Try Black Forest Cake in Germany

“I start my day with a pretzel, grillwurst and a strong cup of coffee in the hotel breakfast room to fuel me for my hike. I walk north of the hotel at a decent incline (go quads, go!) thinking happy cake thoughts. I follow the signs leading to Sattelei. After approximately 4km, I arrive at my first black forest cake pitstop: the Wanderhutte Sattelei. It has a traditional black forest cake of the most generous size. It's best paired with a shot of schnapps or double espresso.”

“I time my arrival for a 3:30pm afternoon tea at the hotel cafe where I'm welcomed with a choice of eight cakes. The black forest cake is a must. After this, I can't resist slices of the wobbly berry cheesecake and Swabian apple cake. I justify the indulgence by reminding myself I've flown here from Australia and spent the day hiking.”

“This is my first time visiting the Black Forest, and it’s unlike any mountain driving I’ve experienced. The roads are narrow, and incredibly steep, with switchbacks and winding turns. Even in the light of day, the Black Forest stays true to its name. The main road carves a single passage through the dense thickets. Massive fir and pine trees edge up against the pavements on both sides. Their branches converge overhead, forming a canopy of foliage that cloaks my route in shadow. [...] Seeing the landscape first hand, I can understand why so many consider the dark chocolate coating on the Black Forest cake to be a tribute to these woods.”