Last Updated on December 3, 2022

Today we’ll make a decadent Duncan Hines black forest layer cake. It’s very rich with a juicy cherry filling, creamy frosting, and chocolate shavings.

The moist chocolate cake box mix allows you to shave off a ton of preparation time. While it’s baking, you can make your cherry filling and whipped cream frosting. Overall, this cake is incredibly easy to make, quick, and packed with delicious chocolatey flavors.

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What’s In Black Forest Cake?

A black forest cake, also known as a black forest gâteau, is a surprisingly old cake that dates back to the early 20th century in Germany.

This delicious cake is made from a simple chocolate sponge cake with a very rich cherry filling base. Traditionally, it has several layers of cake and filling to create a torte (layered) effect.

Once assembled, the cake is covered with a thick layer of whipped cream. It is then garnished with cherries, chocolate shavings, and more whipped cream decorations.

Now, Duncan Hines created their own black forest cake recipes. However, these are different from traditional versions. Both of their recipes only have two layers.

Today, we will use their recipes as inspiration to create a more authentic version of a Duncan Hines black forest layer cake that is still easy and quick to make.

We will be using the Duncan Hines Moist Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix. It is extremely rich and decadent, just like a traditional black forest gâteau should be. So, let’s see how you can easily make our Duncan Hines black forest layer cake!

What You Need To Make This Duncan Hines Black Forest Layer Cake

Ingredients for the cake

1 box (15.2 ounces) Duncan Hines Moist Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix
1 cup milk, room temperature
1/3 cup vegetable oil
3 large eggs, room temperature

Ingredients for the cherry filling

2 cans (roughly 11 ounces each) of pitted cherries
1/2 – 1 cup granulated white sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Ingredients for the garnishes

4 cups heavy whipping cream, room temperature
1/2 cup powdered sugar, sifted
Chocolate shavings
Fresh or maraschino cherries

Equipment

Two 8 or 9-inch cake pans
Non-stick baking paper
Non-stick cooking spray (or melted butter)
Measuring cups and spoons
Mixing bowls
Whisk
Cooling rack
Medium saucepan
Electric hand or stand mixer
Bread knife
Cake stand or board
Offset palette knife

Duncan Hines Perfectly Moist Dark Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix, 12 – 15.25 OZ Boxes

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Step by step instructions on how to make a black forest cake

Step 1: Prepare your equipment and ingredients

Preheat your oven to 360ºF (180ºC). Then, line your two cake pans with non-stick baking paper at the base. You can brush the sides with melted butter or spray it with non-stick cooking spray.

Then, weigh out all of your ingredients. Also, ensure that all the ingredients are at room temperature unless otherwise specified.

Step 2: Make the cake batter

To start your Duncan Hines black forest layer cake, place the cake mix inside a large mixing bowl. Then, create a big well in the center of the dry mix.

Add the liquid ingredients to the well. Then, using a whisk, start mixing the ingredients together. Keep mixing until you have a completely smooth and uniform cake batter.

Step 3: Bake the cakes

Carefully divide the cake batter between the two lined cake pans. Then, smooth out the top of the cake, but don’t bang the pans against the table (this will remove air bubbles and create a dense cake).

Then, bake the cakes on the center rack for roughly 24-31 minutes (see tips section). Before removing the cakes from the oven, test their doneness with a toothpick or cake tester.

Remove the cakes from the oven and allow them to cool on a wire rack at room temperature.

Step 4: Make the cherry filling

While your cakes are baking and cooling, make your cherry filling. To start, drain the cherries from their sweet liquid.

Then, combine the cherries, 1/2 cup liquid, sugar, and cornstarch in a medium saucepan. bring the mixture to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat and allow it to simmer for about 10 minutes, or until it has thickened.

Once you have a thick consistency, stir in the vanilla extract. Allow the cherry filling to cool completely at room temperature.

Once cooled, move it to the fridge and allow it to chill.

Step 5: Prepare the garnishes

Next, add the whipping cream to a large mixing bowl. Then, beat it to soft peaks. Once you’ve reached soft peaks, add the powdered sugar gradually. Keep adding and whipping until your frosting reached stiff peaks.

Step 6: Assemble the Duncan Hines black forest layer cake

To start, slice each layer of chocolate cake into two. For this Duncan Hines black forest layer cake, you should have 4 layers in total.

Then, place one layer onto the cake stand or board. Add a layer of whipped sweetened cream, followed by a layer of cherry filling. Top it with another layer of chocolate cake, and repeat the process.

Finish the top chocolate cake with any garnishes of your choice. We like to create whipped cream garnishes and top them with fresh cherries and chocolate shavings.

Expert Tips And Tricks

If you are baking your cakes in an 8-inch pan, bake them for 26-31 minutes. But, if you are baking them in 9-inch pans, bake them for only 24-29 minutes. The larger the round pan is, the thinner the cake layer will be. This, the less time it needs to bake fully.
To properly cool your cakes at room temperature, first, leave them inside their pans for 15 minutes. Then, take them out and allow them to cool on the wire rack. Do not remove the cakes too early from their pans. They may break apart because they are too hot and soft.
This Duncan Hines black forest layer cake should be stored in an airtight container inside the fridge. The cream will melt if it is kept at room temperature for too long.

Preparations Times And Servings

Final Thoughts On This Luscious Duncan Hines Black Forest Layer Cake

This cake is easy to make, doesn’t take nearly as long as “made-from-scratch-cakes”, and is stuffed with delicious rich flavors.

Let us know how your Duncan Hines black forest layer cake came out! And, you can also have a look on our website for more delicious baked goods recipes to try!

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Lindy Van Schalkwyk

Lindy Van Schalkwyk is a culinary specialist with a background in Advanced Cooking, Advanced Pâtisserie, Media Communications and Nutrition. She has gained invaluable experience in the culinary industry having worked in some of the top restaurants in Africa in 2016 and 2017. Her expertise in nutrition has enabled her to develop recipes for special dietary needs. In 2018, Lindy began working in the Food Media industry, focusing on recipe development, recipe writing, food writing and food styling.

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