Dessert Recipes - Black Forest Gateau Recipe

Ingredients

• 150 g/5 oz/2/3 cup unsalted (sweet) butter, plus extra for greasing

• 50 g/2 oz/1/2 cup plain (all-purpose) flour, plus extra for dusting

• 50 g/2 oz/1/2 cup cocoa (unsweetened chocolate) powder

• 6 eggs

• 225 g/8 oz/1 cup caster (superfine) sugar

• 5 ml/1 tsp vanilla essence (extract)

• 50 g/2 oz/1/4 cup granulated sugar

• 425 g/15 oz/1 large can of red or black cherries

• 90 ml/6 tbsp kirsch

• 600 ml/2 1/2 cups double (heavy) cream

• 50 g/2 oz/1/3 cup icing sugar, sifted

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Method:

1. Grease three 18 cm/7 in sandwich tins (pans) with a little butter and dust with flour. Sift the flour and cocoa powder twice and reserve.

2. Melt the butter and leave so the sediment settles to the bottom. Whisk together the eggs and caster sugar until thick and pale, then whisk in the vanilla essence.

3. Sift the flour and cocoa again over the surface, drizzle the melted butter over leaving the sediment behind and fold them all in gently with a metal spoon until just blended.

4. 'Turn into the prepared tins and level the surfaces. Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C/350°F/gas mark 4 for about 15 minutes until the centers spring back when lightly pressed.

5. Leave to cool in the tins for a few minutes, then turn out on to wire racks and leave to cool completely.

6. Meanwhile, drain the can of cherries, reserving the juice. Reserve a few cherries for decoration. Chop the remainder and remove the stones (pits).

7. Put the granulated sugar in a saucepan. Add 90 ml/6 tbsp of the cherry juice. Heat gently, stirring, until the sugar has dissolved, then boil rapidly for a few minutes until syrupy. Leave to cool, then stir in half the kirsch.

8. Put the cream in a bowl with the icing sugar and remaining kirsch. Whip Until peaking. Sandwich the three cakes together with some of the cream and the chopped cherries.

9. Spread the remaining cream all over the sides and top of the cake. Decorate the top with the reserved cherries and grated chocolate. Chill until ready to serve.