This recipe was first published on July 21, 2015.
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black forest ice cream cake
Black forest cakes were and remain one of India’s most popular cakes for birthdays, and I love them. This old-fashioned charmer gets a makeover in the form of an ice cream cake. I’ve used the Black Forest Ice Cream made with labneh to give this chocolate cake its frosted layers.
- Yield: One 9 in/23 cm layer cake
Ingredients
12 Tbsp/135 g unsalted butter plus extra to grease, at room temperature
4 oz/113 g unsweetened dark chocolate chips (65% cacao)
1/4 cup/20 g Dutch-processed cocoa powder
1/2 cup/120 ml boiling water
1 3/4 cups/350 g sugar
8 3/4 oz/248 g all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp sea salt
1 cup/120 ml buttermilk or kefir
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 Tbsp kirsch (optional)
4 large eggs + 2 large egg yolks at room temperature
Black Forest Ice Cream (one batch)
a handful of fresh cherries (for garnish)
2 to 3 Tbsp grated dark chocolate (for garnish)
4 ice cream cones (for garnish)
Instructions
1. Place a wire rack at mid-level in the oven and preheat to 350F/180C. Grease and line two 9 in/23 cm circular cake pans with butter and parchment paper; keep aside until ready to use.
2. Place the chocolate and cocoa in a medium-sized mixing bowl. Pour the boiling water into the bowl and whisk until all the chocolate has melted. Add 1/2 cup/100 g sugar to the melted chocolate mixture and stir until combined. Cool to room temperature.
3. In a medium mixing bowl, dry whisk the flour, baking soda, and salt. Whisk the buttermilk, vanilla, and kirsch in a small bowl.
4. Add the eggs and yolks to the bowl of a stand mixer. Using the whisk attachment, whisk on medium-low speed until combined for around 10 seconds. Pour in the remaining sugar and increase the speed to high. Whisk the eggs until light and fluffy but pale yellow, about 3 minutes. Remove the whisk and replace it with the paddle attachment.
5. Add the cooled chocolate mixture into the bowl and mix over medium-low speed. Scrape the sides of the bowl with a silicone spatula. Then add the butter, one tsp at a time, and mix for 10 seconds after each addition.
6. Add the flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with the buttermilk mix in the last two. Mix over medium-low speed until completely combined and no visible flecks of flour can be seen. Divide the batter equally between the two prepared pans and bake them in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, rotating them halfway through the baking process. The cakes are done when a skewer comes out clean from the center after insertion, and the tops are firm to touch.
7. Allow the cakes to cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Remove the cakes from the pan by running a knife along the edges of the cake. Transfer to a wire rack and cool completely for at least two hours. Wrap the cakes individually in parchment paper and then aluminum foil. Freeze for at least 4 hours before assembling.
To Assemble the Cake:
1. Leave the ice cream outside to soften for at least 10 minutes. It should be soft enough to manipulate but not runny.
2. Line a 9 in/23 cm springform cake pan on the bottom and sides with parchment paper or cellulose acetate. Unwrap one of the frozen cakes and place it at the bottom of the springform pan. Layer the surface with about 2 cups of softened ice cream. Quickly place the second cake over the ice cream and repeat the layer of ice cream. Smoothen the layers of ice cream using an offset spatula. Cover the cake with aluminum foil and freeze for at least 4 hours before serving. Store in the freezer.
3. Pop the springform mechanism to release the cake and peel the parchment paper off. Decorate the cake with fresh cherries and semisweet dark chocolate shavings. The cones are optional.
Notes
- Cellulose acetate will give the sides of your cake a cleaner look than parchment paper.
- If you’ve got time and want to make this even fancier, dip the cones in melted dark chocolate, invert them, and let them sit on a wire rack till the chocolate sets.
21 Responses
Congratulations on your four year anniversary. This cake is a marvelous way to celebrate. And congrats again on the gig at Food52. Well done!
Congrats on 4 years, Nik, and this cake looks epic! I love that you used that icecream from last week in it!
blackforest cake (the Indian version) is one of my favorite recipes…hoping you will share that someday so i can make it in my kitchen too 🙂 and this cake looks so freaking good. congratulations Nik on your anniversary,,you are a major inspiration to many of us 🙂
Congrats Nik! You are doing wonderful and gorgeous things, so keep it up 🙂
this is so stunning, nik!!! a perfect way to celebrate your blogoversary 🙂 i love how you decorated with ice cream cones. so fun!!!
Your cakes are always perfection. they always make me tempted to try a layer cake myself, even if they seem super intimidating and complicated haha.
Congratulations, Nik! On both the 4 years and the Food52 column. I can’t wait to learn more about Indian food :). So lovely to meet you last week. Rendezvous again this winter!
Yay, Nik! Happy Blogiversary!
Congrats with the four wonderful years! I love the idea of this cake and your photos are just stunning as usual!
your photography is amazing.. looks so beautiful. so that’s how you make ice-cream cake, never knew.
Wow what a beautiful cake black forest flavours are my fav. I love the ice cream cones. Happy blog birthday.
Man this looks so good! Congrats on your 4 years 🙂 xx
When do I add the 1-1/2 c of unsalted butter to the cake?
Thanks, Liane, I’ve made the update.
This cake is amazing. These photos are amazing. And your new column is.. I think you know where I’m going with this. 🙂 So excited to properly stock my pantry and cook up some traditional Indian dishes. HIP HIP! xo
Congratulations on reaching four! You cake looks very tempting. And what a wonderful way of celebrating it! Fantastic photographs!
Shoot. I just realized I never commented on this. It’s totally been on my mind all week… I mean, who could forget such a gorgeous creation?
Happy happy blog anniversary!!!! And congrats on your new feature! I’ll be following along!
How exciting…have a deliriously happy 4th!
What a cake, the perfect way to celebrate. Cheers to four years!
A super super belated YAYYYY for your four-year blogiversary and this crazy amazing cake, Nik!! We’re so lucky to have your creations grace the blogosphere, this not the least of them. Thanks for sharing all that you do, friend 🙂
Could you sour cream for creme kefir successfully in the ice cream?
In ice cream it can be tricky but you could try. It’s easier to do that substitution in baking.