Black Forest Cake

INGREDIENTS

1 cup

unsweetened cocoa powder

2 cups

cake flour

2 cups

sugar

2 cups

buttermilk

2 tsp

baking powder

1/2 tsp

baking soda

1 tsp

salt

1/2 cup

vegetable oil

1/4 cup

semisweet or dark chocolate chips, melted

large eggs

3 cups

heavy whipping cream

12 oz

jar Morello (sour) cherries (My jar was 24.7 oz/700g total weight, 12 oz/340 g drained weight)

5 1/2 tbsp

cherry liquor (kirsch) (*see notes)

1/2 cup

powdered sugar

2 tbsp

cherry juice (from the jar)

6 oz

grated dark chocolate

fresh cherries for garnish (optional)