Is kirsch the same as cherry brandy?

kah22

It's a long time since I made one but I've been asked to do a Black Forest Gateau for a friend's 60 th birthday. I've yet to decide whether I'll go with The Gordon Ramsay Recipe OR The Eric Lanlard Reciipe

The all call for Kirsch. I have Cherry Brandy is that the same thing? I'm a non drinker so don't really know the difference

Please feel free to offer your advice on the Black Forest Gateau

Many thanks

Kevin

bouicca21

Last time I made it I used dark rum and mixed with the syrup from the jar of morello cherries.

Essentially if you make it right I.e. Don't stint on the rest of the ingredients, it will be so delicious that the detail about whether it's kirsch, cherry brandy, brandy or rum, just won't matter.

jackyann

No, kirsch is a spirit, distilled from cherries, cherry brandy comes from marinading cherries in brandy, and sweetening it.

Having said that, the kirsch is not being used in the main body of cooking where alcohol / sugar content can affect the finished result.

It is just being used to flavour the cream. I would whip the cream to about 2/3 of the way, then add the flavourings, alcohol and sweetenings, tasting and adjusting as you go. Myself, I would find using both cherry brandy and sugar much too sweet. I certainly wouldn't buy a bottle of either unless you are going to use it for something else. I still have some of my mother's collection of miniatures, very useful for these odd occasions!
Bouicaa's idea sounds nice, and I think brandy + syrup would be good. If very unsure, I'd buy an extra small pot of cream to experiment with and some sponge fingers or brandy snaps to eat it with!

bouicca21

When I made it the rum and syrup were used on the bottom layer of cake; I left the cream au naturel, otherwise it got too sickly.