Home Food 8 Things To Know About Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte

8 Things To Know About Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte

Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte
Black Forest Cake Day

Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte is a word that is perhaps beyond the reach of most of us, a rich word with a rich history, but perhaps a bit too exotic to describe a treat we are all familiar with. And what a treat it is, rich layers of chocolate sponge cake mortared together with a flavorful whipped cream and assortment of cherries, and frosted and topped with more of the same. That’s right! It’s a Black Forest Cake, and Black Forest Cake Day celebrates this most amazing and exotic of treats.

History of Black Forest Cake Day

A true Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte is made with the rich flavorful liquor that comes from the region for which it’s named Schwarzwälder Kirsch(wasser). In the region grows a variety of tart cherries that lend the spirit its unique flavor, and in turn provide a notable and local flavor to the Black Forest Cherry-Torte.

This cake certainly has a long storied history, having first appeared in Schwarzwälder (The Black Forest) in 1915, or so that’s the tale that Josef Keller told until his death in 1981. Whether his tale is true or not, what is well known is it was indelibly tied to Berlin by 1931, and has spread throughout the world to become a famous and recognizable treat.

Interestingly, there is actually a Swedish variation of this dish, consisting merely of layers of rich flavorful chocolate and whipped cream.

Once this is completed the Schwarzwaldtårta is decorated with rich slivers or plates of chocolate and dusted with cocoa powder for a distinctive and delicious appearance. In spite of the shared name, it has no other relation to the Cherry-Torte mentioned above. But that doesn’t stop us from enjoying it as well on Black Forest Cake Day!

Facts about Black Forest Cake

  1. Typically, Black Forest cake consists of several layers of chocolate cake, with whipped cream and cherries between each layer.
  2. In some European traditions sour cherries are used both between the layers and for decorating the top.
  3. Traditionally, Kirschwasser (a clear liquor distilled from tart cherries) is added to the cake, although other liquors are also used
  4. The cake is named not directly after the Black Forest (Schwarzwald) mountain range in southwestern Germany but rather from the specialty liquor of that region, known as Schwarzwälder Kirsch(wasser) and distilled from tart cherries.
  5. Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte was first mentioned in writing in 1934.
  6. The record for the world’s largest authentic black forest cake, weighing 3000 kg, was set at Europa Park, Germany on 16 July 2006, by K&D Bakery.
  7. In the history of black forest cake, it was not in the form of a cake but instead as a dessert recipe.
  8. The forests in “Hansel and Gretel”, “Snow White”, and “Rapunzel” are based on the Black Forest. They are all German fairy tales.

Sources: DaysOfTheYear  Foodimentary