Krampus Favorite Dessert is Black Forest Cake

With a sinister horned head, shaggy black and gray frightening features, of course Krampus favorite dessert is rich dark Black Forest Cake with red jam. 

The Krampus is a somewhat playfully sinister traditional holiday mythical creature in German folklore. It serves as a moral lesson for children, emphasizing good behavior just as many African folktales do.

The Krampus is a horned, shaggy black and gray figure with a sinister appearance of raggedy chains, teeth, long fangs, claws, and giant goat horns. With all of these outlandish features, of course Krampus favorite dessert is rich dark Black Forest Cake. 

Krampus is a counterpart to Saint Nicholas or Santa Claus. While Saint Nicholas rewards good children with gifts, or a lump of coal, the Krampus punishes naughty children by carrying sacks to take them away.

Namibia is a former German colony that retains many German cultural traditions, including the Krampus holiday custom. Krampusnacht or Krampus Night occurs on December 5th, the evening before Saint Nicholas Day, December 6th.

Almost every African culture has winter solstice celebrations and harvest rituals that involve masks, costumes, and performances. This parallels Krampus parades in Europe, which feature people dressing up as the creature.

Krampus Love Black Forest Cake

The deep chocolate flavor reflects Krampus’ shadowy essence. The spices reflect his fiery personality. The dark chocolate suits his shadowy nature. The jam adds dramatic, blood red look perfect for his mischievous spirit. This cake is a perfect blend of sweetness, spice, and darkness just like Krampus himself. Would you like to bake it?

Ingredients

For the Cake

1 ½ cups all purpose flour

½ cup cocoa powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 cup granulated white sugar

½ cup unsalted butter, softened

2 large chicken eggs

1 cup whole milk

For the Filling and Topping

1 cup cherry or raspberry jam

½ cup chocolate chips

¼ cup heavy cream

Directions

For the Cake

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease an 8-inch round cake pan. Mix flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and cayenne pepper in a bowl. In another bowl, cream butter and sugar. Beat in eggs, then add the dry ingredients, alternating with milk, until smooth. Pour into the pan and bake for 30-35 minutes. Cool completely.

For the Filling

Spread half the jam over the top of the cooled cake.

For the Glaze

Heat cream until warm, then stir in chocolate chips until smooth. Pour over the cake.

Drizzle the remaining jam on top for a dark red blood effect.

Did you know?

Many African folktales and moral stories feature figures that reward good behavior and punish wrongdoing, similar to the Krampus and Saint Nicholas dynamic.

Krampus African Folktale from Namibia.

In a Namibian village nestled among the golden dunes, the elders spoke of Krampus, a horned spirit from faraway lands who wandered the desert during the cold season, seeking the selfish and unkind. One winter, a group of children began hoarding marula fruits and mocking the village’s traditions of sharing. 

As the nights grew colder, a strange figure appeared. It was a shadowy creature with horns, dragging chains and an empty sack. Terrified, the children ran to the wise elder pleaded with Krampus to spare them. 

The spirit agreed but left behind a thorny acacia branch as a warning. From that day on, the children shared their harvest, helped the elders, and sang songs of unity, ensuring that Krampus never had reason to return.

Did you know?

Namibia is a former German colony that retains many German cultural traditions, including the Krampus holiday custom.