Stracciatella Cherry Cake – creamy, chocolatey & fruity perfection

Ingredients

For the chocolate sponge base:

• 5 eggs

• 1 pinch of salt

• 150 g sugar

• 130 g flour

• 1 tsp baking powder

• 35 g cocoa powder

For the Stracciatella cream:

• 350 g cherries (jarred, drained)

• 500 g heavy cream

• 30 g sugar

• 2 tsp vanilla paste

• 2 packets cream stabilizer

• 150 g dark chocolate shavings

For glaze & decoration:

• 200 g heavy cream

• 1 packet cream stabilizer

• 350 ml cherry juice (from drained cherries)

• 2 packets red cake glaze

• 150 g dark chocolate shavings

Instructions

Chocolate sponge base:

1. Line springform pan with baking paper, preheat oven to 180 °C top/bottom heat. (Do not grease the pan!)

2. Beat eggs, salt, and sugar for about 10 minutes until very fluffy.

3. Sift flour, baking powder, and cocoa into the mixture and fold in gently.

4. Pour batter into pan, bake for 25 minutes. Let cool completely. (Tip: Can be frozen or stored up to 3 days.)

5. Carefully release from the pan and slice in half horizontally.

   Stracciatella cream:
   6. Drain cherries, reserve juice.
   7. Whip cream with sugar, vanilla paste, and stabilizer until stiff.
   8. Fold in chocolate shavings.

   Assembling the cake:
   9. Spread 5 tbsp cream on the bottom layer, arrange cherries evenly on top.
   10. Cover with the remaining cream and smooth out.
   11. Place second sponge layer on top, chill for 45 minutes.

   Glazing & decoration:
   12. Enclose cake with a cake ring. Whip cream with stabilizer.
   13. Spread half the cream on the surface, freeze for 20 minutes.
   14. Mix cherry juice with cake glaze, bring to boil, pour over cake, chill.
   15. Remove cake ring, coat the sides with remaining cream.
   16. Press chocolate shavings onto the sides, keep refrigerated until serving.

Tips for beginners

• Do not overmix the batter when folding in flour – keeps the sponge airy.

• Cake layers can be made ahead and frozen.

• Spread glaze quickly before it sets.

• Decorate with fresh cherries or white chocolate for a festive look.