Bakery Patisserie Schwarz is well known as a specialist German bakery that has been operating in the Blue Mountains for almost four decades, and with the owner hailing from the edge of the Schwarzwald (the Black Forest) in Germany, it was likely the closest we’d get to an authentic Black Forest cake within driving distance.
Their displays were packed with continental cakes, pastries, pies and bread all made according to traditional recipes. There was an extra charge ($2.00 per item) for dining in, which also included a dollop of whipped cream to accompany the pastry. Not a fan of whipped cream, we ordered takeaway.
Black Forest Cake ($10.50/slice)
From the very first bite, it was clear that this cake was the real deal. The chocolate sponge layers were delightfully light and moist, providing a perfect contrast to the whipped cream and the fruity acidity and gentle crunch of the sour cherries. The presence of Kirschwasser was unmistakable, infusing each bite with the bright flavour of ‘pickled’ sour cherries, without overpowering the cake with an alcoholic taste. The generous chocolate shavings on the cake’s exterior enhanced the chocolate flavour, creating an overall impression of a richly flavoured cake with a wonderfully light texture.
Compared to our previous favourite black forest cake from the Flour Shop, this version boasted a more pronounced sour cherry flavour. Importantly, this version exhibited a more consistent level of moisture throughout which is unlike the hit-or-miss experience we often encountered at the Flour Shop, where slices were sometimes inadequately soaked in Kirschwasser, resulting in dry areas along the cake’s edges.
Cherry Danish ($7.50).
The danish boasted a lightly crisp brioche pastry with a delightful eggy sweetness that complemented the tartness of the cherries, featuring a generous quantity of whole cherries alongside cherry compote. The whole cherries retained their natural bite, avoiding any syrupy sweetness or excessive tartness, although one still contained a pit. We enjoyed the straightforwardness of textures and flavours in this cherry danish, despite our familiarity with danishes typically made with laminated pastry.
Cherry Strudel ($6.90)
The cherry filling in this strudel mirrored that of the danish. However, instead of brioche, it featured the addition of sweet, creamy custard to balance the tartness of the cherries. The pastry was a crisp and airy puff pastry with a subtle savoury undertone.
Garlic Salt Stick ($3.20)
While somewhat doughy in texture and lacking a distinct crust, this stick pleasantly surprised us with its sprinkling of carraway seeds on top, imparting a delightful savoury fennel-like hint to every bite.
Pretzel Stick ($3.20)
The lye exterior provided a satisfying bite and flavour to the stick. However, we anticipated a bit more crunch from the crust but enjoyed it as the interior was also slightly less doughy than the previous stick.
Overall, we were impressed by the unique flavours and textures of the three cherry items, each standing out in its own right. We particularly enjoyed the natural flavour of the cherries present in each item, with the black forest cake being the highlight.
Bakery Patisserie Schwarz is located at Shop 1-2 Renae’s Arcade, 30 Station St, Wentworth Falls NSW 2782.