Black Forest Gateau - Wikipedia

Chocolate sponge cake with cherries Black Forest gateau

Alternative names	Black Forest cake (United States)
Place of origin	Germany
Main ingredients	Butter, cocoa powder, cherries, eggs, flour, jam, Kirsch, sugar, and whipped cream
Cookbook: Black Forest Cake   Media: Black Forest gateau

Black Forest gateau,[a] (German: Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte [ˈʃvaʁt͡svɛldɐˈkɪʁʃˌtɔʁtə] ⓘ, lit. 'Black Forest cherry torte') or Black Forest cake, is a layer cake made out of cocoa powder, cherries, Kirsch, and whipped cream, with dark chocolate as a decoration. The origins of the cake and its name are disputed. However, the cake's recipe from 1927 is kept at an archive in Radolfzell, Germany. Black Forest gateau became popular in the second half of the 20th century and is now featured internationally in cafés and restaurants. A festival dedicated to the cake is organised in Todtnauberg.

History

[edit]

The origin of Black Forest gateau is disputed.[2][3] The earliest known publication of the term Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte was in February 1915 in Brandenburg an der Havel.[4] The confectioner Josef Keller [de] (1887–1981) claimed in 1975 to have made Black Forest gateau while working at a café in Bad Godesberg.[5][2] His son asserted about 1982 that Keller had invented the cake in 1915, though it is known that he could not have come to Bad Godesberg until after April 1915.[4] He made the cake by mixing Kirsch schnapps, a cherry brandy, whipped cream, and cherries. Keller continued to serve the cake at his café after relocating to Radolfzell.[2][6] Udo Rauch, the city archivist of Tübingen, cited the pastry chef Erwin Hildenbrand as having invented the cake in 1930. Although the origin of the cake's name is similarly disputed,[7] the food writer Ursula Heinzelmann claims that it comes from the cake's resemblance to the Black Forest region's black, white, and red costume.[2] According to a different theory, the cherries on the cake are supposed to resemble bollenhut headwear.[8]

The first written recipe of Black Forest gateau appeared in 1927, where it is kept at an archive in Radolfzell.[2][7] Dr. Oetker featured a Black Forest gateau recipe for the first time in their 1951 cookbook.[2] The recipe for the cake was protected by the European Commission in 2013, thus for it to be referred as Black Forest gateau in the European Union, the Kirsch in the cake must be produced from cherries cultivated in the Black Forest region.[9][10]

Internationally, the cake was spread by German immigrants during the period of Nazi Germany.[3] However, it only became popular in the second half of the 20th century.[2] In the United States, where the cake is known as Black Forest cake,[3] the cake was introduced by German immigrants.[11] In popular culture, the cake is featured in the Portal (2007) game developed by Valve, which inspired an Internet meme.[12][13]

Ingredients and preparation

[edit]

The primary ingredients of Black Forest gateau are butter, cocoa powder, eggs, flour, Kirsch, and sugar.[14][15] The recipe calls for whisking together eggs and sugar, followed by the addition of cocoa powder and flour mixture and butter.[1] After that, the cake batter is baked for 20 to 40 minutes.[1][15] In addition, cherry jam is poured on top of the cake after whipped cream and icing sugar have been mixed and evenly distributed.[1] Kirsch can be used as part of the cherry filling and frosting.[10][15] On top of the cake, spirals of whipped cream and cherries are added.[1] Dark chocolate can be added as a decoration.[1][2]

Variations

[edit]

The liquor is frequently left out of the cake in countries with a predominance of Muslims, while rum is used in Trinidad and Tobago in place of Kirsch, and some recipes call for cheaper blueberry jam instead of cherries.[3] Non-cake variations of Black Forest cake include chocolate bars and ice cream.[7]

Reception

[edit]

Since its inception, it has gained international recognition in cafés and restaurants.[3][6] In Todtnauberg, a festival dedicated to Black Forest gateau is organised; at least up until 2014, it was organised bi-annually.[6][16] Christopher Kull, the chief executive officer of the Black Forest Tourism Association, said that the cake is "Freiburg's most famous export".[6] According to Priya Krishna of The New York Times, the cake is "a European artefact" that has crossed cultural boundaries, while Heinzelmann called it "the most famous German torte, at its best a marvellous combination of richness and lightness".[2][3]

See also

[edit]

• List of cherry dishes
• List of German desserts
• Prawn cocktail, steak and Black Forest gateau – British dinner menu
• Zuger Kirschtorte – Swiss layer cake

Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Also spelled gâteau[1]

References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f Locatelli, Giorgio. "Black Forest Gâteau". BBC Food. Retrieved 11 February 2025.
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Goldstein, Darra; Heinzelmann, Ursula (2015). The Oxford Companion to Sugar and Sweets. Oxford University Press. p. 65. ISBN 978-0-19-931339-6.
3. ^ a b c d e f Krishna, Priya (29 April 2024). "How Did Black Forest Cake Become the World's Favorite Dessert?". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
4. ^ a b Eggert, James R. (2024). "Woher kam die Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte?". Mitteilungsblatt der Landesgeschichtlichen Vereinigung für die Mark Brandenburg e. V. 125 (2): 96–100.
5. ^ Fenner, Achim (2006). "Der »süße Josef« — Konditor Josef Keller und die Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte". Hegau: Zeitschrift für Geschichte, Volkskunde und Naturgeschichte des Gebietes zwischen Rhein, Donau und Bodensee. 63: 113–120.
6. ^ a b c d Ruf, Jürgen (19 October 2015). "Black Forest Gateau Celebrates Its 100th Birthday". Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
7. ^ a b c Finkbeiner, Hannes (8 September 2024). "Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte: deutscher Exportschlager – aber auch erste Sahne?" [Black Forest Cake: A German Export Hit – But Is It Also Top-Notch?]. RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland (in German). Retrieved 23 February 2025.
8. ^ Konrad, Dominic (22 May 2024). "Beliebtestes Dessert der Welt: Warum die Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte weltweit begeistert" [Most Popular Dessert in the World: Why the Black Forest Gateau is Loved Worldwide]. Südwestrundfunk (in German). Retrieved 23 February 2025.
9. ^ "Black Forest Gateau Region Says 'Danke' to Europe". Channel 4. 6 February 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
10. ^ a b Theoktisto, Anna (22 August 2023). "Make the Most of Cherry Season With This Black Forest Cake". Food & Wine. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
11. ^ Smith, Andrew F. (2004). The Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink in America (1st ed.). Oxford University Press. p. 564. ISBN 978-0-19-517551-6.
12. ^ LeJacq, Yannick (24 April 2013). "The 'Portal' Cake Is Not a Lie ... Almost". NBC News. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
13. ^ Frevele, Jamie (11 May 2012). "Feast of Fiction Tackles Portal's Black Forest Cake, GLaDOS Advises Fruit or Starvation As An Alternative". The Mary Sue. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
14. ^ Cook, Sarah. "Black Forest Gateau". Good Food. Retrieved 11 February 2025.
15. ^ a b c Cloake, Felicity (19 December 2013). "How to Make the Perfect Black Forest Gateau". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 February 2025.
16. ^ Hans, Jessica; Zeiler, Paula (16 April 2023). "Ausgezeichnet: Die schönsten und leckersten Schwarzwälder Kirschtorten" [Award-Winning: The most Beautiful and Delicious Black Forest Cakes]. Südwestrundfunk (in German). Retrieved 23 February 2025.

External links

[edit]

• Media related to Black Forest cake at Wikimedia Commons
• Recipes for Black Forest cake at Wikibooks

Portals:

• Germany
• Food

v t e Cakes
List of cakes
Butter cakes	Babka Banana bread Gâteau nantais Gooey butter Pound
Cheesecakes	Basque cheesecake Falculelle Fiadone Japanese cheesecake Ostkaka Tu Ube cheesecake
Nut cakes	Brazil nut Castagnaccio Chestnut Financier Neccio Pain de Gênes
Chocolatecakes	Amandine Bariloche Batik Black Forest gateau Blackout Chocolate brownie Colin the Caterpillar Flourless chocolate Garash German chocolate Hedgehog slice Joffre Kladdkaka Molten chocolate Red velvet Sachertorte Torta caprese
Fruitcakes	Apple Banana Bánh chuối Black bun Bolo-rei Cherry cake Clementine Crema de fruta Dundee Fig Genoa Jewish apple Kornigou Mango Mango float Panforte Panpepato Plum Queen Elizabeth Raisin Strawberry Torta alla Monferrina
Layer cakes	Angel Argentine Berry chantilly cake Bolo fiado Buckwheat gateau Cassata Coconut Devil's food Doberge Dobos torte Esterházy torte Flan Gâteau magique Lapis legit (spekkoek) Liver cake Maria Luisa Cremeschnitte Šampita Tompouce Marlenka Mikado Princess Prinzregententorte Rainbow Rogel Sarawak layer Smith Island Torta setteveli Torta Tre Monti Torte Vínarterta
Spit cakes	Baumkuchen Kürtőskalács (Chimney cake) Šakotis Spettekaka Trdelník
Spongecakes	Bahulu Bánh bò Battenberg Boston cream pie Brown sugar Buko pandan Castella Charlotte Coffee and walnut Donauwelle Fanta Frankfurter Kranz French Fancy Frog Génoise Hot milk Hummingbird Lady Baltimore Ladyfinger Lamington Madeira Madeleine Mantecada Marry girl Misérable Opera Pandan Paper wrapped Pionono Rum Shortcake Spice Tres leches Victoria sponge
Foam cakesand meringue	Angel food Brazo de Mercedes Chiffon Dacquoise Kyiv Mamón Mango Pavlova Sans rival Spanische Windtorte Ube Yema Zuger Kirschtorte
Yeast cakes	Banbury Berlingozzo Bienenstich Breudher Cacavellu Campanile Canestru Chorley Cozonac Date and walnut loaf Easter bread Gugelhupf Inuliata Portuguese sweet bread Pandoro Rum baba Streuselkuchen
Specialoccasions	Birthday Buccellato Christmas Bûche de Noël Pan de Pascua Groom's Halloween King Rosca de reyes Kransekake Lekach Love Marry girl Mooncake Snow skin mooncake Pască Pop out Simnel Soul Stack Stollen Strenna Wedding
By shape	Bundt Cake balls Cake pop Cupcake Petit four Swiss roll Upside-down
Other	Basbousa Beer Better than sex Bizcocho Bulla Carrot Coffee Fruit slice Gingerbread house man Heavy Ice cream Ispanaklı kek Kue Kuih Lolly Louise Mané pelado Marble Nonnette Ontbijtkoek Pain d'épices Pancake Parkin Parrozzo Poke Punschkrapfen Rice Ruske kape Snack Soufflé Sugee Sweetheart Teacake Tiramisu Watergate Welsh
Food portal Category

v t e Chocolate desserts
Cakes	Batik cake Black Forest cake Blackout cake Boston cream pie Bûche de Noël Chantilly cake Chocolate brownie Chocolate cake Chokladboll Colin the Caterpillar Death by Chocolate Devil's food cake Éclair Flourless chocolate cake Garash cake German chocolate cake Hedgehog slice Kladdkaka Molten chocolate cake Pain au chocolat Prinzregententorte Red velvet cake Sachertorte Torta 900 Torta caprese
Pies and tarts	Chocolate creme pie Mississippi mud pie
Cookies	Chocolate chip cookie Chocolate crinkle Chocolate salami Nanaimo bar Oreos S'mores
Ice cream	Chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream Chocolate ice cream Cookies and cream Mint chocolate chip Milkshake Sundae
Other	Banana boat Brigadeiro Chocolate-covered bacon Chocolate-covered potato chips Chocolate crackles Chocolate pudding Chocolate salo