Making a Black Forest Cake

THE KIND OF CAKE MY PINTEREST DREAMS ARE MADE OF

I’m so proud how this cake turned out!

It all started with a text from my friend Maggie, a total bookworm and the biggest cheerleader for our local bookstore, Bluebird & Co. She asked, “Do you have any interest in making a cake for the Onyx Storm midnight release party?” My immediate answer: YES!

I haven’t read the Fourth Wing series yet, but based on how it’s often described—a mix of dragons, spicy romance, or I’ve even heard it as, “sexy Harry Potter”—I knew exactly what to do. While I could’ve researched how to make intricate buttercream dragon tails, I gravitate toward elevated, sophisticated designs that let cake texture and flavor tell the story. The choice for this party’s cake was clear: a Black Forest Cake.

I used a bit of cocoa powered through a fine-mesh sieve for a special dusting to finish the cake.

Proof that sometimes “store-bought is fine,” as Ina Garten says

I sent this to my brother and he responded, “looks like a Lord of the Rings Cake” and I knew I nailed the niche.

With rich chocolate cake layers, cherry preserves, and vanilla bean buttercream, the flavors came together seamlessly. For garnish, I added fresh cherries I scored at the market and dramatic chocolate bark—a technique I recently learned from my Instagram friend’s virtual French pastry class, Molly Wilkinson. (Making bark is so fun and surprisingly simple! Recipe below.) Store-bought cherry preserves, like Bonne Maman, made things stress-free—proof that sometimes “store-bought is fine,” as Ina Garten says.

My friend baker friend, Orlane reminded me this was called “La Forêt Noire” in France, which is what I’m calling it moving forward!

The real magic, though, was in the photoshoot. Between my daughter’s nap and the cake’s delivery time, I had a chance to set up my dining room and bring my Pinterest dreams to life. That afternoon felt surreal—a pinch-me moment where I realized I’d created something that might inspire someone else’s cake board someday.

This cake wasn’t just for a party; it became my most stellar creation yet. It reminded me that the “impossible” I once admired on Pinterest isn’t so impossible after all. When you find a hobby that fills you with joy, the extraordinary becomes attainable.

Print

With ImageWithout Image

Chocolate Bark

Author: Hannah Shepherd

Prep time: 30 MinTotal time: 30 Min

This chocolate bark is so easy to make and so versatile! Use it for bark on a roll cake or a classic 3 layer for a little something extra to an otherwise simple design.

Ingredients

Chocolate Bark

• 8 oz of Chocolate Chips

Instructions

Equipment

1. Microwave Safe container
2. Parchment Paper
3. Rolling Pin (you could also use a wine bottle, or a skinny 1.5 L water bottle)

Making the Bark

1. Melt chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second intervals, stirring well between each blast until smooth.
2. Pour the melted chocolate onto a sheet of parchment paper approximately 24 inches long.
3. Use an offset spatula to spread the chocolate evenly over the parchment sheet.
4. Lay a second sheet of parchment paper over the melted chocolate.
5. Starting from one short end, roll up the parchment sheets with the chocolate sandwiched between them.
6. Place the rolled parchment in the fridge and chill for 10–15 minutes.
7. Unroll the parchment to reveal long, fragmented chocolate shards, perfect for decorating your cake.