National Black Forest Cake Day Date in the current year: March 28, 2024

Black Forest cake is believed to have been named after the eponymous mountain range in the German state of Baden-Württemberg, but it is a common misconception. According to once version, the dessert was named after Schwarzwälder Kirschwasser, a sour cherry brandy that originated in the region. Another theory claims that the cake was named after the Black Forest region due to its resemblance to bollenhut, a headdress with red woolen pompoms that is part of the female folk costume of the region.

Black Forest cake has evolved from a dessert consisting of cooked tart cherries served with cream and kirschwasser. The modern Black Forest cake (Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte) is claimed to have been invented by German confectioner Josef Keller, who first served it in 1915 at Café Agner in Bad Godesberg. However, there is no actual proof to substantiate this claim.

The first recorded mention of Black Forest cake dates back to 1934. A specialty most popular in Berlin, it was also produced and sold by high-class confectioners in other cities of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. By the mid-20th century, Black Forest cake had become one of the best-known German cakes.

Black Forest cake consists of several layers of chocolate sponge cake with a rich filling made of cream and sour cherries. Traditionally, the dessert contains kirschwasser, also known as kirsch, which gives it a distinctive cherry pit flavor. Kirsch is a clear distilled spirit made from morello cherries using double distillation. It is believed to have originated in the Black Forest region of Germany, hence its use in the cake.

In Austrian recipes, rum is often substituted for kirschwasser, and American recipes frequently include no alcohol at all. However, according to German law, only desserts with kirschwasser can be referred to as Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte. Black Forest cake is traditionally decorated with whipped cream, chocolate shavings, and maraschino cherries or sour cherries.

German Black Forest cake should not be confused with a similarly named Swedish cake called (Schwarzwaldtårta. The name is the only thing these two desserts have in common. The Swedish cake consists of layers of hazelnut meringue instead of chocolate sponge cake, with chocolate and whipped cream between them. It is decorated with whipped cream, cocoa powder and very thin dark chocolate.

To celebrate National Black Forest Cake Day, indulge in a slice or two of this delicious dessert. You can bake the cake yourself or get it from a local bakery. If your local bakery doesn’t cell Black Forest cake and you’re not much of a baker, try making a simplified version of the dessert.

Slice a chocolate pound cake or brownie, top each slice with some canned sour cherry pie filling and whipped cream. Serve your dessert with a liquor glass of kirsch or some other cherry liquor if you don’t have kirschwasser.