The Black Forest Cake - the world’s most popular dessert

Everyone loves a good piece of cake. And every region, every country, every individual has their own favorite and traditional cakes and desserts. But despite regional varieties, there is one cake that the New York Times recently titled the world’s most famous and popular cake. And since you are reading our “Germany – Good to know” article, you have probably already guessed that we are talking about the Black Forest Cake (“Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte”). Although the cake's name alone would seem to indicate its origin, the New York Times researchers were surprised to learn that people all over the world – from Nepal, Pakistan and the Lebanon to Zimbabwe, Chile and some distant Pacific Islands - believe the cake originated in their own country.

But is the cake really an original Black Forest dessert? The combination of cherries, whipped cream and cherry brandy was possibly already known in the southern Black Forest in the 19th century, though not as a cake, but as a dessert. This may have been the forerunner of the Black Forest Cake as it has been known since the beginning of the 20th century.

There are many theories regarding the cake’s origin and its name. The chocolate shavings could be reminiscent of the Black Forest, or the ingredient cherry schnaps which is mainly produced in the Black Forest could have led to the name. Another theory says that the name of the cake is based on the colors of the Black Forest women's traditional costume with the so-called “Bollenhut” hat. Several confectioners from different regions of Germany (not only the Black Forest) claim to have invented the original recipe. A recipe written by the southern German confectioner Josef Keller in 1927 for a café in Bonn is exhibited in the Black Forest Open-Air Museum Vogtsbauernhof. Our Freiburg office spent its this year’s company outing at the open-air museum and had the chance to try a (very large) slice of the traditional cake in the reconstructed original Black Forest setting.

And although the cake is known all over the world, your best chance to try a piece is probably still in its (presumed) original environment, the Black Forest. So, if you happen to visit our Freiburg office or spend a few vacation days in the Black Forest, why not visit a traditional old-fashioned café or restaurant and treat yourself to this famous dessert?