There are many milestones to celebrate throughout the course of a year—from birthdays and anniversaries to holidays and housewarmings— and the Black Forest Cake from Old Europe can take center stage at all of them. 

The origins of the cake stretch back centuries to the Black Forest in Germany, a mountainous region near the border with France where cherry trees thrive. Locals there created a dessert of cooked cherries and rich cream, topped with a brandy made from morello cherries, and this delighltful treat has become the cherished Black Forest cake we enjoy today. 

The cake is similar to other European desserts in that it tends to be less sweet than its American counterparts. It has a light texture from three layers of a well-crafted chocolate sponge, filled with creamy layers of chocolate ganache and freshly whipped cream, with cherries and a hint of kirsch (a clear spirit made from distilling cherries). 

Founded in 1994, Old Europe is one of Asheville’s most cherished dessert shops, with a menu of cakes, pastries and custom sweet treat creations. But the Black Forest Cake—or Black Forest Gateau—is a particularly beloved treat for owner Melinda Vetro, who immigrated to the U.S. from Hungary in the early 1990s. 

“The cake has a symphony of textures and flavors,” says Old Europe manager Abby Schrupp, “and always brings people back for more.”