Black Forest gateau, ( , ) or Black Forest cake, is a

layer cake A layer cake (US English) or sandwich cake (UK English) is a cake consisting of multiple stacked sheets of cake, held together by a filling such as frosting, jam, or other preserves. Most cake recipes can be adapted for layer cakes; butte ...

made out of

cocoa powder Dry cocoa solids are the components of cocoa beans remaining after cocoa butter, the fatty component of the bean, is extracted from chocolate liquor, roasted cocoa beans that have been ground into a liquid state. Cocoa butter is 46% to 57% of the ...

cherries A cherry is the fruit of many plants of the genus ''Prunus'', and is a fleshy drupe (stone fruit). Commercial cherries are obtained from cultivars of several species, such as the sweet ''Prunus avium'' and the sour ''Prunus cerasus''. The name ...

, ''

Kirsch ''Kirschwasser'' (, , ; German for 'cherry water'), or just ''Kirsch'' (; the term used in Switzerland and France, less so in Germany), is a clear, colourless brandy from Germany, Switzerland, and France, traditionally made from double distill ...

'', and

whipped cream Whipped cream, also known as Chantilly cream or (), is high-fat dairy cream that has been aerated by whisking until it becomes light, fluffy, and capable of holding its shape. This process incorporates air into the cream, creating a semi-soli ...

, with dark chocolate as a decoration. The origins of the cake and its name are disputed. However, the cake's recipe from 1927 is kept at an archive in Radolfzell, Germany. Black Forest gateau became popular in the second half of the 20th century and is now featured internationally in cafés and restaurants. A festival dedicated to the cake is organised in Todtnauberg.

History

The origin of Black Forest gateau is disputed. The confectioner (1887–1981) claimed in 1975 to have made Black Forest gateau while working at a café in Bad Godesberg. His son asserted about 1982 that Keller had invented the cake in 1915. He made the cake by mixing ''

schnapps Schnapps ( or ) or schnaps is a type of alcoholic beverage that may take several forms, including distilled fruit brandies, herbal liqueurs, infusions, and "flavored liqueurs" made by adding fruit syrups, spices, or artificial flavorings to ...

, a

cherry A cherry is the fruit of many plants of the genus ''Prunus'', and is a fleshy drupe (stone fruit). Commercial cherries are obtained from cultivars of several species, such as the sweet '' Prunus avium'' and the sour '' Prunus cerasus''. The na ...

brandy,

, and cherries. Keller continued to serve the cake at his café after relocating to Radolfzell. Udo Rauch, the city archivist of

Tübingen Tübingen (; ) is a traditional college town, university city in central Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated south of the state capital, Stuttgart, and developed on both sides of the Neckar and Ammer (Neckar), Ammer rivers. about one in ...

, cited the pastry chef Erwin Hildenbrand as having invented the cake in 1930. Although the origin of the cake's name is similarly disputed, the food writer Ursula Heinzelmann claims that it comes from the cake's resemblance to the

Black Forest The Black Forest ( ) is a large forested mountain range in the States of Germany, state of Baden-Württemberg in southwest Germany, bounded by the Rhine Valley to the west and south and close to the borders with France and Switzerland. It is th ...

region's black, white, and red costume. According to a different theory, the cherries on the cake are supposed to resemble '' bollenhut'' headwear. The first written recipe of Black Forest gateau appeared in 1927, where it is kept at an archive in Radolfzell.

Dr. Oetker Dr. Oetker () is a German multinational company that produces baking powder, cake mixes, Pizza#Preparation, frozen pizza, pudding, cake decoration, cornflakes, birthday candles, beer, and various other products. The company is a wholly owned b ...

featured a Black Forest gateau recipe for the first time in their 1951 cookbook. The recipe for the cake was protected by the

European Commission The European Commission (EC) is the primary Executive (government), executive arm of the European Union (EU). It operates as a cabinet government, with a number of European Commissioner, members of the Commission (directorial system, informall ...

in 2013, thus for it to be referred as Black Forest gateau in the European Union, the ''Kirsch'' in the cake must be produced from cherries cultivated in the Black Forest region. Internationally, the cake was spread by German immigrants during the period of

Nazi Germany Nazi Germany, officially known as the German Reich and later the Greater German Reich, was the German Reich, German state between 1933 and 1945, when Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party controlled the country, transforming it into a Totalit ...

. However, it only became popular in the second half of the 20th century. In the United States, where the cake is known as Black Forest cake, the cake was introduced by German immigrants. In popular culture, the cake is featured in the '' Portal'' (2007) game developed by

Valve A valve is a device or natural object that regulates, directs or controls the flow of a fluid (gases, liquids, fluidized solids, or Slurry, slurries) by opening, closing, or partially obstructing various passageways. Valves are technically Pip ...

, which inspired an

Internet meme An Internet meme, or meme (, Help:Pronunciation respelling key, ''MEEM''), is a cultural item (such as an idea, behavior, or style) that spreads across the Internet, primarily through Social media, social media platforms. Internet memes manif ...

Ingredients and preparation

The primary ingredients of Black Forest gateau are butter,

, eggs, flour, ''

'', and sugar. The recipe calls for whisking together eggs and sugar, followed by the addition of cocoa powder and flour mixture and butter. After that, the cake batter is baked for 20 to 40 minutes. In addition, cherry jam is poured on top of the cake after whipped cream and icing sugar have been mixed and evenly distributed. ''Kirsch'' can be used as part of the cherry filling and frosting. On top of the cake, spirals of whipped cream and cherries are added. Dark chocolate can be added as a decoration.

Variations

The liquor is frequently left out of the cake in countries with a predominance of Muslims, while rum is used in

Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago, officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, is the southernmost island country in the Caribbean, comprising the main islands of Trinidad and Tobago, along with several List of islands of Trinidad and Tobago, smaller i ...

in place of ''Kirsch'', and some recipes call for cheaper blueberry jam instead of cherries. Non-cake variations of Black Forest cake include chocolate bars and ice cream.

Reception

Since its inception, it has gained international recognition in cafés and restaurants. In Todtnauberg, a festival dedicated to Black Forest gateau is organised; at least up until 2014, it was organised bi-annually. Christopher Kull, the

chief executive officer A chief executive officer (CEO), also known as a chief executive or managing director, is the top-ranking corporate officer charged with the management of an organization, usually a company or a nonprofit organization. CEOs find roles in variou ...

of the Black Forest Tourism Association, said that the cake is "

Freiburg Freiburg im Breisgau or simply Freiburg is the List of cities in Baden-Württemberg by population, fourth-largest city of the German state of Baden-Württemberg after Stuttgart, Mannheim and Karlsruhe. Its built-up area has a population of abou ...

's most famous export". According to

Priya Krishna Priya Krishna is an American food journalist and YouTube personality. She is a food reporter for ''The New York Times'' and has previously contributed to ''The New Yorker, Eater,'' and ''TASTE'' (as a columnist)''.'' She is also the author of m ...

of ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'', the cake is "a European artefact" that has crossed cultural boundaries, while Heinzelmann called it "the most famous German

torte A torte (; from (), in turn from Latin language, Latin via ) is a rich, usually Layer cake, multilayered, cake that is filled with whipped cream, buttercreams, mousses, Fruit preserves#Jam, jams, or fruit. Tortes are commonly baked in a spri ...

, at its best a marvellous combination of richness and lightness".

Notes

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Black Forest Gateau Baden cuisine Black Forest Cherry dishes Chocolate cakes Chocolate desserts Foods with alcoholic drinks German cakes Layer cakes Sponge cakes