Black Forest gateau
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Black Forest (also commonly called Black Forest cake in Canada, the USA and Australia) is the English name for the southern German dessert Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte (literally "Black Forest cherry cake"). It originated in the Black Forest region of southern Germany, but it is a popular dessert throughout Germany, Austria, and the world.
Typically, Black Forest gateau consists of several layers of chocolate cake, with whipped cream and cherries between each layer. These layers are topped with additional whipped cream, maraschino cherries, and chocolate shavings. In some European traditions sour cherries are used both between the layers and for decorating the top. Traditionally, Kirschwasser (a high grade cherry schnapps) is added to the cake, although other liquors are also used (rum is common in Austrian recipes). In the USA, Black Forest gateau is most often prepared without alcohol.
History of Black Forest Gateau
The combination of cherries, cream and Kirsch was possibly known in early days in the Black Forest. However, not in the form of a cake but as dessert. Cooked cherries would be served with cream and perhaps Kirsch. A cake combining cherries, biscuit and cream (but without Kirsch) originated probably from Switzerland. Today, the Canton of Zug is world renowned for its Zuger Kirschtorte which is a biscuit based cake formerly oozing with Kirsch. A version from the Canton of Basle exists but no Zuger will admit it approaching the quality of a Zuger Kirschtorte.
The confectioner Josef Keller claims to have invented the Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte in its present form in 1915 in the then prominence café Agner in Bad Godesberg (today: Bonn-Bad Godesberg). This claim, however, has never been substantiated.
The Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte was first mentioned in writing in 1934 ("250 Konditorei - Spezialitäten und wie sie entstehen" - J.M. Erich Weber, Dresden 1934). At this time it was known especially in Berlin as well as good confectioners in German, Austrian and Swiss cities. In 1949 it took 13th place in the list of best known German cakes. From this time onwards, the Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte became world renowned.
External links
- [Recipe at The Foody]
- [Recipe at BBC]
- [Schwarzwaelder-Kirschtorte] (History of Black Forest Gateau - German source)
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