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Gothic Black Forest Cake for Halloween

A decadent slice of Gothic Black Forest Cake with layers of chocolate cake, whipped cream, and cherries, topped with fresh cherries.
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A dramatic, dark twist on the classic German chocolate-cherry cake, perfect for a sophisticated Halloween celebration.

Ingredients

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  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
  • ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
  • ¾ teaspoon baking powder
  • ¾ teaspoon salt
  • 3 large eggs
  • ¾ cup buttermilk
  • ¾ cup vegetable oil
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¾ cup hot water
  • 1 (21 ounce) can cherry pie filling
  • ¼ cup cherry liqueur (like Kirschwasser)
  • 2 cups heavy whipping cream
  • ½ cup powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup chocolate shavings
  • 2 tablespoons dark cherry syrup (optional, for ‘blood’ effect)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 8-inch round cake pans.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
  3. Add eggs, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla extract to the dry ingredients. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes until well combined.
  4. Carefully stir in the hot water. The batter will be thin.
  5. Pour the batter evenly into the prepared cake pans.
  6. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
  7. Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes before inverting them onto a wire rack to cool completely.
  8. Once cooled, brush the tops of both cake layers with cherry liqueur.
  9. In a medium bowl, whip the heavy cream with powdered sugar and vanilla extract until stiff peaks form.
  10. Place one cake layer on your serving plate. Spread half of the cherry pie filling over the cake layer.
  11. Top the cherry filling with half of the whipped cream.
  12. Place the second cake layer on top. Spread the remaining cherry pie filling and then the remaining whipped cream over the second layer.
  13. Frost the sides of the cake with the remaining whipped cream.
  14. Decorate the top with chocolate shavings. If desired, drizzle dark cherry syrup over the top to resemble blood.
  15. Chill the cake for at least 30 minutes before slicing and serving.

Notes

  • For a deeper chocolate flavor, use a high-quality Dutch-process cocoa powder.
  • If you don’t have cherry liqueur, you can substitute with cherry juice or a bit of brandy.
  • Ensure your heavy cream is very cold for the best whipping results.
  • This cake pairs well with a strong cup of coffee or a glass of red wine.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://blissbatter.com/black-forest-cake-gothic-halloween-twist/