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White Forest Cake

A delightful and airy cake with layers of fluffy white cake, tangy cherries, and stabilized whipped cream, perfect for any celebration.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 24 minutes
Total Time 2 hours
Servings: 12 servings
Course: Cake, Dessert
Cuisine: German
Calories: 370

Ingredients
  

For the Cake
  • 2 ¾ cups cake flour Use high-quality cake flour for best results
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 ½ cups granulated sugar
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature Softened butter is crucial for a fluffy texture
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon almond extract Adds a lovely depth
  • 5 large egg whites, room temperature
  • 1 cup whole milk, room temperature Ensure all dairy ingredients are at room temp for even mixing
For the Whipped Cream
  • 2 ounces cream cheese, softened For stability in whipped cream
  • ½ cup granulated sugar For whipped cream
  • 2 cups heavy whipping cream
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract For whipped cream
  • 1 pinch kosher salt For whipped cream
For Decoration
  • 1 can cherry pie filling, divided High-quality cherries elevate your cake
  • 4 ounces white chocolate bar, made into curls, divided
  • 1 cup fresh cherries For garnish (optional)

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line the bottoms of three 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper and spray with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the cake flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
Mixing
  1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the sugar, butter, vanilla extract, and almond extract on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.
  2. With the mixer on low, gradually add the egg whites, one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
  3. Alternately add in the flour mixture and milk until just combined. Be gentle to avoid deflating the batter.
Baking
  1. Distribute the batter evenly into the prepared pans and bake for 22-24 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow cooling completely on a wire rack.
  2. While cakes are cooling, chill your mixing bowl and whisk attachment in the freezer for about 15 minutes to prepare for the whipped cream.
Whipping Cream
  1. In the chilled bowl, mix cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Gradually add the heavy cream while mixing, then increase the speed to medium until soft peaks form.
  2. Once stiff peaks form, add vanilla and salt, mixing carefully.
Assembly
  1. Place one cake layer on a serving plate, generously top with stabilized whipped cream and white chocolate curls, and add a circle of cherry pie filling on top. Repeat with the second layer.
  2. Place the last layer on top, covering with whipped cream and adding more cherry filling in the center. Frost the sides as desired.
  3. Finish with more white chocolate curls and fresh cherries if you like.

Notes

For a professional touch, use a bench scraper to smooth the sides of your cake for perfect edges. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days or freeze for up to a month.