Chocolate Cherry Swiss Roll Delight: A Black Forest Dream Cake!

Chocolate Cherry Swiss Roll Delight: A Black Forest Dream Cake combines the rich, indulgent flavors of chocolate and cherries with the light and airy texture of a Swiss roll. This dessert is a playful and elegant take on the classic Black Forest cake, and it’s sure to impress! Here’s a recipe to bring this dreamy creation to life:

Ingredients:

For the Chocolate Cake (Swiss Roll):

1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
4 large eggs (room temperature)
1 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup water (warm)
Powdered sugar (for dusting)

For the Cherry Filling:

1 1/2 cups fresh cherries (pitted and chopped, or jarred cherries, drained)
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tbsp cornstarch
1/2 tsp lemon juice
1/4 cup water

For the Whipped Cream Filling:

1 cup heavy whipping cream
2 tbsp powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract

For Garnish:

Fresh cherries
Chocolate shavings or curls
A drizzle of chocolate syrup (optional)

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Chocolate Swiss Roll Cake:

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 10×15-inch jelly roll pan with parchment paper and lightly grease the paper.
In a small bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs and granulated sugar together using an electric mixer on high speed until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 4-5 minutes.
Add the vanilla extract and warm water, and mix to combine.
Gradually fold in the dry ingredients (flour and cocoa powder mixture), being careful not to deflate the batter. Mix until smooth.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread it evenly.
Bake for 12-15 minutes or until the cake springs back when touched.
Remove the cake from the oven and immediately invert it onto a clean kitchen towel dusted with powdered sugar. Carefully peel off the parchment paper.
While the cake is still warm, roll it up tightly in the towel (from the shorter side) to form a log. Let it cool completely.

2. Prepare the Cherry Filling:

In a saucepan, combine the chopped cherries, granulated sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, and water.
Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the mixture thickens and the cherries release their juices, about 5-7 minutes.
Remove from heat and let it cool to room temperature.

3. Make the Whipped Cream:

In a chilled mixing bowl, beat the heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until stiff peaks form.

4. Assemble the Swiss Roll:

Once the cake has cooled, unroll it carefully from the towel and spread a layer of whipped cream over the entire surface, leaving a small border at the edges.
Spoon a generous amount of the cooled cherry filling over the whipped cream.
Carefully roll the cake back up, this time without the towel, using the parchment paper to help guide the roll.

5. Decorate the Cake:

Once the Swiss roll is assembled, transfer it to a serving platter.
Spread more whipped cream on top and around the sides of the roll.
Garnish with fresh cherries, chocolate shavings or curls, and a drizzle of chocolate syrup (optional) for an extra touch of decadence.

Tips:

For an extra Black Forest touch, you can add a splash of kirsch (cherry liqueur) to the cherry filling or whipped cream.
Serve chilled for the best texture and flavor.

This Chocolate Cherry Swiss Roll Delight: A Black Forest Dream Cake combines the beloved flavors of Black Forest cake in a fun, rollable format! The fluffy chocolate cake, sweet whipped cream, and luscious cherry filling make it an irresistible dessert for any occasion.