Black Forest cake - like no other

This one is a guest post - an exquisite black forest cake. It is curated, because my dear friend shared a generous piece of this cake with us (yes, I am blessed to be surrounded by some very caring and generous friends). I have to say - this is quite possibly one of the best black forest cakes I have had. And believe me I have had my fair share over the years.

Here is her recipe as she wrote it down for me: 

Ingredients: 

2 cups flour

1 cup sugar

1/4 cup cocoa powder

6 eggs (separate the yolks and egg whites)

1/2 cup melted butter

3/4 cup water

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp baking soda

2 tsp baking powder

2 cups whipping cream

1/4 cup powdered sugar

2 cans Dark sweet Cherries (Oregon brand)

Good chocolate (used the Guittards semi sweet)

Chocolate chips

For the cake -

- Take the separated egg yolks and beat with a hand mixer

- Add the water, melted butter and vanilla

- Add 1/2 cup sugar and continue beating

- Thereafter add the flour, cocoa, baking soda and baking powder

- This will form a thick batter

In another bowl -

- take the separated whites and start beating till it gets fluffy

- Add 1/2 cup sugar and keep beating till soft peaks form

Now fold the egg whites slowly into the chocolate batter.

Pour into a greased cake pan and bake at 350F for 30-35 mins (maybe a little more based on your oven, keep checking after 35 mins)

Once the cake is baked, set it on a cooling rack.

Once cooled, use a thread/ knife to slice the cake in half.

Keep the 2 parts inside facing up and poke with toothpicks. Thereafter add syrup from one of the cans and pour over the 2 parts.

Now prepare the cream. Whip the heavy whipping cream with the powdered sugar till stiff peaks are formed.

Layer the base part of the cake with whipping cream. Now add chopped cherries from the can (I used the whole can) to some more whipping cream and add to the base.

Now layer with the second cake and coat all

Over with whipping cream.

Use the chocolate bar to grate chocolate on top of the cake. 

Now decorate as needed and refrigerate!

I also asked her for what cherries she used. The reason is these cherries were super good and did not have the typical taste you have in canned cherries. Here is a picture of the cherries she used in the cake. And a picture later of the chocolate that was used.