Sam's Cupcakery

Chocolate Cherry Cake

A cake inspired by the black forest gateau – with a lot less cream! A rich chocolate sponge, filled with a morello cherry compote and covered with a morello cherry swiss meringue buttercream.

Chocolate Cherry Cake

2017-01-09 22:21:43

2 layer, 6" round cake

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For the sponge

1. 270g caster sugar
2. 200g plain flour
3. 40g cocoa powder
4. 80g unsalted butter
5. 1tbsp baking powder
6. 2 large eggs
7. 240ml whole milk

For the swiss meringue buttercream

1. 3 egg whites
2. 200g caster sugar
3. 175g unsalted butter
4. 3tbsp morello cherry compote (adjust for your needs)

Instructions

1. Set oven to 180 degrees celsius, grease and line two 6" round cake tins and set aside

For the sponge

1. Sift together the dry ingredients - sugar, flour, baking powder and cocoa powder
2. Add butter and mix at a medium speed until it turns into breadcrumb consistency
3. In a jug, beat together eggs and milk. With the mixer on a slow speed, add this to the dry mixture a third at a time until well incorporated
4. Pour mixture into cake tins, splitting evenly between the two and bake for 25-30 minutes at 180 degrees

For the swiss meringue buttercream

1. Whilst the sponges are cooling, start on the buttercream
2. Set some water to boil in a saucepan on a low heat and place a glass bowl over the top, making sure it doesn't touch the water. In the glass bowl, add sugar and egg whites and mix well.
3. The egg whites are ready once the sugar has dissolved and have reached 60 degrees celsius
4. Once ready, pour into mixing bowl and whisk at high speed until it increases in size and stiff peaks form.
5. Add cubed pieces of butter (make sure it's cold!) to the mixture slowly and keep mixing, this will eventually become thicker and creamier until it's buttercream / spreadable texture.
6. Add morello cherry compote and mix until well combined

Assembly

1. Level the sponges, then fill with morello cherry compote
2. Stack sponges on top of each other and do a crumb coat of the buttercream
3. Cover the rest of the cake in buttercream, pipe swirls on top and add glace cherries for decoration

Sam's Cupcakery https://samscupcakery.spalding.gg/