Step 1 of 6
Black Forest gateau
Heat the oven to 180°C and line a 24 cm springform. Whisk eggs, sugar and vanilla sugar over a pan of barely simmering water until warm, then off the heat with an electric whisk for 8 to 10 minutes until thick, pale and tripled.
Questions about this dish
Answers taken from this dish's times, amounts, swaps and tips.
How long does Black Forest gateau take?
5 hr 35 min all in — 1 hr prep, 35 min cook, 4 hr rest. Cook and rest follow the method. Leftover storage and optional extra waits are not included.
How many does it serve?
The recipe is written for 12 slices. Scale the ingredient list on the page if you are cooking for a different number.
How hard is it?
A bit of work.
How spicy is it?
No chilli.
What allergens should I watch?
This recipe is labelled for Eggs, Wheat, Milk. Labels are informational — check the packets in your kitchen. This is not medical advice.
Does it fit a diet?
The published recipe is labelled Vegetarian.
10 more questionsFewer questions
What does it cost to cook?
A bit special — about $16–28 USD, as a grocery budget for this recipe, not a restaurant price.
What equipment do I need?
Mixing bowl, Oven, Kitchen scale, Timer, Saucepan.
How much salt do I put in?
This recipe does not list a salt amount. We will not invent one.
How much sugar?
180 g of Sugar.
How much sugar?
30 g of Sugar.
What can I use instead?
Kirsch → Cherry juice with a spoon of brandy. Legal for home cooks, not for a Konditor. The cake will be sweeter and less sharp.
What should I watch for?
Fold, do not stir. The air in the eggs is the only lift that matters.
Any tips from this recipe?
Jarred morello cherries are the right fruit. Fresh sweet cherries taste flat against the cream; tinned pie filling is too sweet. The cake is better after a night in the fridge, when the kirsch has moved through the sponge.
Can I prepare this ahead?
Sift flour, cornflour, cocoa and baking powder over the foam in three lots, folding gently each time. Fold in the melted butter last. Pour into the tin and bake 30 to 35 minutes until a skewer comes out clean. Cool completely, ideally overnight.
Can I use an air fryer?
This method is not written for an air fryer. The core technique on the page still applies.