
In 1949 it took 13th place in a list of best-known German cakes. At the time it was particularly associated with Berlin but was also available from high-class confectioners in other German, Austrian, and Swiss cities. Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte was first mentioned in writing in 1934.

A long time ago, cherries, cream, and Kirschwasser were combined in the form of a dessert in which cooked cherries were served with cream and Kirschwasser, originated in Black forest region famous for its cherry trees. This claim, however, has never been substantiated.

The confectioner Josef Keller (1887–1981) claimed to have invented Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte in its present form in 1915 at the prominent Café Agner in Bad Godesberg, now a suburb of Bonn about 500 km (310 mi) north of the Black Forest. Some sources claim that the name of the cake is inspired by the traditional costume of the women of the Black Forest region, with a characteristic hat with big, red pom-poms on top, called Bollenhut. This is the ingredient that gives the dessert its distinctive cherry pit flavor and alcoholic content flavor. The dessert is not directly named after the Black Forest mountain range in southwestern Germany.Īccording to one school of thought, the name is derived from the specialty liquor of that region, known as Schwarzwälder Kirsch(wasser), which is distilled from tart cherries. German law mandates that any dessert labeled Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte must have kirschwasser. Other spirits are sometimes used, such as rum, which is common in Austrian recipes. Traditionally the alcoholic kirschwasser, a clear spirit made from sour cherries, is added to the cake. In some European traditions, sour cherries are used both between the layers and for decorating the top.

It is decorated with additional whipped cream, maraschino cherries, and chocolate shavings. Typically, Black Forest gateau consists of several layers of chocolate sponge cake sandwiched with whipped cream and cherries. Black Forest gâteau (German: Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte, pronounced i literally "Black Forest Cherry- torte"), also called Black Forest cake ( American English) is a chocolate and cream cake with a rich cherry filling based on a German dessert.
