Classic Black Forest Cake

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 teaspoons plus 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 8 large eggs
• 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup water
• 1 1/4 cups kirsch
• 2 (15-ounce) cans dark sweet pitted cherries in heavy syrup
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 pound confectioners' sugar
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 stick butter, at room temperature
• 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1/3 cup boiling water
• 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 3 ounces semisweet chocolate, shaved