The perfect indulgent but healthy dessert: this No-bake Vegan Black Forest Cake is surprisingly easy to make but looks and tastes incredible!
I first shared the recipe for this No-Bake Vegan Black Forest Cake exclusively with my newsletter subscribers several months ago.
It was a recipe I was really pleased with (I'm obsessed with anything Black Forest) and I had some great feedback, so decided I couldn't just leave it to languish in peoples' inboxes.
A few weeks later, I posted it on Instagram. And the post EXPLODED. I've never had so much interest in one post before, and it was even featured by Best of Vegan.
Suffice to say, it's a recipe you guys seem to love, and that makes me so happy because I love it too!
This Vegan Black Forest cake quickly became my most popular Instagram post ever, and much to my surprise gained me quite a few new followers. However, I still felt that the recipe deserved a permanent home, so am finally sharing it with you here on the blog!
If you love traditional Black Forest Gateau, why not give this no-bake version a try? The flavour combination of chocolate, cherry and cream is one of my all-time favourites, and I hope you'll feel the same way after trying it.
NO-BAKE VEGAN BLACK FOREST CAKE - THE RECIPE
This recipe combines the traditional Black Forest flavours of cherry, chocolate and cream to create a delicious dessert, but there are differences from the original.
No bake - The most obvious being that this is, essentially, a raw cake (except for the lightly cooked cherry filling). Whilst it is delicious (really, I'm not just saying that!), it naturally tastes a bit different to a baked cake because of this, and is somewhat more dense.
Healthy & filling - Raw cakes are also very nutrient-dense and high in protein so you'll likely find that this cake is very filling. Personally, I love desserts like this because I don't ever get a sugar crash after eating them.
You may want to make your portions slightly smaller for this reason though. You'll probably find you need less to feel satisfied!
FAQS
Not exactly! Because the base is made from nuts, dates and cacao, it tastes more like a really chocolatey energy ball or raw brownie. Lots of nutritious ingredients but with a definite indulgent feel.
Yes! The cake base itself is quite solid, so if you don't do this, as soon as you cut into it the cake base will squash the cherry/cream filling down and it'll splurge out the side! The fresh cherry pieces add a bit of structure to the cake to stop this happening.
Black Forest Gateau takes its name from the sour cherries of the Black Forest in Germany. A kirsch alcohol made from these cherries was used in a chocolate layer cake decorated with cherries and whipped cream, and was popularized in Germany and Switzerland. For a more in depth explanation - check out this article.
TIPS & SUBSTITUTIONS
Cherry jam - If making the cherry filling is too much of a time commitment, you can substitute your favourite cherry jam instead, or just use fresh cherries.
Cherries - You can also substitute berries in this recipe if you don't have any cherries, just add a bit more maple syrup to ensure the berries are sweet enough.
Walnuts - For the cake base, feel free to use a mix of sunflower seeds and walnuts if you want to make it more cost-effective.
2 cups walnuts and 1 cup sunflower seeds works well as a substitute - I wouldn't use any more sunflower seeds than this as they can have a fairly pronounced taste. If you do this, you might need to add a little water to make the mixture stick together.
Cream filling - If you're struggling with making the cream filling, just follow my step-by-step guide on how to make coconut whipped cream here.
LOVE NO-BAKE DESSERT RECIPES?
Why not try my Raw Walnut Brownies, No Bake Snickers Bars, Vegan Creme Eggs or my 6-Ingredient Granola Bars?
No-Bake Vegan Black Forest Cake (gluten-free)
Ingredients
Cherry Filling (or use my cherry compote)
- 1½ cups cherries, halved and with stones removed
- 2 teaspoon chia seeds
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup (optional)
Raw Cake
- 3 cups walnuts (see note below for substitutions)
- 16 small dates
- ½ cup raw cacao powder
- ½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- 3 tablespoon coconut oil
- Pinch of salt
Cream (or use my coconut whipped cream)
- 1 492ml can full fat coconut milk (stored in the fridge overnight)
Decoration
- 8 squares your favourite dark chocolate, grated or roughly chopped with a knife
- 12 fresh cherries, halved
Instructions
To make cherry filling
- Add the 1½ cups cherries to a small saucepan and simmer on a medium-low heat for about 15 minutes until they have partially broken down.
- Place in a blender and blend for 10 seconds or until a smooth consistency is achieved.
- Pour into a bowl and stir in the chia seeds and maple syrup (if using).
- Allow the mixture to cool, then store it in the fridge for one hour to firm up.
To make the cake
- Line two 5-6" round cake tins with baking parchment. If you don't have two cake tins of this size, you can line two similar-sized square or rectangular plastic food containers with baking parchment for a square cake.
- Place all ingredients into a food processor and blend until a sticky dough forms.
- (If you don't have a food processor, add the walnuts to a blender and process until they form a flour. Remove from the blender and blend the dates the same way until they are broken into small pieces. Add the walnut flour, date pieces and all other cake ingredients to a large bowl and mix together with your hands until a dough forms.)
- Divide the dough between the two cake tins and press it down flat with your fingers until smooth.
- Put the cake tins in the freezer for 30 minutes to set.
To make the cream
- Remove the can of coconut milk from the fridge and open it. Scrape out the hardened coconut cream that has solidified in the top half of the can into a large bowl. (The leftover coconut water isn't needed for this recipe. You can use it in smoothies or on cereal, or just drink it!)
- Using an electric whisk, beat the cream for 3-5 minutes, until it is lump-free and fluffy. It should have roughly the same consistency as whipped cream. Store in the fridge until needed to keep the cream firm.
To assemble
- Once the cherry filling has firmed up and cakes have set, remove them from the fridge and freezer. Remove the cakes from their tins, being careful not to break them.
- Add a thick layer of the cherry filling (about half the amount) to the top of one cake, followed by a layer of coconut cream (about half the cream).
- Slice 6 of your decorative set-aside cherry halves into quarters, and scatter evenly over the cream (this will help stop the cream/jam from splurging out of the cake when you cut it later - it gives it a bit more structural integrity!).
- Sandwich the other cake on top of this, and repeat the process of adding a layer of cherry filling and cream to the top.
- Decorate with the remaining cherry halves and grated dark chocolate, and serve immediately!
- (If you find this cake tricky to slice, wait a few minutes for the layers to soften slightly. The fillings are naturally pretty messy and will splurge out as your slice it - embrace this! It's part of the fun.)
Notes
If you’ve tried this recipe, please leave a comment or tip for others below. I'd love to know how you’ve made it your own!
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Luke
This cake is sooo good!
Elizabeth
Thank you so much! It's an absolute all-time favourite of mine. 🙂
Ronak Mehta
I tried out cake with the above recipe. The cake was very soft and tasty. Thank you.
Elizabeth
That's great Ronak! Thanks so much for your comment. It's a favourite recipe of mine so I'm really glad it worked out for you. 🙂
Ashley
Is this the same recipe from Addicted to Dates?
Elizabeth
Hi Ashley, this is a completely original recipe! (It's adapted from my Raw Walnut Brownies - https://vancouverwithlove.com/sweetthings/raw-walnut-brownies-vegan-gf/). From what I can see, Christina's recipe on Addicted to Dates is substantially different. 🙂
Andrew Paul
Thank you for this wonderful recipe dear , i definitely prepare this at home.
Elizabeth
I'm so glad you like it! Really hope you try it. 🙂
Megan
Hi Elizabeth, how long will this cake keep in the fridge? I'm making it for a birthday and would like to make it a couple of days before
Elizabeth
Hi Megan, I think that should be absolutely fine. I've kept it in the fridge for up to 4 days before. Just make sure it's well covered!
Kaylee
Can I use frozen cherries?
Elizabeth
It definitely works better with fresh as they have less water in, but feel free to try with frozen. Just drain the first!
Diana
The recipe is spectacular! The flavours are very rich and balanced. I used frozen sour cherries instead of cherries since it's not their season right now and it still turned out great and everyone loved it.
Elizabeth
This made my day! I LOVE this cake and it doesn't get enough recipe love, so I'm really happy you found the recipe and enjoyed it so much. 🙂 Thank you!