Black Forest Cheesecake Cake

This Black Forest Cake has a layer of smooth cherry cheesecake sandwiched between layers of rich, moist chocolate cake. It’s covered in a cream cheese frosting and crowned with more cherries and grated chocolate. 

This triple-layer cake is a decadent birthday or Valentine’s day treat with an extra layer of decadence. If you want to keep things simple, however, you can omit the cheesecake layer for a more traditional Black Forest Cake. 

Of course, I highly recommend the creamy cherry cheesecake layer. It makes a spectacular presentation and a delicious twist on Black Forest Cake. It’s a must-have in my family. 

How to Make Black Forest Cake

The three components to this layered dessert are a creamy cheesecake with cherries, a decadent dark chocolate cake, and a vanilla cream cheese frosting. Add a garnish of chocolate shavings and more cherries on top to complete the display. 

Making Cherry Cheesecake

To give the cheesecake enough time to set up, make the cheesecake layer first.  Before you start, ensure all of the ingredients are at room temperature. If the dairy is too cold, it can cause your cheesecake to be lumpy. 

This easy cheesecake has a built-in elegance from swirls of cherry pie filling. This is an effortless trick to elevate your cheesecakes without much extra work. 

To bake the cheesecake, you’ll need to fill a pan with boiling water and place it under the cake in the oven. This adds moisture to the oven to evenly and slowly cook the cheesecake for a uniform texture that doesn’t crack.  

After baking, run a knife around the edge of the cake to loosen it from the edge of the pan. This prevents the cheesecake from pulling on the sides as it cools, which can cause cracks.

When the cheesecake layer is fully cooled, freeze it in the springform pan, covered, while you prepare the other components of the cake. When you want to assemble the cake, let the frozen cheesecake thaw a bit so it’s easy to remove from the pan. 

Dark Chocolate Cake Layer

While the cheesecake cools, adjust the oven temperature and prepare the chocolate cake layers. Again, you’ll want room temperature ingredients.  

For this cake batter, you will combine your dry ingredients in the mixing bowl first. Then add the wet ingredients and stir together. Finally, pour in the boiling water. The resulting batter will be runny; that’s normal.  

Cream Cheese Frosting

The fluffy cream cheese frosting for your black forest cake is quick and easy to make. If you’re preparing the frosting ahead of time, cover the bowl with a damp towel to prevent a crust from forming.

Assembling Three Layer Black Forest Cake

When all of the components are prepared, it’s time to assemble your three-layered cake. First, place a layer of chocolate cake on your serving plate. Invert the cheesecake on top of the first cake layer. Then remove the cake pan bottom and parchment paper.

Next, add the second chocolate cake layer. If there is a hump on top of the cake, trim it off with a sharp serrated knife.

Finally, ice your cake with the frosting. This recipe makes enough frosting to coat the cake in a thin layer and add a piped border.

To pipe a pretty edge around your cake, fill a piping bag or a Ziplock bag with a piping tip. I used Wilton tip #4B. Pipe a decorative border around the top of the cake. 

Finally, gently spoon the cherries and filling on top of the cake inside your frosting border.

To add chocolate shavings, use a vegetable peeler to shave a dark chocolate bar into elegant chips. Then use a spoon to scoop the chocolate shavings around the sides of the cake. Gently press the shavings into the sides around the base. 

How to Serve & Store Black Forest Cake 

Cheesecake is similar to ice cream; it cuts best with a warmed knife. Run a knife under hot water, then dry the blade, and it should cut through easily.

Before storing the cake, I recommend chilling it in the refrigerator for 1 hour to set the frosting so it is no longer tacky. Once the frosting is set, wrap the cake in plastic wrap and keep in the fridge. Bring the cake to room temperature for serving.

Why Is It Called A Black Forest Cake?

Many people think that the black forest cake is named after the Black Forest. In fact, the cake is named after a tart-cherry alcoholic liquor called ‘Schwarzwälder Kirschwasser’, also known as Black Forest Kirsch. I rarely cook with liquors, but you could certainly make your own cherry pie filling with kirsch. 

More Decadent Cheesecake Recipes

Looking for more gorgeous homemade cakes? You’ll love these other recipes:

• Chocolate Cake with Oreo Cheesecake Filling is another layered treat with creamy Oreo flavors and crunch.
• Chocolate Dulce De Leche Triple Layer Cake is pure decadence with dark chocolate and caramel.  
• Layered Instant Pot Strawberry Cheesecake from Pressure Cooking Today is a must-try fruity cheesecake for Instant Pot lovers.

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Black Forest Cheesecake Cake

Black Forest Cheesecake Cake is a triple layer cake that is part black forest cake and part cheesecake. This is a rich and decadent cake recipe!

Course: Cakes

Cuisine: American

Servings: 12 -16 servings

Calories: 654kcal

Author: Barbara Bakes LLC

Equipment

• Nordic Ware Leakproof Springform Pan, 10 Cup, 9 Inch
• USA Pan Bakeware Round Cake Pan, 9 inch
• Greaseproof Parchment Paper Liners for Round Cake Pans, 50, White

Ingredients

Cheesecake

• 2 packages 8-ounces each cream cheese, at room temperature
• ½ cup granulated white sugar
• Pinch salt
• 2 large eggs room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ⅓ cup sour cream
• 1 cup cherry pie filling

Chocolate Cake Layer

• 1 ¾ cups + 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1-¾ cups all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup Hershey’s cocoa
• 1-¼ teaspoons baking powder
• 1-¼ teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons milk
• ½ cup canola oil
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup boiling water

Frosting

• 2 8-ounce packages cream cheese, room temperature
• ½ cup unsalted butter room temperature
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 2 ½ cups powdered sugar
• 1 cup cherry pie filling
• grated chocolate optional

Instructions

• CHEESECAKE LAYER
• Preheat the oven to 325ºF. Put a kettle of water on the stove to boil. Spray a 9-inch springform pan with nonstick spray and line the bottom with a round of parchment paper. Set aside.
• In a stand or electric mixer, beat the cream cheese, sugar, and salt until well combined. Add in eggs one at a time, beating at low speed until smooth. Beat in the vanilla and sour cream. Pour the batter into the prepared springform pan. Put dollops of cherry pie filling scattered across the top of the cheesecake batter. Use a butter knife to hide the cherries and swirl the pie filling into the batter.
• Set a metal broiler tray on the bottom oven rack. Carefully pour the hot water from your kettle into the broiler tray. Place the springform pan in the oven on the rack above the boiler tray.
• Bake the cheesecake for 45 – 55 minutes. It should be set to the touch and not jiggly. Remove the cheesecake and let it cool on a wire rack for about 10-15 minutes, run a butter knife or spatula around the edge to help prevent cracking.
• Cool for at least an hour, then place the pan into the freezer and let the cheesecake freeze completely for several hours, or overnight.
• CAKE LAYERS
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans. 
• Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. 
• Add eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla; With a mixer, beat on medium speed for about 2 minutes. Carefully stir in boiling water. The batter will be very thin. Divide the batter between the prepared cake pans.
• Bake for 30 – 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely.
• FROSTING
• In a large mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, butter, and vanilla with an electric mixer until blended. Add powder sugar and beat until smooth.
• ASSEMBLE THE CAKE
• Place one cake layer in the center of a cake plate or platter.
• Remove the cheesecake from the springform pan, layer the cheesecake layer on top of the bottom cake layer. (I had to let my springform pan warm up a bit before it would open.)
• If your cheesecake layer is not the same size as your cake layer, you may need to trim it before adding it. Peel off the parchment. Place the 2nd cake layer on top of the cheesecake.
• 
  FROST THE CAKE
• Apply a thin layer of frosting to the top and sides of the cake to create a crumb coat. Put the cake in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
• After 30 minutes, apply a second layer of frosting to the sides.
• Pipe a decorative edge on top of the cake. Add the remaining cherry pie filling to the top of the cake and carefully spread it up to the decorated edge. Sprinkle grated chocolate on the decorated edge and sides of the cake. Keep cake refrigerated until ready to serve.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 654kcal | Carbohydrates: 108g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 70mg | Sodium: 635mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 26g