♥ Recipe ♥

You don't have to travel to Paris to taste a magnifique chocolate gateau! To try this chocolate gateau layered with cherries and whipped cream look no further than your own kitchen! Recipe below.

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Black Forest Gateau:

(makes one 6" layered cake)

Dark Chocolate Cake:

INGREDIENTS:
2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup unsweetened cocoa
1 cup oil (I use canola)
2 cups hot water
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla

DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
2. Spray and line three 6″ round pans with wax or parchment paper.
3. Mix everything in a bowl until you get a thin batter. Divide the batter evenly into the three pans.
4. Bake them at 350 degrees for 25-29 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool the cakes completely before cutting, layering and frosting.

Cherry Buttercream Filling:

INGREDIENTS:
1/2 cup butter
3 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 pinch salt
1 teaspoon strong brewed coffee
1-2 TBSP. heavy cream
1-2 TSP. Cherry pie filling

DIRECTIONS:
1. Cream the butter until light and fluffy.
2. Add the salt, confectioners' sugar, salt, coffee, cream and cherry pie filling. If needed, add extra cream.
3. Set the mixture aside until you're ready to layer your cake.

WHIPPED CREAM TOPPING:

INGREDIENTS:
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon kirschwasser
1 14 oz. can cherry pie filling, or fresh pitted Bing cherries

DIRECTIONS:
1. Beat the heavy whipping cream on HIGH for 5-7 minutes until it holds soft peaks. Add the vanilla and kirschwasser to the whipping cream. Set aside.
2. Wash and strain your cherry pie filling so you are left with just the cherries (no juice). Set these aside.
3. After leveling off your cooled cakes, use a squirt bottle to squirt some Kirsch on top of all three cakes. (I used about a 1/2 cup total. You can also use a pastry brush if you don't have a squirt bottle).
4. Spread 1/2 of the butter cream mixture on top of the first layer of cake. Top that with 1/2 of your cherries. Repeat with the other two layers.
5. Top the entire cake with your whipped topping.
6. If you'd like, add some chocolate shavings, whipped cream rosettes and maraschino cherries like I did!