Black Forest Cake

Name: Black Forest Cake
Prep time: 2 h
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 2 h 45 min
Cuisine: German
Ingredients: 2 cup all-purpose flour; 2 cups granulated sugar; 3/4 cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder (sifted); 2 tsp baking soda; 1 tsp baking powder; 1 tsp salt; 1/2 cup vegetable oil; 1 cup buttermilk (room temperature); 1 cup hot water or hot coffee; 2 large eggs; 2 tsp vanilla extract; 1/2 cup granulated sugar; 1/2 cup water; 1/4 cup cherry liqueur; 3 cup whipping cream (cold); 1/4 cup powdered sugar (sifted); 250 g good quality dark chocolate (chopped); 2 1/2 cups cherries (pitted and cut in half); 1 bar dark chocolate (for shavings (optional)); cherries