When I was growing up, there was a bakery in our nearest town that made delicious baked goods. One of our family favourites was Black Forest Cake. This is an easy version of a Black Forest Cake that I made with a new Chocolate Cake Recipe!

Black Forest Cake

In a large mixing bowl, sift together dry ingredients:

• 2 and 1/2 cups flour
• 1 and 1/2 cups sugar
• 3/4 cup cocoa powder (or 1 cup if you want it a darker chocolate)
• 1 and 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 3/4 tsp baking soda
• 3/4 tsp salt

Mix together wet ingredients and then add into dry:

• 3/4 cup plain unsweetened yogurt
• 1 and 1/4 cups milk mixed with 1 and 1/2 tsp vinegar
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 and 1/2 tsp vanilla

Bake at 350 degrees F for approximately 25-30 minutes in two 9 inch round baking pans which you have greased or lined with parchment paper. Cool.

Cherry filling:

• 1 bag frozen pitted cherries (600g)
• 2 tbsp water
• 2 tbsp cornstarch
• 1/2 cup sugar

Combine in a saucepan and cook on low heat, stirring frequently for approximately 5-10 minutes until thickened, being careful not to burn the cherries. Cool.

Frosting:

• 2 cups Whipping cream (35 %)
• 1/4 cup icing sugar

Beat together the cream and icing sugar until stiff peaks form.

Assembling the Cake: For easy assembly, make the cake 2 layers (you can do 4 but you may need more cherry filling and then you are faced with cutting the cakes into two). Take one cake layer and top with 3/4 of the cherry mixture for the filling. Then place the second cake layer on top. Frost the entire cake with the whipped cream.  Top the cake with the remaining cherries. Add shaved chocolate around the top edges of the cake.