Black Forest Cake (Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte)
Germany's most famous cake — chocolate sponge layered with kirsch-soaked whipped cream, sour cherries, and chocolate shavings.
Region
Black Forest (Schwarzwald), Baden-Württemberg
Spice Level
(0/5)
Diet
Vegetarian
Where to Try
Cafés and Konditoreien nationwide; at its most authentic in the Black Forest towns of Baden-Württemberg.
Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte — Black Forest gateau — is Germany's best-known cake, named for the Black Forest region of Baden-Württemberg. Layers of chocolate sponge are soaked with Kirschwasser (cherry brandy) and stacked with whipped cream and sour cherries, then finished with chocolate shavings and a ring of cherries on top. The name is documented from 1915, and since 2013 an EU protection requires genuine versions to use Black Forest Kirsch. It appears in cafés and Konditoreien across the country and is the classic afternoon Kaffee und Kuchen treat.