Black Forest Cake

Germany’s Black Forest area is famous for its cherries and Kirsch, the cherry liqueur which forms a key ingredient in this cake.

It’s common to see it called a gateau instead – a word used to describe richer, pudding-like cakes – thanks to its layers of chocolate sponge, whipped cream and chocolate garnishing.

Variations of it pop up in the Alpine areas of nearby countries Austria, Italy and Switzerland, which might support the supposed history of the cake going back hundreds of years.

Josef Keller laid claim to inventing it in the city of Bonn in 1915, but it didn’t pop up in cookbooks until 1930.