Decadent Quintuple Chocolate Raspberry Layer Cake Food

CHOCOLATE-RASPBERRY LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• For the puree: Place the raspberries in a blender and blend until smooth (yields 1 1/4 cups of puree). Remove 1/4 cup of puree and reserve.
• For the cake: Place an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Butter and flour the bottom and sides of two 8- or 9-inch round nonstick baking pans. Set aside.
• Place 1 tablespoon of the cake mix and the chocolate chips in a small bowl. Toss until the chocolate chips are coated.
• In a large bowl, combine the remaining cake mix, 1 cup of the raspberry puree, vegetable oil, eggs and 1/4 cup water. Using an electric hand mixer, blend on low speed for 30 seconds. Increase the speed to medium and beat for 2 minutes, scraping the bottom and sides of the bowl with a spatula as needed. Mix in the chocolate chips. Divide the batter between the prepared pans and bake until a cake tester inserted into the center of the cakes comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes.
• Cool the pans on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Remove the cakes from the pans and cool completely on a wire rack, about 1 hour.
• For the frosting: In a large bowl, combine the powdered sugar, cocoa powder, butter, cream cheese and sour cream. Using an electric hand mixer, beat on low speed until smooth. Increase the speed to high and beat until light and fluffy, about 1 minute.
• In a small bowl, mix together 3/4 cup of the frosting and the reserved 1/4 cup puree until smooth.
• To assemble the cake: Place one cake layer, flat side-up, on a cake stand. Using a spatula, spread the raspberry-chocolate frosting over the cake layer leaving a 1/2-inch border. Place the other cake layer on top. Frost the top and sides of the cake with the remaining chocolate frosting. Decorate with fresh raspberries or chocolate curls. Using a damp knife cut the cake into wedges and serve.
• Cake can be made 1 day in advance. Refrigerate in an airtight plastic container. Allow the cake to stand at room temperature for 1 hour before serving.

DECADENT CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH RASPBERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F. Grease bottom and side of 8-inch springform pan or 9-inch round cake pan with shortening. In 2-quart heavy saucepan, melt 1 cup chocolate chips and 1/2 cup butter over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Cool 5 minutes. Stir in flour until smooth. Stir in egg yolks until well blended; set aside.
• In large bowl, beat egg whites with electric mixer on high speed until foamy. Beat in 1/2 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, until soft peaks form. Using rubber spatula, fold chocolate mixture into egg whites. Spread in pan.
• Bake springform pan 35 to 40 minutes, round cake pan 30 to 35 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean (top will appear dry and cracked). Cool 10 minutes. Run knife along side of cake to loosen; remove side of springform pan. Place cooling rack upside down over cake; turn rack and cake over. Remove bottom of springform pan or round cake pan. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, add enough water to reserved raspberry juice to measure 1 cup. In 1-quart saucepan, mix 1/4 cup sugar and the cornstarch. Stir in juice and thawed raspberries. Heat to boiling over medium heat. Boil and stir 1 minute. Place small strainer over small bowl. Pour mixture through strainer to remove seeds; discard seeds. Stir liqueur into mixture; set aside.
• Place cake on serving plate. In 1-quart saucepan, heat glaze ingredients over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until chips are melted. Spread over top of cake, allowing some to drizzle down side. Place whipped cream in decorating bag fitted with star tip. Pipe a rosette on each serving. Serve cake with sauce. Garnish with fresh raspberries.

DECADENT QUINTUPLE CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• CAKE:.
• 1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
• 2. In large mixing bowl, combine cake mix, chocolate pudding mix, sour cream, oil, eggs, and water. Mix well. Add mini chocolate chips, stir.
• 3. Butter 2 8-inch round cake pans and divide batter equally. Bake for 30-40 minutes, until cakes test done. (Stick a toothpick in near the middle and see if it comes out clean. Watch out, if you hit a chocolate chip you may think it's not finished baking when it is!).
• 4. Allow cakes to cool about 15 minutes before turning out of pans to cool completely (at least 1 hour).
• GANACHE:.
• 1. Once cakes are in oven, begin ganache. (This give it enough time to set.) Dump the Ghirardelli milk chocolate chips, 2 tbsp butter, and 1 tsp vanilla into a blender or food processor.
• 2. In a small saucepan, heat 1 cup of the heavy cream and granulated sugar until boiling. Stir constantly, being careful not to burn it.
• 3. Once it begins boiling, pour cream mixture over chocolate chips in blender or food processor. Mix until smooth.
• 4. Place ganache in a covered container and refrigerate until cool and desired consistency.
• MOUSSE:.
• 1. In mixing bowl, combine 2 tbsp softened butter, 8 oz softened cream cheese, 3/4 c of the powdered sugar, 1/2 tsp vanilla extract, and 1/8 tsp salt. Mix at medium speed until smooth.
• 2. Melt 2/3 c chocolate chips in the microwave, about 20 seconds at a time, stirring between each time. They are done when you can stir them completely smooth.
• 3. Add melted chocolate to cream cheese mixture, mixing until fluffy and incorporated, about 1 minute.
• 4. In a separate mixing bowl, combine 1/4 c powdered sugar and 1 tbsp vanilla pudding mix. The pudding mix stabilizes your whipped cream and keeps it from falling or weeping! Add remaining 1 c heavy whipping cream and beat until stiff peaks form. (It should look like whipped cream.).
• 5. Scrape whipped cream into chocolate cream cheese mixture and fold gently to incorporate, stirring gently as needed to combine all ingredients.
• ASSEMBLY:.
• 1. Split cake layers horizontally so that you have 4 layers. Place first layer on cake tray or stand. Divide your mousse into three equal parts.
• 2. Place one third of your mousse in the center of the cake layer. Gently spread it out to the edges to cover.
• 3. Slice some raspberries in half (from top to tip) and cover the mousse with halved raspberries.
• 4. Place next cake layer on top of raspberries.
• 5. Repeat steps 2-4 until you have placed the top layer on the cake.
• 6. Check on your ganache. You want it to have a soft frosting consistency. If it has not set firm enough yet, you can set your container in a bowl of ice water (be careful not to get water in the ganache!) to set faster. If it has set too firm, microwave for 5-10 seconds at a time and stir before microwaving any more.
• 7. Scoop ganache a little at at time on the center of your top layer and spread outwards and down to cover top and sides of cake.
• 8. Place whole raspberries in a ring around top of cake to decorate.
• 9. You may wish to refrigerate your cake a short time before serving to help set ganache and stabilize mousse, or serve immediately. This is a cake to slice THIN. Enjoy!

DECADENT CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH RASPBERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325ºF.
• Grease bottom and side of springform pan, 8x2 1/2 inches, or round pan 9x1 1/2 inches.
• Melt 1 package chocolate chips and 1/2 cup butter in 2-quart heavy saucepan over medium heat; cool 5 minutes.
• Stir in flour until smooth.
• Stir in egg yolks until well blended.
• Beat egg whites in large bowl with electric mixer on high speed until foamy.
• Beat in sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, until soft peaks form.
• Gently stir chocolate mixture into egg whites.
• Spread in pan.
• Bake springform pan 35 to 40 minutes, round pan 30 to 35 minutes (top will appear dry and cracked) or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean; cool 10 minutes.
• Run knife along side of cake to loosen; remove side of springform pan.
• Turn cake upside down onto wire rack; remove bottom of springform pan and cool completely, about 1 hour.
• Place on serving plate.
• Heat 1/2 cup chocolate chips, 2 tablespoons butter and the corn syrup over medium heat until chocolate chips are melted.
• Spread over top of cake, allowing some to drizzle down side.
• Place whipped cream in decorating bag fitted with tip.
• Pipe a rosette on each serving. Serve with Raspberry Sauce.
• Garnish with fresh raspberries.
• Raspberry Sauce:.
• Add enough water to reserved juice to measure 1 cup.
• Stir together sugar and cornstarch in 1-quart saucepan.
• Stir in juice and raspberries.
• Heat to boiling over medium heat.
• Boil and stir 1 minute; strain.
• Stir in liqueur.
• Refrigerate any remaining sauce.

DARK CHOCOLATE-RASPBERRY LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour two 8-inch round cake pans.
• Sift cake flour, sugar, 1/2 cup cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt together in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Add 1 stick butter and oil and beat on slow speed for 1 to 2 minutes. Increase speed to high for 4 minutes. Turn off mixer and scrape sides of the bowl. Add 1 cup milk, eggs, applesauce, and chocolate extract and beat on medium speed until well combined into a thick batter. Pour evenly into the prepared cake pans.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick comes out clean and the center springs back to a light touch, 25 to 35 minutes. Allow to cool completely, about 30 minutes. Slice each cake in half horizontally to create 4 layers.
• Combine semi-sweet chocolate chips and bittersweet chocolate chips in the top of a double boiler set over hot but not boiling water. Stir until chocolate is melted and smooth, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let sit.
• Cream 2 sticks butter in the bowl of the stand mixer. Mix on low speed and add confectioners' sugar, 8 tablespoons milk, 1 tablespoon chocolate extract, and 1 teaspoon cocoa. Scrape the bowl and add melted chocolate chips. Mix frosting until fluffy and light.
• Pour raspberry preserves in a microwave-safe bowl and warm in the microwave oven for 1 minute; stir well.
• Place the first cake layer on a serving plate and spread 1/2 the jar of preserves just to the edge. Lay the second layer on top and spread about 1 cup of frosting just to the edge. Lay the third layer down and spread remaining preserves just to the edge. Lay the final layer down and frost the entire cake with a thin crumb-coating of frosting, reserving remaining frosting. Refrigerate cake for 30 minutes.
• Remove cake from refrigerator and decorate as desired with remaining frosting.

DECADENT CHOCOLATE CAKE ON A BED OF RASPBERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• Butter and flour a 10-inch round cake pan.
• For the cake: Melt the chocolate and butter in a double boiler.
• Set aside to cool.
• Beat the egg yolks (equaling 1/3 cup)until light and fluffy.
• Slowly add the sugar and continue beating until mixture is pale yellow.
• Fold in the melted chocolate.
• Sift the flour over the chocolate mixture until it just disappears.
• In a separate bowl, whisk the egg whites (equaling 3/4 cup)until soft peaks form.
• Gently fold egg whites into the chocolate mixture in 2 parts.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan and tap on the counter to remove air bubbles.
• Bake for 20 to 25 minutes.
• For the ganache: Place the chopped chocolate in a mixing bowl.
• Place the cream in a saucepan and bring to a boil.
• Add the hot cream to the chocolate and stir until all lumps are gone; then stir in Chambord.
• Let the ganache stand until it reaches room temperature, then pour it over the cooled cake and spread with a spatula Raspberry Sauce: In blender puree rasperries and Chambord.
• You can strain, but I like the seeds. You can use preserves: just melt in micro and add Chambord is what I did in these pictures because the berries were $5.00 a pint!
• Pour Sauce on each plate and top with cake.
• You can garnish with my Chocolate Grand marnier covered strawberries! Or any berries you desire.

CHOCOLATE LAYER CAKE WITH CHOCOLATE-RASPBERRY FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter two 9-inch-diameter cake pans with 2-inch-high sides. Line bottom of pans with parchment paper. Butter parchment. Dust pans with flour; tap out excess.
• Sift 2 2/3 cups flour, baking soda and salt into medium bowl. Combine cocoa and espresso powder in another medium bowl. Whisk boiling water, then buttermilk and vanilla into cocoa mixture. Using electric mixer, beat sugar, butter and shortening in large bowl until fluffy. Beat in eggs 1 at a time. Add dry ingredients alternately with buttermilk mixture in 3 additions each. Beat batter until smooth, about 2 minutes. Divide between prepared pans.
• Bake cakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Cool in pans on racks 10 minutes. Cut around pan sides to loosen cakes. Turn cakes out onto racks. Peel off paper. Cool completely. Chill cakes 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, prepare the Chocolate-Raspberry Frosting. Place 1 cake layer on work surface. Place 8-inch-diameter cake pan or plate atop cake. Using serrated knife, cut around cake pan, trimming to form 8-inch-diameter cake. Repeat with second cake layer. Transfer cake trimmings to processor; grind finely. Place in bowl. Mix in cookie crumbs.
• Using serrated knife, cut each cake horizontally in half. Using 9-inch tart pan bottom as aid, transfer 1 cake layer, cut side up, to platter. Spread 1 1/2 tablespoons raspberry jam over. Spread 1/2 cup frosting over jam. Repeat layering 2 more times, using 1 cake layer, 1 1/2 tablespoons jam and 1/2 cup frosting for each layer. Top with fourth cake layer, cut side down. Spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake. Press crumb mixture generously onto frosting on top and sides of cake. Arrange raspberries in concentric circles atop cake. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover with cake dome and refrigerate. Let cake stand at room temperature 1 hour before serving.)