German Schwarzwalder Kirsch Food

SCHWARZWäLDER KIRSCHTORTE (GERMAN BLACK FOREST CAKE)

Steps:

• The brandied cherries need to be made a day ahead of assembling the cake. Combine the frozen cherries, 1/3 c Kirsch and 1/3 sugar in a bowl and let thaw completely. Stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar. Keep covered and chilled until ready to use.
• Preheat oven to 350 Deg F. Line the bottom or three 8" round cake pans with parchment paper.
• In a small bowl sift together the flour and cocoa powder.
• In another small bowl melt the butter and allow it to cool to room temperature as the eggs and sugar mix.
• In a stand mixer with the whisk attachment, mix the eggs and sugar together on high for 5-7 minutes until thick and pale and tripled in volume. Add in the vanilla and salt and whip another minute.
• Fold in the flour mixture in two portions into the egg mixture, being careful not to deflate the egg mixture. Take out a cup of the mixture and combine with the melted butter, then add back into the rest of the batter and fold in a few more times. A few streaks of flour is ok, you really don't want the batter to deflate too much.
• Divide amongst the prepared pans then bake for 20-24 minutes or until the cakes are puffed and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Let cool completely in pans, then carefully run a knife around the edges and invert to a cooling rack, or wrap in plastic wrap and chill until ready to use.
• Whip the cream until soft peaks, then add in 2 tablespoons kirsch, vanilla extract and powdered sugar, starting with 1/2 of a cup and whip to stiff peaks. Taste and add a little at time while whipping until desired sweetness is achieved. Add in more Kirsch, up to 2 more tablespoons if a boozier whipped cream is desired and whip again. Keep chilled before using.
• Drain the brandied cherries saving the liquid. If the sugar is still not dissolved, heat for about 30 seconds then stir.
• Place one cake layer on a cake plate, or on a cardboard cake circle on a cake decorating turntable, and brush the top of the cake layer with a little of the reserved brandied cherry liquid. Spread on a heaping cup of the whipped cream then top with half the cherries. Spread another heaping cup of the cream on top of the cherries. Repeat with another later then with the top layer brush with the brandied cherry liquid then spread a cup of the cream on top and another around the sides to crumb coat the cake. Chill the cake about 30 minutes, keeping the cream chilled as well.
• Check for any leaking of the brandied cherry juice around the edges and dab with a paper towel then spread another layer of the whipped cream around the sides and top, leaving about a cup and a half for the decoration on the top of the cake.
• Carefully press the chocolate curls into the side of the cake, scooping up any that fall off and press again. Leaving about 1/2 a cup or so for the top of the cake.
• Put the remaining whipped cream into a piping bag fitted with an open star tip and create a dozen swirls around the top to hold the stemmed cherries. You can double layer these swirls. Fill the middle of the top of the cake with the remaining chocolate curls, place a cherry in each of the whipped cream swirl then keep the cake chilled until ready to serve. The cake cuts and serves a lot easier when well chilled.

AUTHENTIC BLACK FOREST CAKE (SCHWARZWALD KIRSCH KUCHEN)

Steps:

• Pit most of the cherries leaving about 10 for decoration on top of the cake. Take the pitted cherries and soak them in a jar of the 1/2 cup Kirsch overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 350°F Line the bottom of three 9 inch round cake pans with parchment.
• Sift the dry cake ingredients together.
• Cream the shortening and sugar. Add the eggs and vanilla and mix well.
• Add the dry ingredients alternately with the buttermilk and mix well.
• Pour evenly into the cake pans. Bake for 20 minutes or until a tooth pick comes out clean.
• Cool and remove the cakes. Prick the tops of the cakes with a toothpick and pour the 1/2 cup of Kirsch (that the cherries soaked in) onto the cake.
• In a bowl beat the butter until light and creamy. Add the icing sugar, salt and espresso and mix well. If the icing is too thick add Kirsch or cherry juice.
• Cut the cherries into halves.
• Place the base layer on top of your cake tray, spread 1/2 of the filling over one top, cover with cherries and top with another layer of cake.
• Spread the second half of the filling over that layer of cake, cover with cherries and top with the third layer of cake. Cover this and let sit in the fridge for a day or two to allow the kirsch to soak into the cake and become moist.
• The day you're going to serve this cake prepare the icing. Whip the cream until it forms stiff peaks.
• Gently fold in the dry milk and icing sugar.
• Add the vanilla and pour in the Kirsch until it's a good consistency.
• If you like more icing double this recipe. Spread the icing over all of the cake.
• Place the fresh, intact cherries on top for decoration and cover the top with the chocolate shavings. Serve and enjoy!

BLACK FOREST GATEAU (SCHWARZWALDER KIRSCHTORTE)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Butter and line a 9-inch round cake pan with parchment paper. Butter the parchment paper and set aside.
• Whisk the eggs yolks, eggs, and sugar in a large metal bowl over a pot of simmering water for a few minutes until the mixture is about 120 degrees F. Remove the bowl from the heat, and keep whisking to aerate the mixture until it is thick and fluffy, about 10 minutes. The mixture should increase in size 4 to 5 times and become very pale in color.
• Gently fold in both the sifted flour and wheat flour, and the cocoa powder. Pour the mixture into the prepared cake pan, and flatten it out carefully with a rubber spatula. Bake for about 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out cleanly. Invert the cake onto a wire rack, and cut a few vents in the parchment paper so that the steam can evaporate. Let inverted cake rest for 24 hours.
• In a small bowl, combine 2 tablespoons Kirsch, 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar, and the corn flour. Add a pinch lemon zest and a pinch of cinnamon to the bowl, and stir to combine. In a small saucepan, bring to a boil the remaining 4 tablespoons Kirsch. Reduce the heat to medium, add the sugar mixture, and stir. Then add the cherries, stir again, and heat through. Remove from the heat, pour into a bowl, and let cool.
• Cut the cake into 3 layers. Spread the melted chocolate evenly over the bottom layer, and place it in the refrigerator to cool and harden slightly. Meanwhile, make the Whipped Cream and the Syrup.
• Remove the chocolate-covered base layer from the refrigerator and brush syrup over the top. Add about 1/2 of the filling mixture, and 1/4 of the whipped cream. Repeat the layer, brushing with Syrup, then filling, and then Whipped Cream. Place the third cake layer on top, brush it with Syrup, and then cover it with Whipped Cream. Spread the remaining Whipped Cream around the side of the cake. Decorate the top of the cake with chocolate shavings and additional cherries.
• Whip together the cream, 2 tablespoons sugar, and vanilla sugar. If you don't have vanilla sugar, you may substitute 1 tablespoon sugar plus 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Begin whipping slowly, making the mixture lighter, and continue until you have achieved light and airy whipped cream.
• Combine 1 1/2 cups water and 3/4 cup sugar in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. When mixture is boiling and sugar has totally dissolved, remove the pan from the heat and add the Kirsch, and stir to combine.

GERMAN SCHWARZWALDER KIRSCH

Steps:

• Beat eggs, sugar and vanilla together until thick and fluffy, about 10 minutes. Alternately fold chocolate and flour into the egg mixture ending with flour. Pour the batter into 3 (8inch) round cake pans that have been well greased. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 10 to 15 minutes. Cool cakes in pan for 5 minutes: turn out onto racks to cool completely
• Make syrup by mixing sugar and water, boiling for 5 minutes. When syrup has cooled, stir in Kirsch. Prick the cake layers and pour syrup over all 3 layers.
• To make buttercream filling: beat together sugar and butter until well blendd. Add egg yolk: beat until light and fluffy, fold in Kirsch
• To assemble Cake: Place 1 layer on cake plate. Spread with the buttercream filling. Using 3/4 cup of drained cherries which you have patted dry, drop cherries evenly over cream. Place second layer on cake, repeat. Place third layer on top.
• Fold 2 Tablespoons of powdered sugar into the whipped cream. Cover sides and top of cake with whipped cream. Decorate top of cake with remaining 1/2 cup of cherries. Top cake with the shaved chocolate. Chill until serving time. Makes 8 to 10 servings. Very rich!