this recipe?
If you start now, at , you will finish around : ?.Change start time
To finish around 7pm, you'll need to have started before: .Change end time

Step by step recipe


Stage 1 - ⌛ 1 hour 25 min.
Black Forest gateau : Stage 1
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.

Stage 2 - ⌛ 5 min.
Black Forest gateau : Stage 2
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.

Stage 3 - ⌛ 3 min.
Black Forest gateau : Stage 3
Place a layer of sponge on the serving plate.

Stage 4 - ⌛ 3 min.
Black Forest gateau : Stage 4
Drain 200 g Griottine cherries but save all the syrup.

Stage 5 - ⌛ 5 min.
Black Forest gateau : Stage 5
Use a brush to soak the sponge on the plate with the syrup from the cherries.

Stage 6 - ⌛ 5 min.
Black Forest gateau : Stage 6
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.

Stage 7 - ⌛ 15 min.
Black Forest gateau : Stage 7
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.

Stage 8 - ⌛ 5 min.
Black Forest gateau : Stage 8
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.

Stage 9 - ⌛ 5 min.
Black Forest gateau : Stage 9
Spread an even layer of cherries on the cream.

Stage 10 - ⌛ 5 min.
Black Forest gateau : Stage 10
Then a second layer of cream.

Stage 11 - ⌛ 5 min.
Black Forest gateau : Stage 11
Soak the second half of the sponge with cherry syrup and sit it on the cream layer.

Stage 12 - ⌛ 5 min.
Black Forest gateau : Stage 12
Add a third layer of cream on the top.

Stage 13 - ⌛ 3 min.
Black Forest gateau : Stage 13
Sprinkle with cocoa powder or scatter with chocolate chips.

Stage 14 - ⌛ 5 min.
Black Forest gateau : Stage 14
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 gateau, 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 gateau, 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: Home made.
Nutritional information
Proteins (gr)Carbohydrates (gr)Fats (gr)Energy value (in k-calories)Energy value (in k-joules)
Whole recipe260 RDI=100 %1,610 RDI=150 %560 RDI=90 %12,510 RDI=630 %52,380 RDI: 630 %
Per 100 g30 RDI=10 %160 RDI=20 %60 RDI=9 %1,260 RDI=60 %5,280 RDI: 60 %
The % figures are calculated in relation to the Recommended Dietary Intake , or RDI of 2,000 k-calories (or 8,400 k-joules) per day for a woman
Possible allergens in this recipe: egg, milk, Gluten, Nuts
How much will it cost?
  • For 1 Black Forest gateau : 10.75 €

Change currency:

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)
Other recipes you may also like
Arlesian Biscuits
Arlesian Biscuits
These small almond and lemon-flavoured biscuits have a short, melt-in-the-mouth texture. They are known as "sablés arlésiens" in French.
July 30th 201487 K5 1 hour 35 min.
How to make a good pastry tart case
How to make a good pastry tart case
Lining a tin or mould with pastry to make a tart or pie seems simple enough: you roll out the pastry, put it in the tin and trim off any overhanging bits. It may not be rocket science, but if you want a tart with a perfect pastry case, it really helps to take care over a few details, which I will show you here.
July 14th 201986 K 45 min.
Avocado "tarte fine"
Avocado "tarte fine"
The French "tarte fine" (pronounced "feen") is a literally a thin tart, made on a precooked flat base of puff pastry. This delicious, crisp, savoury tart is topped with cream cheese, slices of avocado, a trickle of lime juice and fresh coriander.
July 15th 202067 K 60 min.
Peach and blackcurrant sundae
Peach and blackcurrant sundae
Peach and blackcurrant flavours work well together. Here is an indulgent sundae that makes the most of this: poached peaches with blackcurrant sorbet and Chantilly cream. Delicious!
August 18th 202140 K 1 hour 2 min.
Rillettes stuffed mushrooms
Rillettes stuffed mushrooms
In this recipe, the mushroom caps are first sautéed, then filled with fried onions and a spoonful of rillettes, then baked in the oven. Here they are served with a quick pickle made from brunoise radishes with tarragon.
May 10th 202352 K3.8 60 min.
News list of cooking-ez.com

Sign up to receive the latest recipes (next batch due to be sent on 2026-02-08)

*Your e-mail Your first name or nickname
I am not a leaving thing
Note: We'll never share your e-mail address with anyone else.
Post a comment or question
Posted by:
I am not a leaving thing

Follow this recipe
If you are interested in this recipe, you can "follow" it, by entering your email address here. You will then receive a notification immediately each time the recipe is modified or a new comment is added. Please note that you will need to confirm this following.
I am not a leaving thing
Note: We'll never share your e-mail address with anyone else.
Alternatively: you can subscribe to the mailing list of cooling-ez.com , you will receive a e-mail for each new recipe published on the site.

Back to top of page