National Chocolate Cake Day: Black Forest Cake Recipe

In honor of National Chocolate Cake Day, we're sharing the at-home version of one of our culinary staples with you. This is as close to our secret recipe that we can share (sorry folks!), but it should do the trick in satisfying your Das Festhaus craving.

Black Forest Chocolate Cherry Cake Ingredients

Here's what you will need:

•  1 Box Chocolate Cake Mix

•  1/3 Cup Vegetable Oil

•  3 Large Eggs

•  1 Tub (16 oz) Whipped Topping

•  1 Can (21 oz) Cherry Pie Filling

•  1 Piping Bag

•  Maraschino Cherries

For the chocolate ganache topping, make your own using the below ingredients, or purchase chocolate shell ice cream topping:

•  1 (12 oz) Bag of Chocolate Chips

•  2/3 Cup Heavy Whipping Cream

Cake Baking Prep

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Follow the steps and make your cake mix according to the directions on the package, separating cake batter evenly into three (3) 8" cake pans.

Place all three pans in the center of oven and bake according to package directions, roughly 25 minutes.

Once the cake is baked, safely remove from pans and allow to cool thoroughly.

Assembling Your Cake

Once your cake layers have cooled, its time to assemble! Fill your piping bag with the frozen whipped topping.

On one of your cake layers, pipe along the cake's edge with your topping.

Spread half of the cherry pie filling evenly in the center of the cake layer.

Step And Repeat

Add the second layer of cake on top of the finished layer and repeat the process of adding whipped topping and cherry filling.

Add your final layer and frost the top of the cake evenly with whipped topping. Add decorative pipettes as desired.

Once the cake has been fully assembled, allow to set in the freezer for 6-8 hours. We know..... the temptation to skip this step will be hard, but the finished product will be worth it.   

Tada! You Did It!

Once your cake has set in the freezer, prepare your ganache topping. 

Drizzle ganache and add cherries as desired to complete the look of your cake, then snap a few pics to show off on social (tagging @BuschGardensVA of course).

Lastly, cut a slice for yourself, a big slice. 

You earned it!

Chef's Tip: Total prep and bake time should take you less than an hour, so this is a great dessert to make before going to bed so that it can set in the freezer overnight and be ready for final steps in the morning.