Welcome to the delightful world of Black Forest Cherry Delight Cake! This cake combines rich chocolate layers with luscious cherry preserves and a creamy mascarpone filling. It's a show-stopper for any celebration or a simple weekend treat that feels like a special occasion.
The heart of this cake is the combination of ingredients that create its unique flavor and texture. Let's take a closer look:
All-purpose flour provides the structure for our cake, while granulated sugar sweetens it perfectly. We use unsweetened cocoa powder to give that deep chocolate flavor. The baking powder and baking soda are our leavening agents, helping the cake rise beautifully. A touch of salt balances everything out. For richness, we rely on eggs and unsalted butter. The buttermilk keeps the cake moist, while vanilla extract enhances the overall flavor. A bit of hot water ensures the batter is smooth and well-combined. The cherry preserves add a delightful sweetness and fruitiness. Our mascarpone cheese and heavy cream create a dreamy filling, lightly sweetened with powdered sugar and flavored with a hint of almond extract. Finally, you'll want to garnish with fresh cherries and chocolate shavings for a beautiful finish.
For a truly indulgent experience, serve this cake with a side of whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. Consider pairing it with a glass of red wine, which complements the deep chocolate and cherry flavors beautifully.
First up, preheat your oven to 350°F. This gives your oven time to warm up while you prepare everything else. Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans to ensure your cakes come out cleanly after baking.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the dry ingredients: flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Give them a good whisk to ensure they're evenly distributed.
Now, move on to the wet ingredients. Add the eggs, melted butter, buttermilk, and vanilla extract to the dry mixture. Stir until everything is just combined and smooth.
Gradually stir in the hot water. This step helps to create a smooth batter, so pour slowly and mix carefully to avoid lumps.
Divide the batter evenly between your prepared cake pans. Pop them in the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes. You'll know they're done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Once baked, let the cakes cool in their pans for about 10 minutes. This allows them to firm up slightly and makes them easier to handle. After 10 minutes, carefully turn them out onto wire racks to cool completely.
While the cakes cool, it's time to whip up your mascarpone cream. In a medium bowl, beat together the mascarpone, heavy cream, powdered sugar, and almond extract until stiff peaks form. This will be your luscious filling and topping.
Once the cakes are cool, spread the cherry preserves over one of the cake layers. Top with half of the mascarpone cream, spreading it evenly. Place the second cake layer on top.
Finally, spread the remaining mascarpone cream over the top and sides of your cake. Garnish with fresh cherries and chocolate shavings to finish it off beautifully.
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