Food news
HeritageThe National Museum of the Philippines Iloilo capped off its 2026 ‘Magbasá Kita: A Reading Program for Young Learners’ with an immersive storytelling session at the museum’s Book Nook on September 23, 2026. The activity introduced the localHeritage21st Sunchang Jangryu Festival to Welcome the World With K-Food and Cultural ExperiencesHeritage21st Sunchang Jangryu Festival to Welcome the World With K-Food and Cultural ExperiencesStreet foodMan dead, 3 in custody after shooting outside Piada Italian Street Food in Mayfield HeightsStreet foodBrick-and-Mortar Restaurants Need to Stop Blaming Street VendorsFarm and marketYour guide to Harvest Fair 2026 at Wisconsin State Fair ParkFarm and marketOct. 3 Harvest of Harmony Parade available to view in livestream broadcast during paradeFarm and marketSouthington Apple Harvest Festival kicks off tonightWorldBon Appétit editor-in-chief explores food’s role in culture, media at MSUFarm and marketDetroit Harvest Fest adds movies, more food trucks in year 6HeritageThe National Museum of the Philippines Iloilo capped off its 2026 ‘Magbasá Kita: A Reading Program for Young Learners’ with an immersive storytelling session at the museum’s Book Nook on September 23, 2026. The activity introduced the localHeritage21st Sunchang Jangryu Festival to Welcome the World With K-Food and Cultural ExperiencesHeritage21st Sunchang Jangryu Festival to Welcome the World With K-Food and Cultural ExperiencesStreet foodMan dead, 3 in custody after shooting outside Piada Italian Street Food in Mayfield HeightsStreet foodBrick-and-Mortar Restaurants Need to Stop Blaming Street VendorsFarm and marketYour guide to Harvest Fair 2026 at Wisconsin State Fair ParkFarm and marketOct. 3 Harvest of Harmony Parade available to view in livestream broadcast during paradeFarm and marketSouthington Apple Harvest Festival kicks off tonightWorldBon Appétit editor-in-chief explores food’s role in culture, media at MSUFarm and marketDetroit Harvest Fest adds movies, more food trucks in year 6
Thali
Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte / Black Forest gateau

Black Forest cake

In its own language: Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte

German chocolate and cherry layer cake with whipped cream and kirsch

Photo: Mikelo, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Black Forest cake is a layered dessert from Germany, made with chocolate sponge, cherries, whipped cream, and kirsch, a cherry brandy. It is decorated with cream, cherries, and dark chocolate. The cake is enjoyed in cafés and at festivals, and has become well known outside Germany.

Share on WhatsApp

  • Chocolate sponge, cherries, whipped cream, and kirsch are the main ingredients
  • The first written recipe dates to 1927 and is archived in Radolfzell, Germany
  • A festival for the cake is held in Todtnauberg, Germany
  • EU law protects the name for cakes using Black Forest kirsch
  • The cake is decorated with cream, cherries, and chocolate shavings

What is Black Forest cake?

Black Forest cake is a multi-layered dessert featuring chocolate sponge, cherries, and whipped cream. Kirsch, a clear cherry brandy, is often added for flavor. The cake is typically finished with swirls of cream, whole cherries, and shavings of dark chocolate. Its layers alternate between moist chocolate cake and whipped cream with cherries, giving a rich but balanced taste. The appearance is striking, with white cream, dark chocolate, and bright red cherries.

Where does Black Forest cake come from?

The exact beginnings of Black Forest cake are uncertain. Some say it was first made in the early 20th century, with the earliest known mention in 1915. Several pastry chefs have claimed to invent it, including Josef Keller and Erwin Hildenbrand. The first written recipe dates to 1927 and is kept in Radolfzell. The name may come from the traditional dress of the Black Forest region or from the cherry-topped Bollenhut hats. Today, the cake is closely linked to southwestern Germany.

How is Black Forest cake made?

To make Black Forest cake, eggs and sugar are whipped together, then mixed with cocoa powder, flour, and melted butter to form a sponge batter. After baking, the cake is layered with whipped cream and cherries, sometimes using cherry jam. Kirsch is often brushed onto the cake or mixed into the filling. The finished cake is decorated with more cream, cherries, and chocolate shavings. The cake is served chilled.

How and when is Black Forest cake eaten?

This cake is usually eaten as a dessert or with afternoon coffee or tea. It is found in bakeries and cafés, especially in Germany, and is also served at festivals and celebrations. Slices are often enjoyed on their own, though sometimes with extra whipped cream. The cake is popular at gatherings and special occasions, but is also eaten as a treat on ordinary days.

Kinds of Black Forest cake

Outside Germany, the cake is sometimes made without alcohol, especially in places where spirits are avoided for religious reasons. In Trinidad and Tobago, rum may replace kirsch. Some versions use blueberry jam instead of cherries. There are also products inspired by the cake, such as chocolate bars and ice cream with similar flavors.

What Black Forest cake means

Black Forest cake is a symbol of German baking and is celebrated at a festival in Todtnauberg. In the European Union, only cakes made with kirsch from the Black Forest region can be sold under this name. The cake is seen as a point of pride for Freiburg and the surrounding area. It has also appeared in popular culture, including video games and internet memes.

Questions people ask about Black Forest cake

What is Black Forest cake made of?

It is made from layers of chocolate sponge cake, whipped cream, cherries, and kirsch, a cherry brandy. The cake is decorated with more whipped cream, cherries, and dark chocolate.

Where does Black Forest cake come from?

Black Forest cake comes from Germany, especially the Black Forest region in the southwest. Its exact origin is debated, but it has been made since at least the early 20th century.

Is alcohol always used in Black Forest cake?

Traditional recipes use kirsch, a cherry brandy, but some versions leave out the alcohol or use rum or other substitutes, depending on local customs or dietary restrictions.

When is Black Forest cake usually eaten?

It is often served as a dessert or with coffee or tea, and is popular at festivals, celebrations, and as an everyday treat in cafés.

Why is it called Black Forest cake?

The name may refer to the Black Forest region's traditional costumes or the cherry-topped hats worn there. The exact reason is uncertain.

Good reading and sources

Where this page comes from

The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Black Forest gateau", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Thali rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

It may contain mistakes, and it is not dietary or allergy advice: recipes differ from cook to cook. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.

More from Germany

All the food of Germany
Doughnut 🇺🇸 United States and 5 moreSweet fried or baked rings or balls, often glazed or filled Sweet or dessert, Breakfast, Snacks MarzipanVegetarian 🇩🇪 Germany and 5 moreSweet almond paste shaped or used in cakes, especially at Christmas and weddings Sweet or dessert, Snacks, Tea time PretzelVegetarian 🇩🇪 Germany and 4 moreA baked knot-shaped bread, often topped with salt or seeds Bread, Snacks SachertorteVegetarian 🇦🇹 Austria and 1 moreAustrian chocolate sponge cake with apricot jam and a glossy chocolate glaze Sweet or dessert, Tea time, Snacks

Its cousins elsewhere

All sweets and desserts
Chocolate brownieVegetarianBrownie 🇺🇸 United States and 2 moreDense chocolate squares baked as a bar, often served warm or with toppings Sweet or dessert, Snacks, Tea time Red velvet cakeVegetarian 🇺🇸 United States and 1 moreA red-hued layer cake with cream cheese or ermine icing Sweet or dessert Egg tartVegetarian蛋撻 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreA small pastry tart with a sweet egg custard filling, found in Cantonese cuisine Pie or savoury pastry, Snacks, Tea time Alfajor 🇦🇷 Argentina and 4 moreSweet biscuits or pastry joined with a filling, often dulce de leche or honey and nuts Sweet or dessert, Snacks

The weekly plate

Every Monday: seven dishes you may not know, what the world is cooking this week, and one way of eating.