Black Forest Cake Dip

What is black forest cake?

In order to appreciate how tasty this chocolate dip is, it’s probably good to know what makes black forest cake so delicious in the first place.

Black forest cake is typically made of a rich, spongy chocolate cake mixed with layers (or filling) of sweet cherries (natural or maraschino) and decorated with white frosting or cream.

What ingredients are in this dip?

Before you can whip up this dark chocolate cherry cake dip, you’ll need to collect the following ingredients:

• Maraschino Cherries with Stems: Used for decoration and mixed into the dip as a filling.
• Whipped Cream: Used to mix with the cherry filling and as a topping for the dip.
• Cream Cheese: Creates a creamy base when beaten until fluffy.
• Salted Butter: Adds richness to the dip, combined with cream cheese.
• Dark Chocolate Cake Mix: Gives a deep chocolate flavor and thickens the dip.
• Powdered Sugar: Sweetens the dip and contributes to the smooth texture.
• Milk: Thins the dip to the desired consistency.
• Mini Chocolate Chip Cookies: Served alongside the dip for dipping.

Can you use regular cherries instead?

This recipe uses brightly colored maraschino cherries for flavor and prettiness, but they’re not required. You can totally use natural cherries (or other fruits, such as raspberries) instead.

What type of chocolate cake mix should be used?

You can be creative when picking a flavor of the chocolate cake mix, although you might be limited by what’s available at your local grocery store. To be true to black forest cake, it should be on the darker, richer side as opposed to milk chocolate.

When I made this recipe, I used dark chocolate cake mix, but there’s also:

• Triple Chocolate Cake Mix
• German Chocolate Cake Mix
• Devil’s Food Cake mix
• Swiss Chocolate Cake Mix

DO YOU NEED TO BAKE THE CAKE MIX?

Although it’s rare to become ill from consuming flour, it is considered a raw ingredient, so for proper food safety, the cake mix should be cooked before consumption because it includes flour.

To bake the cake mix: Spread the cake mix out on a baking sheet and bake it for five minutes at 350°F.

Can you use out-of-date cake mix?

In case you’re anything like me, recipes like this strike you on days when you would prefer not to go out and you’re assaulting your cupboards for snack options. And, inevitably, you’ll likely stumble across something that looks “fine” yet has an expired date.

So, when it comes to expired cake mix, what do you do? Can you use it or not?

First off, make sure that the cake mix has been properly stored. This means that it’s been in a cool, dry place, and that either the seal is still intact or that it’s been stored in a sealed container since it was opened.

Once you confirm the storage, check the date printed on the package. Cake mix can often be safe to use beyond the “best by” date, especially if it has been stored properly, though quality may diminish over time. Use your best judgment and check for signs of spoilage.

If you have a product that’s older than this, I would not recommend using it for something like a dip. If you’d like to read more about the concerns of expired cake mix, check out this article.

What to serve with chocolate dip?

After making as many dessert dips as I have, you start to get a feeling for what goes best with these ultra-creamy treats.

Below are some of my best suggestions to serve with this dip. I personally feel it goes best with mini chocolate chip cookies, but any of the following options would be good, too!

• Pretzels: Their salty crunch contrasts beautifully with the dip’s sweetness.
• Nilla Wafers: These light, vanilla-flavored cookies would complement the dip’s rich flavors without overpowering them.
• Graham Crackers: Their honeyed sweetness and crisp texture create a comforting pairing with the creamy dip.
• Ladyfinger Cookies: Their light, airy structure makes them excellent for dipping. They absorb the dip just enough to meld flavors while maintaining their delicate crispness.
• Oreos: The chocolate cookies and cream filling would add a double-chocolate delight when dipped, enhancing the dip’s indulgence.
• Sugar Cookies: Their simple sweetness and buttery flavor would not compete with the dip, letting the black forest cake flavors shine.
• Cubes of Pound Cake: Their dense, buttery texture would complement the dip’s richness, making for a decadent treat.
• Crumbled Waffle Cones: Adding a toasty flavor and a crunchy texture, they would make each bite of the dip feel like an ice cream sundae experience.

This list could go on and on. If you find a new tasty combination for dipping, I’d love to hear about it in the comments!

Can you make this dip in advance?

One of the most common questions I get about dessert dips is whether or not you can make them in advance. I totally understand why someone would want to do this  – it’s way easier to prepare treats for a party the night before than scrambling to get everything done the day of the event.

The good news is that the answer to this question is almost always yes. However, each dip has its own considerations to take into account, depending on the ingredients.

For this dark chocolate dip, the ingredient you want to be careful of is the cake mix. Plus, the whipped cream used in this recipe won’t hold up that far in advance.

When making this dip, you’ll notice that the consistency of the dip will change significantly once the milk is added to the dry mixes. That’s because adding the milk starts the process of the cake mix, absorbing any available moisture. This means that the dip will continue to thicken a bit even after you’re done mixing.

So, considering all of the above, make sure you:

• Keeping an eye on the consistency of the dip before serving. If you find that it’s too thick, try mixing in anywhere from one to three tablespoons of milk. Keep in mind you may need access to an electric mixer to do this.
• Also, hold off on completing any recipe steps involving whipped cream until you’re ready to serve the dip. Specifically, hold off on mixing the chopped cherries with whipped cream as well as decorating the top of the dip with whipped cream. Whipped cream is notorious for “melting” and “falling” over time, so for the best presentation and consistency, save these steps until just before it is eaten.

To refrigerate this dip: Add prepared dip to a bowl with a sealable lid. Secure lid and store in the refrigerator for up to two days. If you’ve already chopped the cherries, store them in a separate sealable container. Before serving, allow dip to soften a bit at room temperature. If dip seems too firm, try mixing a tablespoon of milk (up to a maximum of three tablespoons).

Can you freeze this Dip?

Yes, you totally can! But for best results, only freeze the chocolate cake dip – not the maraschino cherries.

Once prepared, add the dip to a sealable container or freezer bag and store it in the freezer for up to one month.

Before serving, allow dip to thaw in the refrigerator for one to two days, then let dip soften at room temperature about 30 minutes before serving. If dip seems too firm, try mixing in a tablespoon of milk (up to a maximum of three tablespoons).

How long can you leave out a dessert dip?

As with any appetizer, you should keep track of how long it sits out at room temperature.

For most foods, the general rule of thumb is that a perishable item should not be in the “danger zone” for more than two hours. And by “danger zone,” this is usually at or just above room temperature, which is how this dip will be served.

As the party goes on, you can move your dip back to the refrigerator once you get past the two-hour mark. If your guests still want more dip, let it chill for at least 30 minutes before bringing it back out again.

Want to dig deeper into food safety? Take a look at the USDA’s Food Safety Basics, especially the part about the above-mentioned “danger zone.”

Step 1 – In a small bowl, add some chopped maraschino cherries and some whipped cream, then give it a good stir. Use as much whipped cream as you like, but make sure the consistency stays more on the creamy side than the fluffy side. Once mixed, set the bowl aside.

Step 2 – Using a stand mixer (or hand mixer + large bowl), add cream cheese and butter. Whip them together on medium-high speed until ultra creamy.

Step 3 – Stop the mixer and add in chocolate cake mix, powdered sugar, and milk. Turn the mixer back on, but be sure to start off on low speed; this will keep all the powdery ingredients from ending up on your counter. As the powder blends with the cream, slowly increase the mixer speed, getting up to medium. Mix until the dry and the cream ingredients are fully incorporated and smooth.

Step 4 – Serve the dip by adding about 1/2 of the chocolate cake batter mix in a serving bowl of your choice. Create a well in the top of this layer, then pour the creamy cherry mix inside. Finish by scooping in the remaining 1/2 of the chocolate cake dip, then smooth out the top.

Step 5 – Top the dip with a large helping of whipped cream, then decorate with a few stemmed cherries. Place the prepared bowl on a serving tray and surround it with mini chocolate cookies for dipping.

Step 6 – Serve and enjoy!