SCHWARZWÄLDER KIRSCHTORTE

INGREDIENTS: 

For the cake:
6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, cut into bits 
6 tablespoons unsalted butter 
1 teaspoon vanilla extract 
l/3 cup water 
6 large eggs at room temperature 
1 cup sugar 
I cup cake flour 
1/2 teaspoon salt
For the filling:
2 pounds canned sour cherries, drained, reserving the juice 
l/3 cup sugar 
5 teaspoons cornstarch 
2 tablespoons Kirsch
For the syrup:
1/2 cup sugar 
1/2 water 
l/4 cup Kirsch

For the whipped cream topping:
l envelope of unflavored gelatin 
3 tablespoons Kirsch 
3 cups well-chilled heavy cream 
1/3 cup sifted confectioner's sugar 
l teaspoon vanilla 
l 1/2 cups chocolate shavings and curls glaceed cherries for garnish

PREPARATION:

Make the cake: 
Preheat oven to 350º degrees F. Butter three 7-inch cake pans,  line them with
wax paper and butter and flour the paper. In the top of a double boiler set over
simmering water melt the chocolate with the butter,  vanilla and water, stirring
until smooth. Remove the pan from heat. Into a bowl sift together the flour and
salt. In a bowl with an electric mixer beat the eggs with the sugar for 5 to 10
minutes, or until batter ribbons when beaters are lifted. Fold flour mixture into
egg mixture until just combined and fold in chocolate mixture gently but thoroughly.

Pour batter into pans, smoothing the tops, and bake for 10 - 15 minutes,  or until
cake tester inserted in center comes out clean. Let cool in pans 5 minutes. Run knife
around edge of pans and invert onto racks to cool completely.

Make the filling: 
In a saucepan combine reserved cherry juice, sugar and cornstarch.  Bring mixture to
a boil over moderate heat, stirring, and simmer, stirring, for 1 to 2 minutes, or until
thickened. Stir in cherries and kirsch,  transfer to a bowl and let cool.  Filling may be
made 1 day in advance and kept covered and chilled.

Make the syrup: 
In a saucepan combine the sugar and water, bring to a simmer,  stirring, and simmer
until sugar is dissolved. Remove pan from heat and stirin Kirsch.  Let cool.

Make the whipped cream topping: 
In small saucepan combine gelatin and Kirsch and let soften 5 minutes. Gently heat
mixture over low heat, stirring, until liquid is clear.  Remove from heat. In chilled bowl
with chilled beaters beat cream until it holds soft peaks, add sugar and vanilla and
beat until it holds stiff peaks. Add gelatin mixture in stream, beating, and beat until
it holds stiff peaks.

Assemble cake: 
Invert one layer of cake onto a cardboard round, brush with some of syrup and
spread half cherry filling over it. Spread 1 1/2 cups of whipped cream over cherries,
sprinkle with 1/4 cup chocolate shavings and invert second layer of genoise onto
cake. Brush with syrup, spread with remaining cherry filling and top with 1 1/2
cups whipped cream, spreading it into an even layer. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup of
chocolate shavings and invert third genoise layer onto cake. Brush top with syrup
and spread remaining whipped cream over top and sides of cake reserving about
2/3 cup for garnish.  Coat side of cake with some of remaining chocolate shavings.
Transfer remaining whipped cream to a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip, pipe
rosettes decoratively around top edge of cake and top each rosette with glaceed cherry.
Sprinkle top of cake with remaining chocolate shavings and let cake stand,  covered
and chilled, for at least 3 hours and up to 8 hours.


Yield: 8 to 10 servings

---

Copyright 2001© - 2011© The Gutsy Gourmet® - All rights reserved