Easy Black Forest Cake

Prep Time: 0 Minutes

Cook Time: 30 Minutes

Ready In: 30 Minutes

Servings: 12

I was never a fan of black forest cake until I found this recipe in a Southern Living cookbook. The cheesecake filling is to die for!

Ingredients:

1 18.25oz devil's food cake mix

1 3.4oz package instant chocolate pudding mix

3 large eggs

1 1/4 cup milk

1 cup canola oil

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1 1/2 teaspoon chocolate extract

1 teaspoon almond extract

3 1.55oz milk chocolate bars-chopped

1 24.3oz container ready-to-eat cheesecake filling-divided

1 21oz can cherry pie filling

2 cans chocolate fudge frosting

chocolate covered cherries-cut in half(optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Grease and flour two 9 round cake pans. Set aside.
3. Beat cake mix with next 7 ingredients at low speed with an electric mixer for one minute. Incream speed to medium and beat for two minutes more.
4. Fold in chocolate. Pour batter into prepared pans.
5. Bake for 30-32 minutes or until inserted toothpick comes out clean.
6. Cool layers in pans for 10 minutes then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
7. Wrap layers and chill at least one hour or up to 24 hours.
8. Unwrap layers and slice in half horizontally using a serrated knife to make four layers.
9. Place one layer cut side up on a plate. Spread with one-third of cheesecake filling.
10. Top with one-third of pie filling.
11. Repeat procedure with remaining cheesecake and pie filling.
12. Put top layer on cut side down.
13. Spread chocolate frosting on top and sides of cake.
14. Garnish with chocolate cherry halves( if using).
15. Store in refrigerator until ready to serve.
16. Refrigerate leftovers.
17. Suggestion:
18. Instead of chopping up chocolate bars, I simply add a cup of milk chocolate chips to the batter. Semisweet or bittersweet chocolate can also be used.
19. If chocolate extract is hard to find where you live(it is in my neck of the woods), you can use chocolate liqueur or leave it out altogether.

By RecipeOfHealth.com