Black Forest Gateau it was easy to make and looked very impressive. Ill certainly keep this one in mind for future gatherings like Valentines and Christmas. Photo by La Creme Patisserie, Port Talbot, South Wales from www.lacreme.typepad.co.uk

Ingredients

For the filling and topping:

1 shot of Kirsch

2 tbsp arrowroot

750ml/ 1 1/4 pint double cream, whipped

1 x 340g/12oz  jar cherries, drain them but keep the juice

For the sponge:

9  eggs

255g/9oz caster sugar

40g/1 1/2oz cocoa powder

butter, for greasing the pans

200g/7 1/2oz self-raising flour, sifted

For the chocolate shards:

110g/4oz demerara sugar

1/2 tsp peppermint essence

300g 101/2oz dark chocolate

50g/2oz toasted flaked almonds, to serve

Method:

Preheat the oven to (180C to 350F)

Grease and line a deep 26cm/10½in cake tin. For the sponge, crack the eggs into a mixing bowl, add the sugar and whisk well until light and fluffy and a ribbon-like trail forms when the whisk is removed.

Gently fold in the sifted flour and the cocoa powder. Pour the mixture into the prepared tin, transfer to the oven and bake for about 55 minutes, or until risen and cooked through. Turn out onto a rack and leave to cool.

For the filling:

place the cherries into a bowl with the Kirsch. Place the cherry juice from the jar into a pan and bring to the boil.

While the juice is heating, mix the arrowroot with a little water in a small bowl to make a paste. When the cherry juice is boiling, mix the arrowroot paste into it, then strain through a sieve into the bowl with the cherries and leave to cool.

Cut the cooled sponge into three layers using a sharp serrated knife.

Spread some of the cherries and syrup on to two of the sponges, then cover with cream then sandwich together. For the chocolate shards, place the chocolate into a heatproof bowl set over a pan of gently simmering water and heat, stirring occasionally, until melted and smooth. Stir in the peppermint essence and sugar, then spread the mixture onto a tray lined with cling film and allow to cool.

Place into the fridge to set. When the chocolate is set, break it into large shards and stick around the edge of the cake, using a little whipped cream on the back to hold the shards in place. To serve, top with the remaining cherries and the flaked almonds.