March 28 is a special day of the year dedicated to the corrupt dessert that originated in Germany, the Black Forest Cake. In German the cake is called Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte, which means "cherry pie of the Black Forest".
The Black Forest cake is named after the special drinks (Schwarzwalder Kirschwasser - cherry liqueur) of the Black Forest region (Schwarzwald) in southwestern Germany.
The cake is made from several layers of chocolate cake between whipped cream and cherries. On the top layer, decorate the cake with whipped cream, maraschino cherries and chocolate chips. In the United States bakers usually do not use alcohol. However, in Germany, liqueur is a must-have ingredient. Otherwise, the cake cannot be legally sold under the name Schwarzwalder Kirschtorte.
Confectioner Josef Keller (1887–1981) claimed to have invented the Schwarzwalder Kirschtorte in its present form in 1915 and served it at the Agner Cafe in Bad Godesberg, now a suburb of Bonn, about 500 km north of the Black Forest. His claim has never been proven.
The Black Forest cake was first mentioned in writing in 1934, in the cookbook Konditorei-Spezialitäten und wie sie entstehen. At the time it was popular in Berlin, but also available at high-class confectioners in other cities in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
In 1949 the Black Forest cake was ranked 13th on the list of best known German cakes.
Beyond the history of the cake, bakers and confectioners love to create elegant displays when baking the Black Forest cake. The combination of rich chocolate layers with a contrasting color and bold red cherries offer bakers the option to design stunning cakes. The interpretations given to the cake produce a host of spoiled desserts that are a lust for the palate and eyes.
Where is the Black Forest?
The Black Forest is located at the southwestern tip of Germany, in the state of Baden-Württemberg. The forest is bounded by the border with Switzerland to the south and France (River Rhine) to the west. The city of Freiburg, located on the western border of the Black Forest, is the largest city in the region and is considered a "gateway to the Black Forest." The ancient town of Baden-Baden is a well-known place in the Black Forest and popular with tourists thanks to its hot springs.
How to celebrate Black Forest Cake Day?
Black Forest Cake Day can be celebrated by eating a black forest cake of course. The cake can be found in cafes and confectioneries. You can also make a black forest cake yourself.
