It’s my birthday. I want Black Forest Gateau.

[Blimeyorange]

I want rich dark chocolate sponge. I want cherries soaked in kirsch. I want proper whipped cream.

Where can I buy such a dream concoction? Supermarket versions are lightweight.

The worst BFG I've ever had was actually in the Black Forest. Even worse than Iceland. It was a cafe near Germany's highest waterfall, which was also disappointing.
And don't get me started on the world's largest cuckoo clock.
Elsewhere in Germany the Schwarzwäldertorte is usually excellent.

The BFG recipe in the Prawn Cocktail Years cookbook is simply epic. Quite a slog to make but three layers of boozy goodness.

Not to brag, but I make an amazing Black Forest Gateau I also do cupcake versions and a trifle one at Christmas. As a 70's child it's my favourite !

Sorry to hear you’ve been diagnosed as coeliac - there are loads of gluten free cake recipes out there though. This BFG cake doesn’t have gluten in (if you leave out the optional pastry ?! layer) https://www.theguardian.com/food/2025/aug/31/how-to-make-black-forest-gateau-recipe-felicity-cloake

edited to say, if you have a recipe you love you can probably convert it to gluten free - the loopy whisk website has lots of tips on how to do this

The PV one is not nice! Very artificial tasting. Like PP said Beefeater do a really good one! I was very surprised by how good it is! I enjoyed it so much that I had a slice after my breakfast when staying in an attached Premier Inn (the restaurant manager remembered I'd enjoyed it the night before and slipped me a slice with my coffee 😁)

Use gluten free flour in the recipe. There's loads of GF options these days

Hope you have a lovely birthday Z@Blimeyorange

My best friend recommended this to me recently.

It’s my DHs birthday next week and Black Forest is his favourite so I shall be buying one for us then! :)M&S

Black forest gateau is one of my oldest and most enduring loves. I must try the PV one and the Cook one!

The Gu black forest puds are a pretty nice second-best to the real thing. Sweet, but better than some of their others such are overly so.

My mum made an amazing BFG, the trick is to soak the the sponge layers, not the cherries. She also used one shot glass of kirsch per slice, so for a twelve slice cake, twelve shot glasses.
Disclaimer: I grew up in Germany, bordering the Black Forest

We have a Cook nearby so I will pop there to get their version.

I think it’s the wrong time of year as there is a bit more choice in the winter.

Honestly, if you want a good black forest gateaux, find a good recipe and make one - shop bought is never going to top a freshly baked cake!

Oh OP I wanted this a few years ago, am an OK baker so tried but it turned out rubbish! Report back if you find a good one and/or does anyone have a decent recipe?!

I've offered my husband a BFG for his birthday just now so any recipes also gratefully accepted

I am overly invested in your pursuit of the perfect BFG.
Happy Birthday OP.

Next year, consider what cake you want before the big day so you can save yourself the wild goose chase!

Delia recipe, Return to the Black Forest, is an easy take on it as it's a roulade.

I'd make a Devils Food Cake recipe.and fill it with cherries and cream. I've never tasted a mass-produced cake that's as nice as homemade. As someone else said a deconstructed version would be easy.

My Mum used the get the frozen Sainsbury's version back in the 80s (or maybe late 70s). We thought we were terribly sophisticated!

Bfg is my dream cake and I've been totally unsuccessful at finding a good one. Cake box is okay, but no alcohol in it. Pv for me was dry and very underwhelming. Needs to be chocolatey, boozy and creamy.I think I'll have to go to Germany or try making my own.

Looks amazing! So many talented bakers on MN, of whom I’m not one, sadly. I can cope with a basic cake, but nothing fancy!

I’ve had the Pat Val Black Forest gateau in the past and thought it insufficiently chocolatey and not even a bit boozy. Of the shop bought options, I’d be inclined to try the Cook one as I’ve had pretty good cake from there before.

Really want Black Forest gateau now if only to see whether it matches my 1970s memories.

Happy birthday!

Didn't Egg Free Cakebox do a nice one for a while.

We were searching the supermarkets a few months back as our uncle said he fancied one. The only place we saw one was a frozen one in M&S, but it didn't look like the bfg we know and love. Uncle is a staunch traditionalist so we didn't bother.😉

This one looks good!

https://www.sainsburysmagazine.co.uk/recipes/desserts/proper-black-forest-gateau

I make one for my birthday, or my yds birthday every year and it is dairy, cocoa and gluten free! It's a challenge but it is delicious. I use the recipe above and use replacements for the cream, butter etc and use carob instead of cocoa powder.
I really would love a slice of that Cooks ones though as it looks delicious, but sadly no longer available