Love Black Forest cake? Meet its elegant blonde sister.
Vanilla bean cake layers. Creamy white chocolate. Tart cherries. Fluffy whipped cream. No cocoa. All class. Almost too pretty to eat. Almost.
Ingredients

Serves 10-12.
For the Vanilla Cake:
- 2¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 1½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup milk
- 2 tsp vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract
For the Cherry Filling:
- 2 cups fresh or frozen cherries (pitted)
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tbsp water
- ¼ cup cherry liqueur or white rum (optional)
For the Topping & Frosting:
- 2 cups heavy cream
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 4 oz white chocolate, shaved or curled
- Fresh cherries for garnish
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Make the Cake
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease two 9-inch round cake pans.
- Whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add butter until crumbly.
- Add eggs, milk, and vanilla. Beat 2 minutes until smooth. Pour into pans.
- Bake 25-30 minutes. Cool completely.
Step 2: Make Cherry Filling
- In a saucepan, cook cherries, sugar, and lemon juice over medium heat until juicy (5 minutes).
- Add cornstarch slurry. Cook until thickened. Stir in liqueur if using. Cool.
Step 3: Make Whipped Cream
- Whip heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla until stiff peaks form.
Step 4: Assemble Cake
- Slice each cake layer in half horizontally (4 layers total).
- Place first layer on plate. Spread cherry filling. Add whipped cream.
- Repeat. Frost outside with whipped cream.
Step 5: Decorate and Serve
- Press white chocolate shavings onto sides. Top with fresh cherries.
- Chill 1 hour before serving.
Summary
Prep Time: 30 minutes | Cook Time: 30 minutes | Total Time: ~2 hours
Yield: 10-12 servings
Difficulty: Medium
Storage Notes
Fridge:
Store in refrigerator for up to 4 days (cream is perishable).
Freezer Friendly:
Freeze unfrosted cake layers for 3 months. Thaw and assemble fresh.
Pro Tip:
Use a vegetable peeler on a white chocolate bar to make chocolate curls.

