Sourdough Black Forest Cake

In our home, one of our favorite cakes for special occasions is Black Forest Cake, a scrumptious torte made from layers of dark chocolate cake, sour cherries, and cherry-flavored whipped cream. As we’ve sought to eat more nourishing and traditional foods, I’ve wondered how best to prepare the rare sweet treat like this one, but with a bit of experimentation (and with a bit of inspiration from other real food bloggers), I’ve stumbled upon a cake we truly love and that I feel excited about serving.

Of course, even though this recipe uses alternative sweeteners and traditional fats, it’s still a treat and should be eaten in moderation. (Don’t moderate your enjoyment, however!)  If you don’t have a friend from whom you can pilfer a bit of sourdough starter, you can find a starter online. When I purchased mine, it was ready to use in about five days.)

Sourdough Black Forest Cake

I have given two options for chocolate, as I can’t decide which one I like the best. The melted chocolate increases the moisture content of the cake and makes it a bit denser, while the cocoa option gives the best crumb. Whichever way you choose, it’s delicious!

For the Cake

• 1 cup sourdough starter (get a starter here), recently fed
• 1 cup milk, preferably raw
• 1 3/4 cup whole wheat or spelt flour (get it here)
• 1 cup unrefined cane sugar (get it here)  OR 3/4 cup date syrup
• 1 cup unrefined, virgin coconut oil, melted and cooled but still liquid
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 large pastured eggs
• 1 teaspoon unrefined sea salt (get it here)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 100 grams (4 oz) unsweetened chocolate, melted and cooled or 1 cup Dutch process cocoa powder

For the Soaking Syrup

• 1/3 cup filtered water (find a good filter here)
• 1/4 cup unrefined cane sugar, coconut palm sugar, or raw honey (get it here)
• 3 tablespoons kirsch or other cherry-flavored liqueur

For the Cherry Whipped Cream

• 3 cups heavy cream, preferably raw
• 2 tablespoons kirsch or other cherry-flavored liqueur
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

For Assembly

• 2 cups sour cherries, pitted, plus 8-16 cherries for the final garnish
• 50-100 grams dark chocolate (at least 70% cacao)*, finely grated or curled

Method

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the sourdough starter, the milk, and the flour. Cover and allow to sit at room temperature for 8-24 hours.
2. After 8 to 24 hours, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease well two 8-inch round or 7-inch square cake pans.
3. Scrape the sourdough batter into the bowl of an electric mixer (or grab your favorite wooden spoon to mix by hand). Add the cane sugar, coconut oil, and vanilla and mix on low speed. Increase the speed to medium-low and add the eggs one at a time.  Reduce speed to low and add sea salt, baking soda, and chocolate. Mix just until uniform, scraping the sides of the bowl if needed. If the batter is very thick, add a few tablespoons of milk to thin it. Scrape the batter into the prepared pans and bake for 20-30 minutes or until a wooden skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean. Cool for at least 10 minutes in the pan before inverting onto a cooling rack.
4. While the cake cools, prepare the soaking syrup and cherry whipped cream.  In a small saucepan, combine the water and sugar and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the kirsch. Set aside to cool to room temperature.
5. To prepare the whipped cream, chill the bowl of an electric mixer in the refrigerator or freezer or by filling it with ice water for a few minutes and then drying thoroughly. Place three cups heavy cream into a mixing bowl with kirsch and vanilla extract and beat on high speed using the whisk attachment until soft peaks appear.  Remove three-quarters of the mixture and reserve in the refrigerator to layer with the cake. Beat the remaining cream to firm peaks.  Spoon into a piping bag and refrigerate.
6. To assemble the cake, slice each cooled cake horizontally to create a total of four thin layers. Save one of the bottom layers to use as the top layer, since it is flat and smooth on one side.  Place one layer on a serving plate and brush it generously with a bit of the soaking syrup. Spoon on one or two large dollops of the refrigerated whipped cream (approx. 1/2 cup) and spread evenly. Scatter one-third of the cherries across the cream. Place the next cake layer on top and press down gently. Repeat as with the previous layer with the soaking syrup, whipped cream, and cherries, then do it again with the third layer.  Place the final fourth cake layer on the top, making sure the flat side of the layer is face-up. Soak with the remaining syrup and spread the remaining whipped cream all over the top and sides of the cake.
7. Scatter the grated or curled chocolate on the top and sides as you desire. As a final touch, pipe the firm cream into rosettes around the edge of the top of the cake and place a cherry on top of each rosette.  Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to three hours. Flavor-wise, the cake is even better the next day, but the whipped cream will droop within a few hours, so for the sake of presentation, serve within hours of assembling.

NOTE: If you avoid chocolate due to its high content of theobromine, a stimulant, you may substitute roasted carob powder (get it here) or carob chips.

____________________________________________________________

This post was generously contributed to Nourished Kitchen by Kresh Faber of Nourishing Joy.  Kresha is a mother of three and finds her joy in loving joyfully and purposefully.  If you would like to contribute a post to Nourished Kitchen, please contact me. – Jenny