Modern Black Forest

The past two weeks was hectic for me. I had multiple deadlines to meet before the Christmas week. I was happy to finish the Christmas Carol cake pops, made cake pop sample for wedding and also made about 20 Black Forest cakes.

Two cherries with white mini sprinkles on chocolate ganache

I have two recipes for Black Forest;  the Semi-Homemade version and the Homemade version.

For the Semi-Homemade, you'll need:
Cake: 1 box of dark chocolate cake mix
Filling: 1 can of Comstock Cherry pie filling.  I would add orange juice and couple spoon of sugar.
Icing: 1 can of Whipped Cream - preferably the heavy one.
Flavor: 1/4 cup of sugar water + 1/4 cup rum or kirsch or cherry liquor (boil water and sugar.  Let cool and add rum.
Chocolate ganache: 1/2 cup of whipping cream milk, 1/8 cup sugar, 1.5 tablespoon butter, 1/2 box of semi-sweet chocolate.  Boil all ingredients with low heat and let cool before pouring it onto the cake.
Garnish: cherries

Directions:
Bake cake as directed on the box in whatever baking pan size you like.  If you use 6" round baking pan, you'll make (1) 3 layers and (1) 2 layers cake.
Brush each cake with sugar water + rum.
Spread some Whipped Cream.
Layer with Cherry pie filling.
Repeat one more time if you are making 3 layers.
Last layer can be the cake or whipped cream.  I suggest to refrigerate the cake for at least half an hour before pouring the chocolate ganache.
Garnish the cake.

For the Homemade version, you'll need the following to make the cake:
Before you start, pre-heat your over at 350F.
*15 egg yolks
*7 egg whites
*1 cup granulated sugar

~1/2 cup cocoa powder
~1 T chocolate paste
~3/4 cup all purpose flour
~1 T milk powder
~1 T corn flour
~1 t baking powder

^1 stick or 1/2 cup butter - melted

Directions:
Beat with mixer the * ingredients until fully rise.
Add the ~ ingredients, and mix by hand.
Add melted butter.
Bake at 350F for about 25 minutes.  Add minutes if it is not fully baked.

To make Cherry filling, you'll need:
1 can of Cherry - chopped or whole, keep the water
2 T sugar
2 T rum, kirsch or cherry liquor
1 T corn flour - mix with water

Directions:
Heat with low heat all ingredient.
When it's about to boil, add corn flour.  Stir well.  If you like thicker filling, add more corn flour mic with water.

To make flavor, see Semi Homemade recipes.

To make icing, you'll need:
1.5 cup heavy whipping cream milk
6-7 T confectioner sugar
1 t vanilla
1 T rum
2 T condensed milk

Directions:
Beat with mixer (medium speed) whipping cream until thicken.
Add the rest of ingredients and beat until thicken.

NOW you are ready to assemble your cake.  I like mine with less icing, therefore I didn't cover the whole cake with icing.

For Christmas, I put the cake in the clear dome container and add a little Christmas card.