Black Forest Week

Black Forest cake, It is basically a German cake called Schwarzwälderkirschtorte, which means Black Forest Cherry Cake. It is made up of layers of chocolate cake with Kirsch, whipped cream, cherries and chocolate curls. And speaking of Germany, we went there last saturday. It was only 20-30 minutes drive from pieter's parents house. I was expecting to have a nice souvenir photos while we were there, but we had not much else to go in Niedersachen or Lower Saxony but just visited 3 supermarkets and ate fresh herring. So the excitement for the trip was turned into disappointment.

Anyway, so much for germany and disappointments (sigh!) When we got back from the "shopping in germany" We had german sausage and sauerkraut (german food at least) and my black forest cupcakes. I made these cupcakes day ahead and brought the next day for Pieter's family.

I usually make this with cream cheese/whipped cream filling and kirsch water (cherry brandy) but I have nothing in hand so these are just basic chocolate cakes with whipped cream and cherry filling.

chocolate cupcakes - makes 6
1/2 stick butter, room temp

1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons sugar

1 large egg, room temp

1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons flour

1/4 tsp baking powder

1/8 tsp salt

1/4 cup high quality unsweetened cocoa powder

1/4 cup milk

1/2 tsp vanilla

maraschino cherries

• Preheat oven to 180 C
• Beat butter until softened.
• Add sugar and beat until light and fluffy.
• Add egg and beat until well combined.
• Measure the flour, baking powder, salt, and cocoa powder into a small sized bowl and whisk to combine.
• Measure out the milk and vanilla and stir to combine.
• Add about a third of the dry ingredients to the butter/sugar and beat to combine. Add about a half of the milk/vanilla and beat to combine. Continue adding, alternating between dry and wet and finishing with the dry.
• Scoop batter into cupcake cups about 2/3’s full.
• Bake cupcakes for about 22-25 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean.

whipped cream
1 cup whipping cream
2 tbsp powdered sugar

• Whip cream on high with the whip attachment until soft peaks, about 5 minutes.
• Add sugar.
• Continue to whip until stiff peaks form, try not to over beat

fill cupcakes

• Cut out a cone from each cupcake.
• Flip the cone and cut off the excess. Set the top aside.
• Fill each cavity with the whipped cream and cherries.
• Replace each top.
• Frost cupcakes with remaining whipped cream and top with maraschinos cherries and shaved chocolate.

Black Forest Cupcakes to go. We bought these cupcake container at Xenos
http://www.xenos.nl/

black forest parfait - makes 2 small wine glasses
1 cup maraschinos cherries
1 cup cream
4 ounces milk chocolate, chopped

• Place chocolate in a bowl
• Heat 1/4 cream in a saucepan until bubbles form around the edge
• Pour hot cream over chocolate and stir until smooth
• Set aside to cool.
• Whip the remaining 3/4 cup of cream and sugar until light and fluffy for approximately 2 minutes.
• Into 2 wine glasses make a layer, starting with melted chocolate followed by maraschino cherries then whipped cream .
• Top with shaved chocolate and cherry.
• Chill until ready to serve.