We headed for learning the very fine art of baking a black forest cake. At the ‘Cafe am Eck' in Baiersbronn we learned everything about the cake from master confectioner Georg Klumpp.
We were for once allowed to be also present at the preparations the day before and therefore had the chance to experience the making of a black forest cake from the very beginning.
It was incredibly interesting to be able to view the process how such a cake is produced. It is very warm in the bakehouse and there are machines that make some noise. And you also have to lift one or the other kilo… So it is not an easy job.
We were allowed to try the separate steps ourselves. And many things are not that easy like making a piping bag out of parchment paper so that it has a very fine point and does not leak. Or how to fold paper around a cake ring so that it stays in place itself. Swabian origami so to say… Looks easy but needs a lot of training.
The next day we went to the actual baking class. There the prepared sponge bake case from the day before. You cannot do it the same day as the sponge bake case must cool over night.
Master confectioner Georg Klumpp is a born-and-bred Swabian – sometimes we wished for subtitles… But he lets you partake in his knowledge. The recipe for the cake goes back to his grandmother and he uses it until today.
We all had so much fun. Georg Klumpp showed us so many tricks and had a lot of tipps for us. You just wanted to try it yourself at home.
Also in this public baking class we could try a lot of movements like cutting the sponge bake case in three layers or dress the cake with cream. Each participant had a try. Okay – the cake afterwards looked accordingly. But never mind! Of course we were allowed to taste one important ingredience: The Kirschwasser!
Each step in the progress comes with a story or anecdote. Thus the afternoon goes quickly.
At the end we all had a nice cup of coffee and a slice of our (!) black forest cake! It tasted twice as good.
Each participant gets the recipe and a certificate, which allows to ‘taste and judge black forest cake professionally'. There! We got a license to eat cake!
