This is a delicious chocolate cake with cherries - moist sponge with plenty of juicy berries topped with a layer of chocolate and marzipan pudding.
The recipe is adapted from Blechkuchen von A-Z by Dr. Oetker.
Ingredients for the sponge:
250 g softened butter (or margarine)
250 g sugar
5 eggs
150 g plain flour
2 x 5 g sachets Dr. Oetker baking powder
1 x 25 g Dr. Oetker sachet dark cocoa powder
100 g Dr. Oetker Gustin (or cornflour)
For the pudding layer:
500 ml milk
1 packet Dr. Oetker chocolate pudding powder
200 ml double cream
4 egg yolks
4 egg whites, whisked to stiff peaks
80 g sugar
200 g chocolate coated marzipan, crushed
1 kg cherries stoned (thawed and drained if frozen)
Method:
To make the sponge, cream together the butter and the sugar until pale.
Beat in the eggs, one at a time, until incorporated.
Fold in the flour, sifted with the baking powder, cornflour and cocoa.
Spread the batter evenly into a greased and lined baking tray (35 x 42 cm).
Scatter the cherries over the batter. Make sure they are not bleeding.
To make the pudding, heat the milk in a saucepan with the marzipan, stirring occasionally until the marzipan dissolves.
In a separate bowl mix the cream, yolks, pudding powder, and sugar until dissolved.
Bring the milk to the boil, then slowly pour in the cream mixture, stirring, until fully incorporated, then boil for 1 minute, stirring continuously, until the pudding thickens.
Gently fold in the egg whites.
Spoon the pudding over the cherries and level the surface.
Bake in a preheated oven (180 C, fan 160 C) for 45-50 minutes or until a skewer, inserted into the cake, comes out clean (or slightly moist with some cherry juice if you pierce the berry).
Leave to cool completely before serving. Dust with some icing sugar before serving, if desired.
Enjoy with a nice cup of tea or coffee!
Bon Appetit!
