National Black Forest Cake Day

It’s National Black Forest Cake Day! This tasty chocolate sponge cake is called Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte in German. It originated in the Black Forest area in Germany, which is a dense, forested mountain range in southwestern Germany.

German Black Forest cake is made by layering chocolate sponge cake with whipped cream and cherries. The cake gets its signature look by topping it with more whipped cream, chocolate shavings, and maraschino cherries. Though some variations of the recipe call for rum, or no alcohol, authentic Black Forest Cake is made by soaking pitted cherries in a jar of Kirschwasser. Kirschwasser, which is a clear brandy produced by a cherry fermentation process, is thought to have originated in the Black Forest region, where the morello cherry first grew abundantly.

To celebrate National Black Forest Cake Day, try baking your own cake, or pick one up from your local bakery or grocery store!