Sunday, February 14, 2010

Black Forest Cake



Wish you all a very happy Valentine’s Day!!!

I love Valentine ’s Day not only because it trademarks the day for LOVE but mainly because on this day I started my journey of setting a new home, this is the day when I first stepped in our house in Bangalore. I still remember the newlywed girl full with anticipation coming to a new city and stepping in a new house. The house didn’t even have the bare necessity items like full plates to have our meals; it only had a TV and a washing machine. That day only we went out to buy some utensils and food items and then we picked up so many things to make the house a comfortable Nest for ourselves. This day certainly has a special place in our lives.  

Apart from this also I always loved Valentine’s Day and believed celebrating relationships. It is very much hyped and commercialized but can we ignore the fact that it acts almost like a refresh button for our relationships. How many times do we remember to make our loved one feel special or tell our parents how special they are to us? So if a day is especially dedicated to this, could that be bad? For me it’s a day to rejoice my relationships with friends and family, to admire the beauty of red roses, to find solace in the gifts that we share and to sit back and soak in the warmth of love. Even if we always love to celebrate our love…one day doesn’t make any harm. Right???

I just got to know that my very dear blogger friend Dolly is celebrating her anniversary today…that’s so romantic of her to get married on Valentine’s Day itself. I wish her Happy Anniversary and many more years of togetherness.

Now here is the recipe of the black forest cake I made for my anniversary. That makes the perfect post for this special Day and for my 50th post.

Black Forest Cake

Ingredients:
Flour: 11/2 cups
Butter/oil: ¾ cup
Powdered sugar: 1 cup and 2 tbsp
Eggs: 3
Semi sweet chocolate: 1 bar (125 gms)
Coco powder: 4 tbsp
Baking powder: 1 tsp
Coffee powder: 1 tbsp
Water: ½ cup
Whipping cream: 200 gms
Strawberry jam: 4 tbsp
Cherries: for decoration

Method:
Heat the oven at 180 C and butter a heart shaped pan.

Sieve flour, coco powder, baking powder together and keep aside.

Boil the water and dissolve the coffee powder in it. Switch of the heat and let 
it come to room temperature.

Melt the butter with half of the chocolate bar in a double boiler or in microwave. Cream the sugar and the choco-butter mix till smooth.

Mix in the eggs one by one to the butter mixture whipping vigorously in between.

Tip in the dry ingredients in it and fold gently. Also add the coffee mixture and mix to prepare the batter.

Pour in the cake tin and bake for 30 minutes or till a toothpick pricked in the center comes out clean.

Cool the cake on wire rack for at least 20 minutes.

In the mean time heat ½ cup of water and mix in the jam to get thin strawberry syrup. Cool completely.

Also whip the cream with 2 tbsp of powdered sugar till it starts to form peaks. Keep aside.

Once the cake comes to room temperature take it out from the mould and place on the serving dish. With a big sharp knife cut it to get two layers.
Pour the prepare syrup o the top side of the bottom layer and bottom side of the top layer. Be careful not to make it soggy…just moisten it to make it soft.

With a knife layer some of the whipped cream on the bottom layer. Gently place the op layer on it and press little to secure at place.

Now cover al the sides and top with the whipped cream and put it in the fridge to set at least for an hour.

Before serving chop or grate the remaining chocolate and decorate the cake with cherries.

Your lovely black forest cake is ready. Now soak in all the complements and enjoy this beauty.

Sending this to Priya's Heart for Valentine's Day Event.



I have been showered with some more awards from the lovely Deepa of Foodlyrics, who is an amazing cook and a great food photographer. I don’t know anyone who does not drool at the gorgeous food photos in her page. She has a lovely style of writing, full of warmth and helpful kitchen tips. Thanks a ton dear for your generosity.

I also Thank all of you with this lovely bloom from my garden! 

30 comments:

  1. If anyone ask me which cake is my favourite, my immediate choice will always goes directly to black forest cake..Such a beautiful and elegant cake, looks fantabulous, thanks for sending Sayantani..

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  2. That is a fantastic cake. Hope you had a fun time.

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  3. Perfect valentine treat...Happy V'day...

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  4. Perfectly baked black forest cake...make me crave for a piece now :)

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  5. hey lovely cake and my favorite..happy 50th post and lost of wishes for the posts coming ahead..

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  6. wow what a gorgeous cake,perfect for this beautiful day...hope u had a great time together...

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  7. My favorite cake is black forest cake but I do not know how to prepare it .Thanks for sharing the recipe!Happy V'day

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  8. What a lovely and fantastic cake,looks spongy and nice.

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  9. My all time favourite blackforest ....but had no idea to prepare ..now i got...thnks for sharing

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  10. Lovely and yummy cake...loooks so elegant!!!

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  11. Wow lovely cake its looks so delicious.1st time here you have agood collection of recipes.

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  12. Lovely & delicious cake!

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  13. Wow, what to say Sayantani, the cake looks so delicious and very well done. Perfect treat for v-day. Hope you had a great V-day.

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  14. Cake looks delicious and mouth watering. Wonderful presentation. I feel like having it now.

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  15. woow!!!looks so delicious and mouth watering clicks..

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  16. Dear Sayantani, Congratualtions on ur 50th post. What a way to celebrate Valentine's day --with ur awesome and delectable Black Forest Cake...Its my fav too and I'm glad to know u love Valentine's day too just as much as me..lol. Thanks for Wishing me on my anniversary on ur blog..Its so sweet of you.. I'll surely make that Semiyan Kheer Just for you..whenever we meet.. Happy Valentine's Day..LOve ur posts as always...Always refreshing and well written..

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  17. He hee..Thanks Sayantani. Every one is lucky in some way, and I am sure you have lot of special personal stuff too that is so close to your heart.

    Can I ask you a Q? What does your name mean. I am always curious to know the meaning of names (hint hint: collecting names to keep a selection for mine)

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  18. hi
    Thanks for stopping by,
    my first visit to ur blog :) shall c u often :)
    hope u had a great V day!
    awesome cake and am sure it tasted as good as it looks!Kudos to ur effort.
    tc

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  19. @ Priya, same here.

    @ISG, we stayed at home and spent great time together.

    @Somoo, thanks

    @Vrinda, I love your cake decorations. you are a pro at this art.

    @Sharmilee, I would have loved to send it over to you dear. thats what v's day stands for right?

    @Deepa, :)

    @Sushma, thanks dear, am glad to receive your appreciation as you are a great cook yourself.

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  20. Not yet :) But already making a list of names. beautiful name Saya, thanks for taking the time to explain it to me.

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  21. Purrrrfect cake for V day...My fav cake ..Hope you had a wonderful Valentine's day :-)

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  22. How beautiful, cake looks scrumptious. Love the glasses too. I bet you had fun! :)

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  23. The cake looks fantastic and perfect! Great celebration for Vday!

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  24. The cake is gorgeous, I am sure you had a lovely day :)

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  25. My fav cake !! looks so perfectly baked .. i am so tempted. Happy 50th post ..hoping to see many more drool worthy posts like this one :)

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  26. Hi Sayantani,am happy to find ur blog.The cake looks fabulous.I posted a black forest cake recipe recently.Thanks for sending this for my event.

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