Layer (eat) up!

(For my foodie friend Joy)

I had always wanted to try this, (German-original) Schwarz-Wälder-Kirsch Torte or Black Forest Cherry Cake. I wanted to because all those ready made I buy costs 12Euros (15$) which I find sour compared to the variation I always enjoyed at Red Ribbon. Second reason; since the theme over at LaPiS is layered, I thought this is my best chance to challenge myself in baking. Of course, cherries are red, perfect for Ruby Tuesday!

I had planned to bake last Saturday, unfortunately in between the excitement I forgot to buy eggs! Since Sunday is closed all the stores day, I waited for today and here, baked my very first successful cake! I followed the recipe here.

INGREDIENTS

* 265 g all-purpose flour
* 400 g white sugar
* 65 g unsweetened cocoa powder
* 7 g baking powder
* 3 g baking soda
* 5 g salt
* 3 eggs
* 235 ml milk
* 120 ml vegetable oil
* 15 ml vanilla extract
* 2 (20 ounce) cans pitted sour cherries
* 200 g white sugar
* 30 g cornstarch
* 5 ml vanilla extract
* 710 ml heavy whipping cream
* 40 g confectioners' sugar



Procedure:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour two 9 inch, round, cake pans; cover bottoms with waxed paper. (I used an 11 inch pan so I didn't divide the cake later).

2. In a large bowl, combine flour, 2 cups sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add eggs, milk, oil, and 1 tablespoon vanilla; beat until well blended. Pour batter into prepared pans.

3. Bake for 35 minutes, or until wooden toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool layers in pans on wire racks 10 minutes. Loosen edges, and remove to racks to cool completely.

4. Drain cherries, reserving 1/2 cup juice. Combine reserved juice, cherries, 1 cup sugar and cornstarch in a 2 quart saucepan. Cook over low heat until thickened, stirring constantly. Stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla. Cool before using.

5. Combine whipping cream and confectioner's sugar in a chilled medium bowl. Beat with an electric mixer at high speed until stiff peaks form.

6. With long serrated knife, split each cake layer horizontally in half (if you used 9 inch pans). Tear one split layer into crumbs; set aside. Reserve 1 1/2 cups Frosting for decorating cake; set aside. Gently brush loose crumbs off top and side of each cake layer with pasty brush or hands. To assemble, place one cake layer on cake plate.

Spread with 1 cup frosting; top with 3/4 cup cherry topping. Top with second cake layer; repeat layers of frosting and cherry topping. Top with third cake layer. Frost side of cake. Pat reserved crumbs onto frosting on side of cake. Spoon reserved frosting into pastry bag fitted with star decorator tip. Pipe around top and bottom edges of cake. Spoon remaining cherry topping onto top of cake.

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I deliberately topped half of the cake with cherries while the other has icing on it only because the bigger boy doesn't want lots of them. That's his slice on the first photo. Enjoy!

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