Easy German Black Forest Cherry Cake – Oma's Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte

by: Gerhild Fulson  /  Cookbook Author, Blogger, German Oma!

This Black Forest Cake tastes almost like the real one! Only this one's easy and quick to make.

My German Black Forest Cherry Cake tastes almost like the traditional one! Only this one's really, really easy and super quick to make. It's what you serve when you want German food without the fuss!

It still has chocolate cake, cherries, and real whipped cream, but it uses a cake mix, some pie filling, and freshly whipped cream. If you really want to make it from scratch ... check for a link to that recipe below. 

Easiest Black Forest Cake Tips

• I usually bake this quick cake in round layers or for a large group, I'll make a 9-13-inch pan and cut it in 2 layers.
• If the cake bakes up high enough, I cut it into 4 layers. Put cherry filling on bottom layer and whipped cream on the next layer.
• For decorating, you can leave the sides just white with the whipped cream, use chocolate sprinkles or shavings, or use sliced almonds, like I did in the top photo. Delicious!

German Black Forest Cake topped with maraschino cherries (as done in the USA)

Adding Maraschino cherries on top of this Black Forest Cake above makes this an Americanized version. It's like the ones you'll find for sale throughout the States and Canada.

A 'real' German cake would only use real cherries, usually sour ones.

Want a Traditional German Black Forest Cake Recipe made from scratch?

I know there are Black Forest Cherry Torte, aka Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte, purists who wouldn't think of using a mix and a can to make this wonderfully traditional German cake. 

For them, there's only one way to make it, and that's from scratch:

Want a traditional Black Forest Cake. Go to recipe here ->

If that's you, and you're looking for a traditional "from scratch" recipe, have a look at this Black Forest Cherry Cake. It's really not that difficult to make, and it tastes divine!

Oma's fun Fact

I've seen a fancy restaurant, where behind the scenes, they take a mister filled with cherry brandy (Kirschwasser) and mist the pieces of Black Forest Torte, just before they were served. 

That would be a fun 'method' to bring the traditional 'fragrance' to a dessert table.

BUT, if you're OK with quick AND delicious, then it's this Black Forest Cake here! Try it. You'll like it!  (You could still use the Kirschwasser-filled mister on this!)

Black forest cake FAQ

Ready to Bake This easy Black Forest Cake?

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Print Recipe

Easy German Black Forest Cherry Cake – Oma's Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte

My German Black Forest Cherry Cake tastes almost like the traditional one! Only this one's really, really easy and super quick to make. It's what you serve when you want German food without the fuss!

It still has chocolate cake, cherries, and real whipped cream, but it uses a cake mix, some pie filling, and freshly whipped cream. Oh, and do add the cherry brandy! Check out the hints below before baking!

Prep Time 30 minutes

Bake Time package instructions

Total Time around 1.5 hour

Servings:

Makes 8 - 10 servings

Ingredients:

• 1 box chocolate cake mix
• eggs and oil/butter according to cake mix
• 1 can cherry pie filling
• 3 cups heavy (whipping) cream
• 3 packages Dr. Oetker Sahnesteif (WhipIt) or 3 tablespoons powdered sugar 

Instructions:

1. Make and bake cake mix according to instructions on box, using 3 8-inch round cake pans. Let cool completely.
2. Whip cream with Dr. Oetker Sahnesteif according to package instructions. If you are using powdered sugar, add to heavy cream and whip until stiff. 
3. Place one cake layer on a serving plate. Cover with pie filling, saving some to decorate the top. Place next layer on top. Cover with about a third of the whipped cream.
4. Gently place top cake layer on top of whipped cream. Spread the remaining whipped cream over the top and sides.
5. To decorate the top, spoon on the remaining pie filling.

Notes/Hints:

• To get a more traditional flavor and fragrance: Sprinkle cherry brandy (Kirschwasser) over the cake layers after they are baked. As well, add about 1 tbsp of cherry brandy to the whipped cream.
• Add ½ - 1 teaspoon almond extract to cake mix.
• Sprinkle chocolate shavings or sprinkles on top of the whipped cream as shown on cake at top.
• Put some sour cherries on top for a traditional topping. Use fresh or jarred. 
• Add some whipped cream to a pastry bag with fluted tip or a plastic baggie with one corner cut off to decorate the top. Then your cake will look like a more traditional German Black Forest Cake.
• If at all possible, use Dr. Oetker Sahnesteif to stabilize the heavy cream. This will hold the whipped cream longer than using powdered sugar.

*  *  *  *  *

Unless otherwise noted recipe, images and content © Just like Oma | www.quick-german-recipes.com

11.07.2021 revision update

For more cakes to enjoy for your Kaffeeklatsch, click right here ->

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Oma's Easiest German Black Forest Cherry Cake

By Oma Gerhild Fulson

Easiest German Black Forest Cherry Cake you'll ever make. Either make from scratch or use this easy, easy recipe instead. Chocolate, cherries, and whipped cream! LECKER SCHMECKER!

Ingredients: chocolate cake mix, cherry pie filling, heavy (whipping) cream, Whip It or powdered sugar,

For the full recipe, scroll up ...

Let's connect...

From Oma's heart
to your table

Complete your set today - order now!

More about me >

Hi, I'm Oma Gerhild! As a food writer and cookbook author, I'm always looking to find ways to pass on my German heritage using local ingredients. Quick and easy. That's my goal. Wunderbar food. That's the result.