I'm going out for dinner this evening. And would like to bring dessert. And
have the name of a well recommended bakery, which bakes from scratch. I'm
not sure which torte to purchase...The St Benard or the Black
Forest...Supposedly the St benard is a chocolate torte with chocolate
whipped cream between layers and rum is involved also. The cream is real
whipped cream. But I would like more info if at all possible, as I've never
run across a St Benard torte before.

--

The house of the burning beet-Alan

hahabogus wrote:
> I'm going out for dinner this evening. And would like to bring dessert. And
> have the name of a well recommended bakery, which bakes from scratch. I'm
> not sure which torte to purchase...The St Benard or the Black
> Forest...Supposedly the St benard is a chocolate torte with chocolate
> whipped cream between layers and rum is involved also. The cream is real
> whipped cream. But I would like more info if at all possible, as I've never
> run across a St Benard torte before.
>


Neither have I, but if it's chocolate, it's gotta be better than cherry!
I'm not crazy about the combination of flavors in anything labeled
"black forest". I like cherries fresh and on-the-stem. Shut up, Sheldon.

gloria p

Gloria P wrote:

>
> Neither have I, but if it's chocolate, it's gotta be better than cherry!
> I'm not crazy about the combination of flavors in anything labeled
> "black forest". I like cherries fresh and on-the-stem. Shut up, Sheldon.

A real Black Forest Cake is pretty good but I have given up on buying them, even
in decent delis, because they always end up disappointing. The Oetcker Black
Forest cake mix is pretty good, but you have to supply the whipped cream for the
layers and the frosting.

On Sat 05 Jul 2008 01:52:49p, Dave Smith told us...

> Gloria P wrote:
>
>>
>> Neither have I, but if it's chocolate, it's gotta be better than
>> cherry! I'm not crazy about the combination of flavors in anything
>> labeled "black forest". I like cherries fresh and on-the-stem. Shut
>> up, Sheldon.
>
> A real Black Forest Cake is pretty good but I have given up on buying
> them, even in decent delis, because they always end up disappointing.
> The Oetcker Black Forest cake mix is pretty good, but you have to supply
> the whipped cream for the layers and the frosting.
>
>

This one does not disappoint...

Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte Serves 12


CHOCOLATE GENOISE
8 ounces bittersweet chocolate
1 cup boiling water
8 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup superfine (caster) sugar
1-½ cups sifted cake flour

CHERRIES w/SYRUP*
2 1-pound cans morello cherries
(OR red sour cherries)
¾ cup superfine (caster) sugar
1 cup cherry liquid
2 tablespoons Kirschwässer

KIRSCH FILLING
2 cups confectioner’s (icing sugar, sifted)
2/3 cup unsalted butter
2 egg yolks
2 tablespoons Kirsch

CHOCOLATE BUTTERCREAM
9 ounces semisweet chocolate
¾ cup superfine (caster) sugar
3 tablespoons water
3 egg yolks
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 tablespoons vegetable shortening (optional)

CREAM TOPPING
1 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons superfine (caster) sugar
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon Kirsch

DECORATION
12 maraschino cherries w/stems
2 tablespoons Kirschwässer
1 bar semisweet chocolate (for chocolate curls)


CHOCOLATE GENOISE
Preheat oven to 350º F.
Prepare two 9-inch by 2-inch pans (or two 9-inch springform pans),
greased, bottoms lined with parchment, and then greased again and floured.
In a heavy saucepan bring the chocolate and water to a boil over low
heat, stirring constantly. Simmer, stirring, for 5 minutes or until the
chocolate thickens to a pudding-like consistency. (It will fall from the
spoon and pool slightly before disappearing.) Cool completely.
In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs, vanilla extract and sugar with
the whisk beater on high speed for 10 minutes or until triple in volume.
(A hand beater may be used but it will be necessary to beat for at least 20
minutes.)
Sift ½ the flour over the egg mixture and fold it in gently but
rapidly with a slotted skimmer or large rubber spatula until some of the
flour has disappeared. Repeat with the remaining flour until all flour has
disappeared. Fold in the chocolate mixture until incorporated.
Pour immediately into the prepared pans (they will be about 2/3 full)
and bake 30 to 35 minutes or until a tester inserted in the centers enters
as easily as it does when inserted closer to the sides.
The cakes rise to the tops of the pans during baking and will lower
slightly when done, pulling slightly away from the sides. Avoid opening
the oven door before the minimum time or the cakes could fall.
Loosen the sides of the cakes with a small metal spatula and unmold at
once onto lightly greased racks. Reinvert to cool. The firm upper crusts
prevent falling. Trim the bottom and top crusts and split each layer in
half horizontally to make (4) ½” layers, when ready to complete the cake.

CHERRIES w/SYRUP
Drain the cherries for 30 minutes, reserving 1 cup cherry liquid.
In a medium saucepan combine the cherry liquid and sugar and bring to
a boil, stirring constantly, until sugar dissolves. Boil briskly,
uncovered, for 5 minutes. Add the cherries and simmer, covered, 1 minute.
Remove from the heat. Transfer the cherries with a slotted spoon to a jar
with tight-fitting lid and add the Kirsch.
Boil the remaining syrup until reduced to 2/3 cup and pour over the
cherries. Cover tightly and swirl to mix. Cool completely and refrigerate
until ready to complete cake. *Note: May be prepared well in advance and
stored.

FILLING
In a large mixing bowl, beat the confectioner’s sugar and butter with
the whisk beater on low speed until well-blended. Add egg yolks, beating
on high speed for 3 to 5 minutes, until light and fluffy. Gently fold in
Kirsch.

CHOCOLATE BUTTERCREAM
Chop the chocolate into small bits and put in a large mixing bowl.
Bring the sugar and water to a boil in a small saucepan, and boil for 1
minute. Pour the boiling sugar mixture over the chocolate and stir until
smooth. If the mixture becomes granular and begins to stiffen, beat in 2
tablespoons vegetable shortening to smooth it out. Cover and set aside to
cool to room temperature.
In another mixing bowl, beat the egg yolks with the whisk beater until
well blended. Add the cooled chocolate mixture and beat well. Continue to
beat on high speed, adding small bits of butter (about 2 tablespoons) at a
time, and beating well until all the butter is incorporated and the
frosting is light and fluffy.

CREAM TOPPING
Whip cream in a small chilled mixing bowl until frothy. Add sugar,
vanilla and Kirsch. Continue beating until very stiff (almost to butter).

DECORATION
Macerate maraschino cherries in Kirsch for at least 24 h ours prior to
assembling cake.
Warm chocolate bar to approximately 80º F., or just warm enough to
prevent splintering. Form chocolate curls by using a potato peeler drawn
against the length of the bar. Chill until ready to complete cake.

ASSEMBLY
Drain cherries, reserving syrup. There should be about 1 cup, 2
tablespoons of syrup. Add additional Kirsch, if necessary.
Transfer the cakes to a long strip of waxed paper and prick each layer
lightly in several places with the tines of a long fork. Sprinkle the
layers evenly with the syrup and let them rest for at least 5 minutes.
Cut out a cardboard round to fit the diameter of the cake layer.
Place bottom layer on cardboard and spread with 1/3 of the filling.
Distribute an even layer of cherries (so that they are touching) on top of
filling. Place 2nd and 3rd cake layers, repeating with layers of filling
and cherries. Top with 4th cake layer.
Wrap cake gently in plastic film and refrigerate for at least 1 hour
for filling to become firm.
Remove cake from refrigerator and discard plastic film. Frost sides
only with chocolate buttercream, using an icing comb to finish and decorate
the sides.
Pile the entire amount of cream topping on top of cake. Use an icing
comb or swirl decoratively into an even layer.
Place 12 maraschino cherries evenly spaced around perimeter of top and
pile chocolate curls decoratively in center.
Cover cake closely and refrigerate at least 24 hours (48 hours is
better), to allow moisture to equalize and flavors to mellow. Serve
chilled.


--
Wayne Boatwright
-------------------------------------------
Saturday, 07(VII)/05(V)/08(MMVIII)
-------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------
Marijuana, nature's way of saying 'Hi!'
-------------------------------------------

On Sat 05 Jul 2008 02:01:21p, Michael "Dog3" told us...

> Gloria P >
> : in rec.food.cooking
>
>> Neither have I, but if it's chocolate, it's gotta be better than
>> cherry! I'm not crazy about the combination of flavors in anything
>> labeled "black forest". I like cherries fresh and on-the-stem. Shut
>> up, Sheldon.
>
> 3 of us almost devoured an entire Black Forest cake from Sam's Club last
> night. It is delicious. I love chocolate/cherry. Shut up Sheldon
>
> Michael
>

If your're ambitious, see my response to Dave's post. This is the real
deal, and you'll never want to buy another one again.

--
Wayne Boatwright
-------------------------------------------
Saturday, 07(VII)/05(V)/08(MMVIII)
-------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------
Marijuana, nature's way of saying 'Hi!'
-------------------------------------------

On Sat 05 Jul 2008 02:00:09p, Michael "Dog3" told us...

> hahabogus >
> : in rec.food.cooking
>
>> I'm going out for dinner this evening. And would like to bring
>> dessert. And have the name of a well recommended bakery, which bakes
>> from scratch. I'm not sure which torte to purchase...The St Benard or
>> the Black Forest...Supposedly the St benard is a chocolate torte with
>> chocolate whipped cream between layers and rum is involved also. The
>> cream is real whipped cream. But I would like more info if at all
>> possible, as I've never run across a St Benard torte before.
>
> Is it a Black Forest torte or cake? I have not had a St. Bernard
anything
> but I can vouch for both the Black Forest cake AND torte. Either one of
> those will be delicious. What is the dinner? If it's casual do a cake.
If
> it's formal the torte is always awesome. IIRC the St. Bernard has rum in
> it, no?
>
> Michael
>
>
>

Authentically, it's a torte, hence its German name, Schwarzwälder
Kirschtorte (Black Forest Cherry Torte).

--
Wayne Boatwright
-------------------------------------------
Saturday, 07(VII)/05(V)/08(MMVIII)
-------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------
Marijuana, nature's way of saying 'Hi!'
-------------------------------------------

Alan wrote:
> I'm going out for dinner this evening. And would like to bring dessert.
> And have the name of a well recommended bakery, which bakes from scratch.
> I'm not sure which torte to purchase...The St Benard or the Black
> Forest...Supposedly the St benard is a chocolate torte with chocolate
> whipped cream between layers and rum is involved also. The cream is real
> whipped cream. But I would like more info if at all possible, as I've
> never run across a St Benard torte before.

You pretty much described it already: It's a chocolate cake which is
drizzled with a rum syrup to moisten it. There is chocolate-flavored whipped
cream between the layers. The cake is typically decorated with chocolate
curls and little mushroom-shaped meringues which are dusted with cocoa
powder. It's not my FAVORITE (that would be Sachertorte), but it's very
good. (BTW, there's supposed to be another "r" in the St. Bernard Torte.)

Bob

On Sat 05 Jul 2008 05:24:29p, The Kat told us...

> On Sat, 05 Jul 2008 16:52:49 -0400, Dave Smith
> > wrote:
>
>
>>A real Black Forest Cake is pretty good but I have given up on buying
>>them,
>
> The BEST Black Forest cake I ever had was from a bakery in Denver,
> almost 40 years ago.
>
> You had to bring in a bottle of Kirschwasser when you ordered it.

There was a very old German bakery in Lakewood, Ohio operated by an equally
ancient German couple. They Black Forest Cake was definitely the best I've
ever purchased anywhere. The couple grew too old to continue operating the
bakery and closed their doors rather than selling it to people who wouldn't
do it justice. I was fortunate to get their recipe, and posted it in
response to Dave's post upthread.

--
Wayne Boatwright
-------------------------------------------
Saturday, 07(VII)/05(V)/08(MMVIII)
-------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------
If 'if' statements had no 'then' clauses,
-------------------------------------------

On Sat, 05 Jul 2008 14:34:03 -0600, Gloria P >
wrote:

>Neither have I, but if it's chocolate, it's gotta be better than cherry!
>I'm not crazy about the combination of flavors in anything labeled
>"black forest".

I like - no I *love* Black Forest cake.... but I wouldn't want to
marry it. LOL


--
I never worry about diets. The only carrots that interest me are the number of carats in a diamond.

Mae West