Black Forest Cherry Cake

Step 1: Heat oven to 350 degrees

Step 2: Grease and flour two round layer baking pan, 9 or 8 inches

Step 3: In a chilled bowl beat cream until stiff

Step 4: Beat eggs until thick and lemon coloured

Step 5: Fold eggs and vanilla into whipped cream

Step 6: Stir together dry ingredients and gently fold into whipped cream mixture until blended

Step 7: Pour into pans

Step 8: Bake 30-35 min or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Set aside to cool

Step 9: To make filling combine cornstarch and sugar in a saucepan

Step 10: Add enough water to reserved syrup to make 1 cup, add to cornstarch and mix well

Step 11: Cook, stirring constantly until mixture thickens and boils

Step 12: Boil and stir 1 minute

Step 13: Cool to lukewarm

Step 14: Stir in brandy

Step 15: Dip 36 cherries in mixture, then set aside

Step 16: Cut remaining cherries into quarters and add to mixture, stiring

Step 17: Chill thoroughly

Step 18: Topping: beat cream and icing sugar until stiff

Step 19: To assemble, level cake layers and place one layer down on serving plate

Step 20: Pipe a thin rim around the bottom layer with whipped cream, the fill with cherry mixture. Top with second layer

Step 21: Frost tops and sides with whipped cream

Step 22: Gently press grated chocolate into the sides of the cake

Step 23: Pipe a border of whipped cream around the top of the cake, and the starting from the center pipe spokes to outline individual portions

Step 24: Place reserved cherries in each outlined portion