A couple of years ago when I visited my homeland Bosnia I brought back a French/International cookbook, which my dad gave to my mom for their first marriage anniversary. So many things were taken out of our home during the war, and I was pleasantly surprised that our book collections were still there! The only thing missing from this book was its shiny photo cover which I remember so well. The cookbook it self has 750 pages full of the most spectacular recipes of French and International cuisine. The cookbook is by Henri-Paul Pellaprat “L’Art culinaire moderne” 1969 edition, and in Croatian translation it is just simply called “The Great Pellaprat”.  I remember as a child going through its pages, looking at all the photos and wondering how would all these amazing meals taste and how is it even possible to make such works of art.

Today was Father’s Day and a perfect day to try and bake something from this amazing cookbook. Out of the hundreds of dessert recipes I chose a familiar one – Black Forest Cake. Familiar, because after we left Bosnia, we lived in Germany’s Black Forest region, our children were born there and it was just an amazing time of learning to live away from home, accepting the life changes and building a better future for our children and us.

Black Forest Cake         Printable recipe

Serves 12-16 people

Cake:

• 1 cup (200 g) sugar
• 8 egg yolks (medium eggs)
• 1 whole egg
• 1 Tablespoon water
• 3.5 oz (100 g) plain bread crumbs
• 2.1 oz (60 g) blanched, ground almonds
• 1.7  oz (50 g) dark cocoa
• 8 egg whites (whipped)

Filling:

• 14.5 oz (400 g) canned sour cherries
• 1 Tablespoon corn starch
• About 1 quart (900 ml) heavy cream (whipped) *** Original recipe calls for 600 ml, but that was not nearly enough to frost the cake inside and out and decorate it.
• Sugar + 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3.3 Tablespoons (50 ml) cherry brandy (Original German Kirsch Wasser) *** I substituted Kirsch Wasser with 1 small jar of “Tipsy Cherries
• 5.2 oz (150 g) semi-sweet chocolate (refrigerated)

Also needed: 25 cm (10 inch) round spring form cake pan + same size parchment paper

Cake preparation:

1. Heat the oven to 370 F (187 C)
2. For the cake beat egg yolks, 1 whole egg, sugar and water until foamy.
3. Add bread crumbs and ground almonds.
4. Now by hand gently fold in egg whites. Add sifted cocoa at the end.
5. Pour the batter into the spring form pan and bake for about 25 – 30 minutes.
6. Cool completely and slice horizontally into 3 equal layers.

Filling preparation:

1. Heat the sour cherries with juice in a small cooking pot and bring it to boil. Mix 1 tablespoon corn starch with some of the cherry juice and pour into the pot. Let it boil for a few minutes until it thickens. Cool completely.
2. Whip the heavy cream until firm. Add sugar (after your own taste) and vanilla extract.
3. Take the bottom cake layer, sprinkle it with some “Tipsy cherries” brandy (or Kirsch Wasser), spread the cherries on the top of it. Spread 1/3 of the whipped cream on it.
4. Place the second cake layer on the cream, sprinkle with cherry brandy and spread with the second part of the whipped cream.
5. Sprinkle the third cake layer with some cherry brandy and place it on the top.
6. Frost the whole cake all around, decorate the top with tipsy cherries and chopped chocolate pieces.

Bon Appétit!