Black Forest Christmas Gâteau

1.Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F). Grease and line two 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper.

2.In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt until well combined.

3.In a separate bowl, beat the eggs, then add the melted butter, milk, and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth.

4.Gradually add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, stirring until just combined. Do not overmix.

5.Divide the batter evenly between the prepared cake pans and smooth the tops with a spatula.

6.Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

7.While the cakes are cooling, prepare the chocolate mousse. Melt the dark chocolate in a heatproof bowl over simmering water, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.

8.In a separate bowl, whip the heavy cream until soft peaks form. Gently fold the whipped cream into the melted chocolate until fully incorporated. Refrigerate until set, about 30 minutes.

9.Once the cakes are completely cool, slice each cake in half horizontally to create four layers.

10.Place one layer of cake on a serving plate. Spread a layer of cherry jam over the top, followed by a layer of chocolate mousse. Repeat this process with the remaining layers, finishing with a layer of cake on top.

11.Roll out the marzipan on a surface dusted with powdered sugar to about 1/4 inch thick. Carefully cover the entire cake with the marzipan, smoothing it out to avoid any air bubbles.

12.Decorate the top of the cake with dark chocolate shavings and edible glitter, if using. You can also create festive sugar decorations to place around the cake for a more festive look.