Black Forest Puff Pastry
I’ve been wanting to make this black forest puff pastry recipe for quite some time now. I have envisioned it in my head in multiple occasions. So, last week I made attempts, 2 actually, I’ve tweaked and swapped ingredients to please my unsatisfied vexed palate. At long last, I figured it out on my third and final attempt. Truly, third time is a charm.
Look at that cake! This is the legendary black forest cake. A lavish dessert composed of multiple layers of soft sponge cake, whipped cream, and cherries on top. Some may say, it originated in Germany in the early 1900s, but some historians claimed that it all started in the land of cows, Switzerland. Wherever it is, it’s undeniably one of the most popular and beloved cake around the globe.
Okay, blogging this recipe has triggered childhood memories, so let me do some reminiscing here…a skinny, “kayumanggi”, black long hair with bangs girl from the Philippines would drool all over this in an instant. At a young age, she recognized that not every girl would be fortunate to have it. As this is more for people with opulent lifestyle. This little Filipina girl would continue to stare eagerly and wait for someone to say it’s time to devour it. She was shy then but she wouldn’t hesitate to just even have one bite. After all, the excitement builds up intensely, sky-high, as she only got a glimpse of this lovely cake on special occasions (i.e. New Years Eve). She is actually me, just in case I lost you there.
The ultimate secret for a delicious black forest dessert that can be made spontaneously is by using puff pastry. And yes, I cheated. I used a ready made one from the grocery store, but this is not unusual. It’s very well acceptable. Trust me, even pro-chefs would recommend it.
Just trying to convince you once more that this recipe is a keeper!
Black Forest Puff Pastry
Ingredients
- 100 g dark chocolate 64%
- 1/2 tsp coffee powder
- 1 1/2 tsp hot water for coffee
- 1 tbsp hot water or rhum
- 3 tbsp black cherry jam
- 1 25 x 42 cm puff pastry sheet
- 1 egg yolk
Whipped Cream
- 250 ml cream full fat
- 125 g mascarpone
- 2-3 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp bourbon vanilla optional
Toppings
- dark chocolate shavings
- Lindt extra thin chocolate squares
- cherries
Instructions
- Read helpful tips below.
- Pre-heat oven to 350°F / 175°C
- Melt chocolate over a ban-marie.
- Dissolve coffee powder in hot water.
- Add coffee. Mix.
- Add 1 tbsp hot water or rhum.
- Stir until chocolate thickens.
- Set aside.
- Flour surface.
- Roll out puff pastry.
- Fold in half. Mark top and bottom. Unfold.
- Spread chocolate on half of the pastry sheet.
- Spread cherry jam on top of chocolate.
- Cover with the other half of pastry.
- Seal edges with your thumb.
- Brush top with beaten egg yolk.
- Using a pizza cutter, slice in 6 portions.
- Grab both ends, twist pastry 3-5 times.
- Roll towards right until it forms like a flower.
- Tuck the pastry end.
- Place pastry on parchment paper.
- Repeat x 5. ( Roll as fast as you can so the chocolate filling doesn't get too hard)
- Bake for 15-20 minutes or until top is golden brown.
- Cool down.
- Remove excess cherry jam on the sides.
Homemade whipped cream
- Whisk cream with sugar until soft peak.
- Add soften mascarpone.
- Add vanilla.
- Transfer in a piping bag with piping tip of choice. ( I used a large star tip)
Toppings
- Pipe some fresh whipped cream on top of pastry.
- Using a vegetable peeler, make chocolate shavings.
- Add cherries.
- Serve and enjoy immediately.
Notes
- For better tasting chocolate spread, add coffee.
- For more intense flavor, add rhum instead of hot water.
- Feel free to use Nutella or any choco spread as a substitute.
- Work with cold puff pastry. It's easier to handle.
- Roll into flower shapes as fast as you can. Chocolate hardens when it's been sitting room temperature for a while.
- Use a high quality cherry jam. I prefer ones with whole cherries in it.
- You can use other fruit jam if you wish.
- Be generous with toppings! More is merrier! Whipped cream! Chocolate shavings! Cherries on top!
- Serve fresh and immediately.
- Finally, if you're a visual person like me, watch the step-by-step video tutorial on YouTube.
WATCH The How to Make Black Forest with Puff Pastry Recipe Step-By-Step Video Tutorial:
My name is Dhin. I'm delighted that you are here to join me in cooking delicious food and baking adorable pastries. Working in the kitchen became my therapy when the pandemic struck all of us. Join me on my journey, one bite at a time.
Follow and Tag Me Here: I’m curious how well yours turned out.
