Black Forest Gateau

Preparation of the Chocolate Cake Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans. In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add the eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla extract; beat on medium speed for 2 minutes. Stir in the boiling water until the batter is well combined.

Baking the Cake Pour the batter into the prepared pans. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool the cakes in the pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

Preparing the Cherry Filling In a saucepan, combine the cherries, cherry liqueur, sugar, and water. Bring to a boil and cook for 5 minutes. In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water. Stir the cornstarch mixture into the cherry mixture and cook until thickened. Remove from heat and let it cool.

Making the Whipped Cream In a large mixing bowl, beat the heavy cream, confectioners' sugar, and vanilla extract until stiff peaks form.

Assembling the Gateau Place one cake layer on a serving plate. Spread the cherry filling over the layer, then top with a layer of whipped cream. Place the second cake layer on top and cover the entire cake with whipped cream. Decorate with chocolate shavings and fresh cherries.

Chilling the Gateau Refrigerate the gateau for at least 4 hours before serving to allow the flavors to meld together.