How To Make Black Forest Gateau – Recipe | Felicity Cloake's Masterclass

2 days ago

I deliberation a agelong capable clip has passed since nan heyday of Sara Lee to concede nan magnificence of nan OG BFG: that towering torte of cherry brandy-soaked cocoa sponge, cherries and whipped pick whose sanction nods to nan German Schwarzwälder’s galore cherry trees and nan black, achromatic and reddish of its accepted dress. It’s besides a very elemental bake, because nan show-stopping spot is each successful nan assembly.

Prep 1 hr
Cook 1 hr 5 min
Serves 8-10

For nan pastry furniture (optional)
60g plain flour
5g cocoa powder
25g caster sugar
40g softened butter
Salt

For nan sponge
6 ample eggs
140g soft ray brownish sugar
60g cocoa powder
Salt

For nan filling
750g caller aliases stiff cherries, aliases 700g morello cherries successful syrup (see measurement 1)
60g caster sweetener (only if utilizing caller aliases stiff cherries)
1½ tbsp kirsch, aliases unsweetened cherry brandy (cherry liqueur will work, but is overmuch sweeter)
500ml double aliases whipping cream
½ tsp vanilla extract
50g icing sugar
300g cherry jam
1 quadrate acheronian chocolate, shaved into curls

1 A statement connected nan cherries

Traditionally, this barroom is made pinch sour cherries, which aren’t readily disposable successful nan UK. You tin sometimes find them frozen, aliases usage morello cherries successful syrup/juice, instead, but location are still summertime cherries successful nan shops, truthful I’ve devised this look to usage nan caller saccharine assortment (skip measurement 2 if you’re utilizing jarred aliases tinned fruit).

2 Prepare nan cherries

Stone each but 10 of your caller aliases stiff cherries, if request be, and group speech nan unstoned consequence for now. The only easy measurement to do this is pinch a cherry pitter; they’re not costly and immoderate tin besides beryllium utilized for olives.

Felicity Cloake’s achromatic wood gateau – cherries successful a cookware pinch sugar, anticipating a bully cooking.

Put nan stoned cherries successful a saucepan pinch nan caster sugar, group it complete a mean power and cook, stirring gently, until nan cherries soften but are still holding their shape.

3 Pasty aliases nary pastry?

Traditionally, nan guidelines of this barroom is made from shortcrust pastry, alternatively than sponge, for nan elemental logic that it holds up amended to being drenched successful cherry juice and brandy than barroom does. You tin skip this and nan adjacent 2 steps for a simpler three-tier sponge barroom that will require little pick and less cherries.

4 Make nan pastry dough

Felicity Cloake’s achromatic wood gateau 04a – nan pastry.

Line nan guidelines of a 20cm, loose-bottomed tin pinch a circle of greaseproof insubstantial that’s trim neatly to fit. Sift nan flour and cocoa powder for nan pastry layer, if making, into a ample bowl, adhd nan sweetener and a pinch of salt, and whisk to combine. Squidge successful nan food to make a soft dough.

5 Bake nan pastry layer

Use your fingers to property nan mixed into nan guidelines of nan lined tin, truthful it covers it successful a thin, reasonably moreover layer. Cover and chill for 20 minutes while you power nan oven to 200C (180C fan)/390F/gas 6, past cook for 15 minutes, until crisp. Take nan tin retired of nan oven, cautiously assistance retired nan pastry and time off to cool.

6 Start nan barroom batter

Line nan aforesaid tin pinch much greaseproof insubstantial and move down nan oven to 180C (160C fan)/350F/gas 4.

Step 5. Felicity Cloake’s achromatic wood gateau – eggs and sweetener successful a bowl.

Separate nan eggs into 2 ample bowls and whisk nan yolks pinch nan sweetener until nan second dissolves and nan substance originates to thicken.

Felicity Cloake’s achromatic wood gateau 06b – nan batter pinch cocoa

Sieve successful nan cocoa powder and a pinch of salt, and operation mildly to combine.

7 Finish nan batter and bake

Felicity Cloake’s achromatic wood gateau –baked barroom

Beat nan ovum whites until stiff, past operation a spoonful of them into nan ovum yolk mixture, conscionable to loosen. Gently fold successful nan remainder of nan ovum whites, past cautiously spoon nan substance into nan lined tin. Smooth retired nan apical and cook for 35-40 minutes, until nan barroom is puffed up and group connected top. Leave to cool wholly successful nan tin (and beryllium warned that it will descend slightly).

8 Flavour nan cake

Drain nan cooked cherries and operation 50ml of their syrup pinch nan kirsch. Use a breadstuff weapon to trim nan cooled barroom into 3 layers.

Spoon immoderate cherry syrup complete nan apical of each one, being observant not to overload them. Whip nan pick until it starts to thicken, past adhd nan vanilla, sift successful nan icing sweetener and whisk again until voluminous, but not stiff.

9 Finishing touches

Spread a 3rd of nan jam connected to nan cooled pastry, past apical that pinch a 4th of nan pick and a 3rd of nan cooked cherries. Lay 1 of nan 3 sponge cakes connected apical and repetition nan jam, pick and cherry layers.