Black Forest Cake

Chocolate Cake

Prepare a batch of Hershey's Perfectly Chocolate Chocolate Cake. For a three layer cake, bake in three 8-inch pans. For a four layer cake, bake in two 8-inch pans; after cakes are baked and cooled, cut each cake lengthwise to end up with four layers. Wrap with plastic wrap and freeze until ready to use. Prepare Cherries, Syrup, and Whipped Cream. In addition, prepare about 2 or 3 ounces of chocolate shavings to garnish the finished cake.

Dark Sweet Cherries and Syrup

15 ounce can Dark Sweet Cherries

½ cup sugar

Drain the juice from the can of Dark Sweet Cherries, reserving 1/3 cup of juice to use later. Cut each cherry into fourths or eighths. If desired, keep a few cherries to garnish top of cake. Lay the chopped cherries on a paper towel until ready to use.

To make the syrup, in a medium saucepan combine the 1/3 cup cherry juice and ½ cup sugar. Bring to a boil and boil for 1 to 2 minutes, until slightly thickened and reduced. Set aside to cool slightly.

Stabilized Whipped Cream

This recipe calls for 3 cups of heavy cream. This makes plenty to fill, frost, and garnish the cake. 

3 cups heavy cream

5 tablespoons instant white chocolate pudding powder

6 tablespoons powdered sugar

½ teaspoon vanilla

Whip cream until soft peaks form. Add pudding mix, powdered sugar, and vanilla. Beat on low to incorporate; then beat on medium-high until stiff. 

To Assemble the Cake

Place first cake layer on a serving plate. Spread a spoonful of the Dark Sweet Cherry Syrup over cake layer, allowing it to soak in the cake. Spread about 3/4 cup of whipped cream over cake layer. Sprinkle with chopped cherries, gently pressing cherries into the whipped cream. Top with next cake layer and repeat until cake is filled and stacked. Spread a spoonful of the syrup over the top layer and then frost sides and top of cake with whipped cream. Garnish sides and top of cake with chocolate shavings. If desired, pipe a decorative ring of whipped cream around the top of the cake and garnish with reserved cherries. Chill for at least two hours before serving.