A little reason to celebrate
National Black Forest Cake Day
Food · March 28
A food day for Black Forest cake, the layered chocolate sponge filled with cherries and whipped cream and finished with chocolate shavings.
National Black Forest Cake Day falls on Sunday, March 28, 2027. That is 152 days away.
Black Forest cake is a layered chocolate cake built from three things that get along unusually well: chocolate sponge, whipped cream and cherries. The top is usually crowned with more cream, a ring of whole cherries and a scatter of chocolate shavings.
The name comes from the Black Forest region of southwestern Germany, which is known for its cherries and for kirsch, a clear brandy distilled from them. In the traditional German version, the sponge layers are soaked with kirsch before the cream goes on. Many American bakeries leave the brandy out or swap in cherry syrup, so the cake you find in a grocery store case may taste milder and sweeter than its namesake.
A good slice is soft rather than dense. The cream keeps it light, the cherries add a tart edge, and the chocolate holds it all together without taking over. It is a cake that slumps a little on the plate, which is part of its charm and also why it tends to be served cold.
People mark the day by baking one at home, picking up a slice from a local bakery, or making a shortcut version with a boxed chocolate cake, canned cherries and a tub of whipped cream. Home bakers often say the hardest part is the shavings, which come out best when a vegetable peeler meets a bar of chocolate at room temperature.
Ways to celebrate
- Bake a Black Forest cake using chocolate sponge, cherries and whipped cream.
- Look for a slice at a neighborhood bakery or café.
- Try making chocolate curls with a vegetable peeler and a chocolate bar.
- Share a cake with coworkers or neighbors.
- Compare a kirsch-soaked version with an alcohol-free one.
Dates
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Saturday, March 28 |
| 2027 | Sunday, March 28 |
| 2028 | Tuesday, March 28 |
| 2029 | Wednesday, March 28 |
| 2030 | Thursday, March 28 |
Also on March 28
- Easter
- Respect Your Cat Day
- National Something on a Stick Day
- National Hot Tub Day
- Weed Appreciation Day
Categories: Food days