Name: Eggless Black Forest Gateau... recipe by Zeenath Fathima at BetterButter
Prep time: 50 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 90 min
Yield: 8
Ingredients: FOR THE CHOCOLATE CAKE :-; 2 Cup Whole wheat flour; 6 tbsp cocoa powder; 1 tsp baking soda; 1 pinch of salt; 1 cup of sugar; 2 cups cold water; 1/2 cup oil or melted butter; 2 tbsp lime juice or lemon juice; 1 tsp vanilla essence; FOR THE ICING :-; 200 ml chilled heavy whipping cream; 5 tbsp icing sugar; 3 tbsp chopped red cherries; 7-8 tbsp grated chocolate; 2-3 tbsp cherry syrup; 8-10 whole cherries ; for decoration; Some chocolate shavings for decoration

FOR THE CAKE :-

As a first step , grease a round baking pan of appropriate size with oil . Set that aside and preheat your oven to 180° .

Seive together the whole wheat flour , cocoa powder , baking soda and salt in a plate .

In another bowl , add the sugar . To this add the cold water and stir till everything's well dissolved .

Now mix in the well . Stir well till everything is incorporated .

Finally , mix in the lemon or lime juice . Finish off by adding the vanilla essence .

Little by little , add the sieved ingredients into the wet . Incorporate each portion well to ensure no lumps .

Once done well , put into the baking pan and bake for about 35-40 mins or till a toothpick inserted through the center comes out clean .

Remove the cake and let it sit just like that till moderately hot.

Cut out the cake into two with the help of a sharp knife , making sure to deal with patiently .

Now , let these cut pieces cool down completely .

In a bowl , combine the cream and icing sugar . Using a hand mixer or any other equipment , beat till sharp peaks are formed .

Let this cream sit in the fridge for 5-10 mins .

Now this step is entirely your choice . Either you can use sugar syrup or cherry juice .

If you choose to use sugar syrup , all you need to do is mix in 1 tsp sugar in 3 tbsp water .

Or if you choose to use cherry juice instead , either opt for homemade which I will recommend or just store bought .

Using this mixture , sprinkle (not drown ) the entire cake . Making sure that it has dampened and not soaked .

Now with the help of a spatula , cover the bottom piece with a thin layer of whipped cream .

Let this sit in the fridge for a few mins . Sometimes while dealing with whipped cream ; it's neccessary to do such small tasks to prevent bigger mishaps.

Add a layer of cherries ; whole or cut and place them firmly to get them fixated into the cream .

Sprinkle some chocolate and place the next layer on top.

Spread out a very thin layer of cream around the cake and also on the top . Make sure to catch onto all the crumbs . This way you'll prevent much mess from happening . This is also called crumb coat .

Let this set by sitting in the fridge for a little while .

Now that the crumb coat is set and the layer has become smooth and even , you can easily work your way .

With the rest of the cream , work your way patiently .

Use it to cover the rest of the cake and decorate it .

Garnish with cherries and chocolate shavings .

Then let it sit in the fridge , covered well for about an hour at the least .

Serve chilled with an extra dollop of whipped cream and sliced cherries.