I have a long history of failing to make 'big' cakes in my oven, but when I saw a recipe for a ring cake I remembered that I have a Bundt tin and I decided to have a go at making a cake for my dad's birthday. What else could I make for a man who thinks the 1970s were the best decade ever than a blackforest gateau, but 21st century style.
Blackforest Gateau
- Preparation time: 20 minutes
- Cooking time: 25-35 minutes
- Serves 8-10
Ingredients:
- 200g (7oz) softened butter
- 200g (7oz) golden caster sugar
- 4 large eggs, beaten
- 150g (50z) self-raising flour
- 50g (2oz) cocoa powder
- ½tsp baking powder
- 1tsp vanilla bean paste
- 4tbsp kirsch or brandy (optional and should be omitted if the cake is being given to a minor)
- 4tbsp cherry pie filling
- 150ml double cream
- 1tbsp icing sugar
- fresh cherries (with the stalks still on if possible)
- bar of white chocolate
- dark chocolate curls
- You'll also need a 20cm (8inch) Bundt tin, well greased and floured (I actually then put mine in the fridge as it was a warm day and the butter was melting through the flour.)
- Heat the oven to 180°C/160°C fan, 350°F, gas mark 4.
- Beat the butter and golden sugar in a bowl until smooth and creamy. Gradually beat in the eggs, a little at a time, adding flour if the mixture starts to curdle. Stir through the vanilla bean paste.
- Sieve in the flour, cocoa and baking powder and beat gently until smooth.
- Spoon the mixture into the tin and level the surface. Bake for 25-35 minutes until firm and well risen, test with a skewer which should come out clean.
- Place the cake in the tin onto a wire rack to cool. When cool (and not before or the cake will fall apart!) turn upside down and remove from the tin.
- Measure a line around the circumference of the cake halfway up the height, and carefully slice through this to have a top and bottom half.
- Whip the double cream up until stiff and it holds its shape. Stir through the icing sugar to sweeten. Spread this onto the bottom half of the ring, and spoon the cherry pie filling onto the top of this. Place the top half of the cake back on top.
- Melt the white chocolate in a bain marie (or in a bowl over boiling hot water, it shouldn't touch the water). Pour the chocolate over the top of the cake allowing it to dribble down the sides and hole to create. Place the cherries on top, and put the cake in the fridge to set.
- Once almost set, sprinkle the dark chocolate flakes on top (if this is done when the white chocolate is still warm, it will melt into it). Return to the fridge to set the white chocolate.
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I agree with your Dad, it's a classic of a cake that doesn't get dated. The combination of chocolate and cherries is an irresistible one. Your photos are totally mouthwatering. I think I need to bake a cake today to satisfy my craving. 🙂
looks bloody delicious! i love the flavour of a black forrest gateaux mmmm honestly this looks amazing and i wish i could try a slice x
That looks AMAZING! Well done 🙂
Looks yummy, and I love that you've used a bundt tin!
I will be using it forever from now on.
That looks totally amazing
Thanks, I was so pleased with it.
Oh my days that looks gorgeous! Great job and I bet it tasted GREAT with a wee cup of tea! 😛 x
Tea?! No no! But it did taste scrummy. Thanks for your comment.
Yum! I am old-fashioned and will still prefer a blackforest cake over rich triple choc fudge mud cake or something similarly decadent.
I'm the same, the cherry works brilliantly to counter the chocolate doesn't it?
I must say that does look rather good. Hope he liked it.
He loved it, and it tasted scrummy.
looks delicious
It was, thanks for your comment.
Looks really lovely, but you already know that I'm a massive Blackforest Gateau fan 😉
I need to try your trifle, it looked absolutely delicious.
Oh my Lord that looks divine! A real classic, funnily enough I have been making gateaux recently too but banana based, might have to give this modern retro one a go too. Happy Birthday Dad of TB&M!
Thanks, dad loved it. I'm yet to try baking a banana cake, must tackle that soon as yours was yummy.
Oh wow! It looks delicious!
Glad you're oven finally worked.
Dad thinks it might have been because of the hole in the middle of the tin; he thinks it meant the heat was more evenly distributed.
Oh yum! Could have a slice of that right now!
Sorry, long gone now!
ooo gorgeous, oozing cream and cherries, love it!
I'm thinking we could count them as the dairy and fruit portions for the day? Then it would be nutritously delicious?
That looks very very nice!!
It really, really was! And it rose, who'd have thunked it?
oh, I am a black forest gateau fan…looks oozingly good!
Thank you, I particularly like the runny cherry sauce down the side!
That looks yummy. I really wish I liked cream x
I don't like cream as it is, hence adding the icing sugar to sweeten it. You could ditch the cream and just use cherries and white chocolate?
Wow that's stunning! Well done! Thanks for linking up to #tastytuesdays. Be great if you could add my badge too. Thanks!
Thanks very much, badge added.
OMG. Yum. That is all.
Yum indeed, was super-duper yummy.
Man oh man, what a cake! AWESOME 🙂
Thanks lovely, the oldies are the best.
That looks really yummy.
It really was! My dad was over the moon with it too.
Oh WOW! That looks amazing and I love your photo styling. Well done, lady!
Thanks for linking up to #recipeoftheweek. Pinned and Stumbled. There's a new linky live now if you want to join in 🙂 x
Thank you, can you tell I've been channelling Lucy? I've got a recipe tomorrow so will link up then.
I am on a weight loss diet but after reading this recipe, I just have to make one for myself. There goes my diet 🙁
Sorry! You could just have a little slice though?
This is ace! Your father must be very happy with this cake! #pintorials
i remember this cake – it still looks as delicious now as it did then! thank you for adding it to the GBBOBloggers2015 linky x
What a gorgeous looking cake – I love the combination of chocolate & cherries too! #GBBOBloggers2015
It does look rather delicious, love the white chocolate effect x
Wow! Looks absolutely delicious and very decadent. Bet it didn't last long enough for a second slice 😉
that really does look tasty! those cherries look perfect for this time of year. popping by from #GBBOBloggers2015 linky. xxx
Wow this looks delicious!
Oh that looks amazing, I hope your Dad liked it
Oh my that looks lovely! This bake off is just making me want to bake even more – add I do a lot as it is. Good to try new things though x
This looks delicious!
Oh wow! That looks so good! You cannot beat the classic flavours x #bakeoftheweek
Sorry, not bake of the week, I meant #GBBOBloggers2015 x
Ooh it looks delicious! And yes, I agree it is a classic! #gbbobloggers2015