It’s National Black Forest Cake Day so I decided it was time to update this roundup of gluten-free Black Forest Cake recipes (and other chocolate cherry creations) from my gfe contributors. The new recipes include Easy Flourless Black Forest Cake from Scratch, The Original Black Forest Cake (a recipe that takes a shortcut with a gluten-free chocolate cake mix), Black Forest Trifle, Grain-Free Black Forest Tartlets, and Rich Black Forest Skillet Crisp. But you’re going to want to take a look at all these delicious creations!
If you’re not familiar with Black Forest Cake, here’s one dictionary definition below. It’s a definition that encompasses the original version and what Black Forest cake has become today.
Noun, German Cookery, rich chocolate cake, sometimes Kirsch flavored, with a cream filling, containing and often decorated with candied or sour cherries.
![Love the chocolate cherry combination? Then you'll really love these Gluten-Free Black Forest Cake recipes and other chocolate cherrt desserts! There are over 40! [featured on GlutenFreeEasily.com]](https://glutenfreeeasily.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/40-Gluten-Free-Black-Forest-Chocolate-Cherry-Desserts-Gluten-Free-Easily.jpg "Love the chocolate cherry combination? Then you'll really love these Gluten-Free Black Forest Cake recipes and other chocolate cherrt desserts! There are over 40! [featured on GlutenFreeEasily.com]")
Going beyond the dictionary entry, I decided to check out several classic Black Forest Cake recipes and read a bit more about this much loved cake.
I came across one recipe that was created by a native of Germany. The recipe creator said that the original Black Forest cake is not meant to be very sweet, but is instead a dessert with deep rich flavors.
She noted that this dessert, with its alcoholic factor from Kirsch, is intended for adults. She was appalled at the use of cherry pie filling in any Black Forest recipe and how sweet many versions of Black Forest Cake are today.
Admittedly, I think I’m one who likes all kinds of Black Forest recipes as well as recipes that simply feature the always terrific chocolate-cherry combination—even when cherry pie filling is involved. I hope you are, too, because here are over 40 gluten-free Black Forest cake and chocolate cherry dessert recipes for you!
Gluten-Free Black Forest Cake Recipes
~ Easy Flourless Black Forest Cake from Faithfully Gluten Free ~ gluten free, vegetarian
![Easy Flourless Black Forest Cake. One of 40 gluten-free black forest and chocolate-cherry recipes featured on gfe. [on GlutenFreeEasily.com]](https://glutenfreeeasily.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Flourless-Black-Forest-Cake-Gluten-Free-Photo.jpg "Easy Flourless Black Forest Cake. One of 40 gluten-free black forest and chocolate-cherry recipes featured on gfe. [on GlutenFreeEasily.com]")
Easy Flourless Black Forest Cake from Faithfully Gluten Free
Grain-Free Black Forest Cupcakes from Against All Grain
~ Grain-Free Black Forest Tartlets from Tasty Yummies ~ gluten free, grain free, dairy free, egg free, vegan
![Grain-Free Black Forest Tartlets. One of 40 gluten-free black forest or chocolate cherry recipes featured on gfe. [on GlutenFreeEasily.com]](https://glutenfreeeasily.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Grain-Free-Black-Forest-Tartlets.jpg)
Grain-Free Black Forest Tartlets from Tasty Yummies
Nontraditional Ways to Get Your Gluten-Free Black Forest Fix
~ Black Forest Cheesecake Brownies from Faithfully Gluten Free ~ gluten free, vegetarian
Gluten-Free Black Forest Cheesecake Brownies from Faithfully Gluten Free
~ Black Forest Cookie Dough Truffles from Ricki Heller ~ gluten free, dairy free, egg free, vegan
Gluten-Free Black Forest Cookie Dough Truffles from Ricki Heller
~ Black Forest Blender Ice Cream from Chocolate-Covered Katie ~ gluten free (be sure to choose special dark cocoa option, which is the gluten-free option) , dairy free, egg free, sugar free, vegan
Black Forest Ice Cream from Chocolate-Covered Katie
~ Black Forest Pancakes from The Big Man’s World ~ gluten free, vegetarian, with dairy-free, vegan option
Gluten-Free Black Forest Pancakes from The Big Man’s World
~ Black Forest Smoothie from Laura’s Gluten-Free Pantry ~ gluten free, egg free, with dairy-free, refined sugar-free, vegan options
Black Forest Smoothie from Laura’s Gluten-Free Pantry
~ Black Forest Trifle from Making It Milk Free ~ gluten free, dairy free, vegetarian
![Black Forest Trifle from Making It Milk Free. One of 40+ black forest and chocolate cherry recipes featured on gfe. [on GlutenFreeEasily.com]](https://glutenfreeeasily.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Black-Forest-Cake-Trifle-Gluten-Free-Making-It-Milk-Free-Photo.jpg)
Black Forest Trifle from Making It Milk Free
~ Black Forest Pie from Lynn’s Kitchen Adventures ~ gluten free (use gluten-free option), vegetarian
~ Chocolate Cherry Cupcakes with Cherry Mash Surprise with Chocolate Ganache and Kirsch Cherries from In Johnna’s Kitchen ~ gluten free, vegetarian
Chocolate Cherry Cupcakes with Chocolate Ganache and Kirsch Cherries from In Johnna’s Kitchen
More Gluten-Free Chocolate Cherry Dessert Love
~ Cashew Cherry Chocolate Energy Snack Bars from Celiac Family ~ gluten free, egg free, with dairy-free, vegan options
Gluten-Free Cashew Cherry Chocolate Snack Bars from Celiac Family
~ Cheerful Cherry Chocolate Chip Shake from Go Dairy Free ~ gluten free, dairy free, egg free, vegan, with refined sugar-free, and nut-free options
Gluten-Free Vegan Cherry Chocolate Chip Shake Go Dairy Free
~ Cherry Chocolate No-Bake Donut Holes from In Johnna’s Kitchen ~ gluten free, grain free, dairy free, egg free, vegan, paleo
Gluten-Free, Vegan & Paleo Chocolate Cherry No-Bake Donut Holes from In Johnna’s Kitchen
~ Chewy Chocolate Cherry Cookies from Tasty Eats at Home ~ gluten free, grain free, dairy free, egg free, refined sugar free, vegan, paleo
Paleo and Vegan Chocolate Cherry Cookies from Tasty Eats At Home
~ Chocolate Black Cherry Tart from Unconventional Baker ~ gluten free, grain free, dairy free, egg free, refined sugar free, vegan, paleo, primal
Paleo & Vegan Dark Chocolate Cherry Tart from Unconventional Baker
~ Chocolate Cherry Cashew Granola Bars (Homemade Kind Bars) from Love & Zest via Go Dairy Free ~ gluten free, dairy free, egg free, vegan
Gluten-Free & Vegan Cherry Chocolate Cashew (Homemade Kind Bars) from Go Dairy Free
~ Chocolate Cherry Milkshake from Gluten Free Easily ~ gluten free, grain free, dairy free, egg free, sugar free, vegan, raw, paleo, primal
Paleo & Vegan Chocolate Cherry Milkshake from Gluten Free Easily
~ Chocolate Chip Cherry Garcia Frozen Yogurt from Chocolate-Covered Katie ~ gluten free, egg free, with dairy free, refined sugar-free, vegan options
Cherry Garcia Frozen Yogurt from Chocolate-Covered Katie
~ Chocolate-Covered Cherries from Chocolate-Covered Katie ~ gluten free, grain free, dairy free, egg free, vegan, with refined sugar-free, paleo options
Paleo & Vegan Chocolate-Covered Cherries from Chocolate-Covered Katie
~ Chocolate-Covered Cherries from Elana’s Pantry ~ gluten free, grain free, dairy free, egg free, with vegan, refined sugar-free, paleo options
Gluten-Free Chocolate-Covered Cherries from Elana’s Pantry
~ Chocolate-Covered Cherries from A Girl Worth Saving ~ gluten free, grain free, dairy free, egg free, vegetarian, paleo, primal
Paleo Chocolate-Covered Cherries from A Girl Worth Saving
~ Chocolate-Covered Cherries from Tasty Eats At Home ~ gluten free, egg free, vegetarian, with dairy-free, vegan options
Gluten-Free Chocolate-Covered Cherries from Tasty Eats At Home
~ Chocolate-Covered Cherry Cookies from Real Everything ~ gluten free, grain free, dairy free, egg free, vegetarian, paleo, primal, with vegan option
Paleo Chocolate-Covered Cherry Cookies from Real Everything
~ Dark Chocolate Cherry Cookie Dough Bites from Sarah Bakes Gluten-Free ~ gluten free, dairy free, egg free, refined sugar free, vegan
Gluten-Free Vegan Dark Chocolate Cherry Cookie Dough Bites from Sarah Bakes Gluten-Free
~ Dark Chocolate Cherry Galette from Spabettie ~ gluten free, dairy free, egg free, vegan
Gluten-Free Vegan Dark Chocolate Cherry Galette from Spabettie
~ Dark Chocolate Cherry Granola Bars from Lynn’s Kitchen Adventures ~ gluten free (be sure to follow all gluten-free options, including using gluten-free granola), egg free, vegetarian
Gluten-Free Dark Chocolate Cherry Granola Bars from Lynn’s Kitchen Adventures
~ Double Chocolate Cherry Cookies from Elana’s Pantry ~ gluten free, grain free, dairy free, egg free, vegan
Gluten-Free & Vegan Double Chocolate Cherry Cookies from Elana’s Pantry
~ Double Chocolate Cherry Ice Cream from Spabettie ~ gluten free, dairy free, egg free, vegan
Gluten-Free Vegan Double Chocolate Cherry Ice Cream from Spabettie
~ Paleo Chocolate Cherry Muffins from Against All Grain ~ gluten free, grain free, dairy free, refined sugar free, vegetarian, paleo, primal
Paleo Chocolate Cherry Muffins from Against All Grain
~ Rich Black Forest Skillet Crisp from Real Food, Really Fast via Spabettie ~ gluten free (use gluten-free options), dairy free, egg free, vegan
![Rich Black Forest Skillet Crisp from Real Food, Real Fast via Hannah Kaminsky. One of 40+ gluten-free black forest and chocolate cherry recipes featured on gfe. [on GlutenFreeEasily.com]](https://glutenfreeeasily.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Rich-Black-Forest-Skillet-Crisp-@spabettie.jpg "Rich Black Forest Skillet Crisp from Real Food, Real Fast via Hannah Kaminsky. One of 40+ gluten-free black forest and chocolate cherry recipes featured on gfe. [on GlutenFreeEasily.com]")
Rich Black Forest Skillet Crisp via Spabettie
Gluten-Free Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake from A Year of Slow Cooking
~ Triple Chocolate Cherry Pie from The Mommy Bowl ~ gluten free, grain free, dairy free, egg free, vegan
Gluten-Free Vegan Triple Chocolate Cherry Pie from The Mommy Bowl
Originally published March 29, 2015; updated December 10, 2022March 28, 2024.
Sharon @ What The Fork Food Blog says
Thanks for including my overnight oats Shirley!
Shirley says
Sharon–You are welcome, of course. I so love the photos of those oats! As I think Audrey of Unconventional Baker said, they are simply brilliant! 🙂
Shirley
Angela Sommers says
Shirley!!! How did you know this is my most favorite of them all? After all, I grew up “over there” and it was one of my mom’s favorite things to bake!
It’s true, in Europe its meant to be a lot less sweet and much more chocolaty and cherry-y 🙂 and of course, alcohol-y.
However, that said, I have not know to turn down any Black Forest type cake/dessert, ever – I am an equal opportunity Black Forest Cherry cake eater 😉
Thanks so much for making my day!
Lots’ of love!
Shirley says
Hi Angela–So good to see you, dear! Thanks so much for sharing your personal connection to Black Forest cakes and I’m so happy to make your day with this roundup! Hehe on “alcohol-y.” I know that they say that alcohol so often is rendered “ineffective” during baking and caking, but it sounds like that’s not the case with this recipe. 😉 I’m glad you’re not a Black Forest snob! LOL
xoxo,
Shirley
Alisa @ Go Dairy Free says
I really shouldn’t be looking at this before noon! Thanks so much for including me Shirley and I’m so honored to see one of my photos in the collage!
Shirley says
Hehe. I understand! That Cheerful Cherry Chocolate Chip Shake was just so photogenic that I had to include it. 🙂
Shirley
Cassidy @ Cassidy's Craveable Creations says
What a yummy looking roundup Shirley! I’m featuring it this week at Gluten Free Wednesdays 🙂
Shirley says
Hi Cassidy–Thanks on both counts! I’m always tickled to get a feature on Cassidy’s Craveable Creations for Gluten-Free Wednesdays! 🙂
Shirley