Chocolate Raspberry Cake – Sally’s Baking Habit

There’s a lot to like about this ultra-rich chocolate raspberry cake. Layers of moist darkish chocolate sponge, silky chocolate buttercream, and home made raspberry cake filling are enrobed in an opulent chocolate raspberry ganache. That is an indulgent dessert for anybody who loves the flavour mixture of raspberries paired with deep, darkish chocolate.

Take into account this the fruity sequel to chocolate peanut butter cake. 🙂

Right here’s What You’ll Love About This Chocolate Raspberry Cake

• Cake crumb is fudge-like and moist, but somewhat gentle and spongey, with additional texture from the mini chocolate chips
• Stunning steadiness of wealthy flavors between the tart, juicy raspberry filling, candy chocolate buttercream, and darkish chocolate ganache
• Home made raspberry filling makes use of frozen raspberries (very handy!) and takes simply quarter-hour to make (plus cooling)
• Get pleasure from extra-luxe raspberry taste within the chocolate ganache topping by changing a number of the cream with raspberry liqueur (elective)

Simply have a look at this magnificence:

4 Components to This Chocolate Raspberry Cake

There’s lots happening at present, so let’s break down every part of this unapologetically indulgent cake:

1. Raspberry Filling: This sweet-tart jammy raspberry cake filling comes collectively rapidly and simply on the range. It wants to chill utterly earlier than spreading onto the cake layers, so my directions direct you to make this primary.
2. Darkish Chocolate Cake: We’re utilizing the identical deeply chocolate-y cake batter as this darkish chocolate peanut butter cake. You’ll love the extra texture from mini chocolate chips within the batter—have you ever tried it earlier than?
3. Chocolate Frosting: Slather on a layer of chocolate buttercream frosting between every cake layer, and use it to use a crumb coat to the outside of the cake. You’ll additionally want a piping bag + large round tip to pipe a border across the fringe of the layers. The chocolate buttercream is right here not just for style, however serves a fairly necessary perform: a buttercream “dam” helps maintain the raspberry filling in place.
4. Chocolate Raspberry Ganache: High the entire cake with darkish chocolate ganache. If desired, you’ll be able to substitute a number of the cream with raspberry liqueur (resembling Chambord) to make a chocolate raspberry ganache (or maintain it simply chocolate). Style testers cherished it each methods.

Make the Raspberry Filling First

The filling takes about quarter-hour to prep, then wants to chill, chill, and thicken utterly. I like to recommend making it prematurely and storing it within the fridge till you’re able to assemble the chocolate raspberry cake. I’ve an entire separate web page devoted to this excellent raspberry cake filling in order for you extra concepts for its makes use of.

We’re utilizing frozen raspberries for this filling, which I like as a result of it means this cake could be made 12 months spherical! You can even use recent berries. You want 12 ounces (about 340-375g). Listed here are the opposite components you’ll want to make it:

• Water & Cornstarch: Cornstarch is the magic thickener for this raspberry filling. You don’t want a lot, however you will need to dissolve it in somewhat water earlier than utilizing. That is known as a “slurry”; see strawberry sauce for instance.
• Sugar: The raspberry filling must be somewhat tart, since you’ll pair it with candy chocolate buttercream frosting.
• Lemon Juice: The filling wants *one thing* to steadiness the berry and sugar, and lemon juice offers that trace of freshness. Don’t go away it out or the filling will style fairly flat.
• Vanilla Extract: Add somewhat splash of vanilla extract to the filling as soon as it comes off the warmth. It tastes and smells unimaginable!

Make this primary, so it has loads of time to relax and thicken:

A Very Chocolate-y Chocolate Cake

You want a handful of primary baking components for the cake batter. The acidity in each bitter cream and buttermilk is a should to offer correct leavening. (If desired, see baking powder vs baking soda for extra data.) A contact of espresso powder and sizzling espresso additional enhances the chocolate taste. The cake will not style like espresso—quite, these add depth to the cake’s darkish chocolate taste. Be happy to skip the espresso powder and substitute sizzling espresso with sizzling water or use decaf.

• Why sizzling liquid? The new liquid encourages the cocoa powder to bloom and dissolve.

Chocolate chips take the chocolate taste to the subsequent stage, and, as I discussed above, additionally they provide phenomenal texture. I exploit mini semi-sweet chocolate chips, however common dimension are positive too. Toss them in somewhat flour earlier than folding into the batter, to assist maintain them from sinking to the underside of the cake.

Favourite Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

We’re utilizing my favourite chocolate buttercream on this cake, so you already know it’s going to be good! This creamy chocolate frosting is good, silky clean, and simple to work with.

You want sufficient frosting to unfold on the underside 2 cake layers earlier than topping with the raspberry filling, and to pipe a “dam” across the edges of these layers to maintain the raspberry filling in place, in addition to for a skinny crumb coat on the outside of the cake. The recipe beneath, additionally discovered on my chocolate buttercream web page, makes simply the quantity we’d like for all the pieces.

Is your chocolate buttercream lighter in shade than you need? See my tried-and-true trick for darkening it above the chocolate buttercream recipe (warmth a few of it!).

Chocolate Raspberry Ganache Topping

You possibly can completely make a traditional 2-ingredient chocolate ganache, or you’ll be able to swap out a number of the heavy cream for raspberry liqueur, which provides this subtle cake that *little one thing additional.*

Usually, for making chocolate ganache, you want 8 ounces (weight) chocolate and eight ounces (quantity) heavy cream. (Improve/lower every for extra/much less.) For topping this chocolate raspberry cake, I used 2 baking bars (that’s 8 ounces/226g) of bittersweet chocolate (Ghirardelli model 60% cacao), 3/4 cup (180ml) heavy cream, and 1/4 cup (60ml) Chambord raspberry liqueur.

So, I changed a number of the heavy cream with the raspberry liqueur. Once more, you don’t have to do that. You possibly can follow 8 ounces chocolate and eight ounces cream if desired.

Let it barely cool within the fridge for about half-hour to thicken up earlier than spreading on the cake (which additionally wants some chill time after you apply the frosting crumb coat).

The best way to Assemble & Embellish This Chocolate Raspberry Cake

Admittedly, I’m not knowledgeable cake decorator, so with all of my layer muffins, I choose simplicity. Let me share how I stack and enhance this 3-layer chocolate raspberry cake.

Begin by leveling your muffins, if wanted, to create a flat floor for stacking and adorning.

Spoon about 1/2 cup of the chocolate buttercream right into a piping bag fitted with a big spherical piping tip. I exploit Wilton 2A. (Or simply use a disposable piping bag and lower about 3/4-inch off the tip and use that with out a piping tip.) Place the underside cooled cake layer in your cake stand or serving plate. Utilizing a large icing spatula or small offset spatula, evenly cowl the highest with about 1/4 cup of chocolate buttercream frosting (a skinny layer).

Then, pipe a thick border of frosting across the fringe of the cake to create a “dam” for the raspberry filling. Unfold half of the raspberry filling (heaping 1/2 cup) on prime of the frosted cake layer, staying throughout the buttercream border:

Repeat the identical actual course of with the second cake layer.

Place the third cake layer on prime, after which unfold a skinny layer (no matter you’ve gotten left) of the chocolate buttercream on prime and across the sides as a crumb coat. Run a bench scraper across the cake to clean it out:

Refrigerate the cake for not less than half-hour and as much as 3 hours to set the crumb coat. Throughout this time, I often make and chill the ganache.

Pour cooled chocolate ganache on prime and unfold all around the cake. Look how a lot this ganache thickens! It’s liquid at first, and half-hour within the fridge is gold. I exploit a large icing spatula to unfold it all around the cake.

A cluster of recent raspberries is the proper final touch on prime of this cake. A masterpiece for a special day, this chocolate raspberry cake is the proper marriage of chocolate and berry.

So many elements! So many layers! I hope you take pleasure in.

Are you new to layer muffins? Don’t miss these full lists of cake success ideas and cake baking instruments.

Really helpful Instruments

Print

Chocolate Raspberry Cake

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  Writer: Sally
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  Prep Time: 1 hour, half-hour (contains chilling)
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  Prepare dinner Time: 25 minutes
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  Whole Time: 4 hours (contains cooling)
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  Yield: serves 12-14
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  Class: Cake
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  Technique: Baking
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  Delicacies: American

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Description

Get pleasure from layers of moist darkish chocolate cake, candy creamy chocolate buttercream, and home made raspberry filling, all coated with an opulent chocolate raspberry ganache. 

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For the Raspberry Filling

For the Cake

For the Chocolate Buttercream

For the Chocolate Raspberry Ganache

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Directions

1. Make the raspberry filling: Whisk the cornstarch and water collectively till all of the cornstarch has dissolved. (I simply use a fork to combine—very straightforward.) Mix cornstarch combination, raspberries (no have to thaw if utilizing frozen), granulated sugar, and lemon juice in a medium saucepan set over medium warmth. Utilizing a silicone spatula, stir the combination, mashing the raspberries as they start to thaw and soften. Carry to a boil and let it boil for five full minutes, stirring often. Take away pan from warmth and stir in vanilla extract.
2. Permit the raspberry filling to chill at room temperature for 10–quarter-hour, then switch it to a bowl or container and place it within the fridge for not less than 4 hours and as much as 1 week (the longer, the higher). No have to cowl it, but when refrigerating for longer than 4 hours, cowl tightly. It’ll proceed to thicken up because it chills. Raspberry filling have to be utterly chilled earlier than utilizing in your cake. If freezing, see Word beneath for directions.
3. Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Grease three 9-inch cake pans, line with parchment paper rounds, then grease the parchment paper. Parchment paper helps the muffins seamlessly launch from the pans. (If it’s useful, see this parchment paper rounds for muffins video & put up.)
4. Make the cake: Whisk the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and espresso powder (if utilizing) collectively in a big bowl. Put aside. Utilizing a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment (or you need to use a whisk), combine the oil, eggs, and bitter cream collectively on medium-high velocity till mixed. Add the buttermilk and vanilla and beat till mixed. Pour the moist components into the dry components, add the new water/espresso, and whisk or beat on low velocity till the batter is totally mixed. Fold within the flour-coated chocolate chips. Batter is skinny and you might even see some air bubbles on the floor—that’s regular. It’s best to have about 6–6.5 cups of batter, or round 1400g. 
5. Divide batter evenly between 3 pans. Bake for about 24–26 minutes. Baking instances fluctuate, so regulate yours. The muffins are carried out when a toothpick inserted within the heart comes out clear.
6. Take away the muffins from the oven and set on a wire rack. Permit to chill utterly within the pan. The muffins could barely sink within the center as they cool—that’s anticipated.
7. Because the muffins cool, make the chocolate buttercream: With a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle or whisk attachment, beat the butter on medium velocity till creamy, about 2 minutes. Add confectioners’ sugar, cocoa powder, heavy cream, salt, and vanilla extract. Beat on low velocity for 30 seconds, then improve to excessive velocity and beat for 1 full minute. Style. Beat in one other pinch of salt if desired. (Would you like your buttercream darker in shade? I’ve a trick detailed on the complete chocolate buttercream web page.) You’re going to make use of this buttercream for a skinny layer below the raspberry filling, a piped “dam” round 2 of the cake layers, and for the crumb coat. Makes about 2.5 cups whole.
8. Start layering with raspberry filling and buttercream: Place 1 cooled cake layer in your cake stand or serving plate. Utilizing a large icing spatula or small offset spatula, evenly cowl the highest with about 1/4 cup of chocolate buttercream frosting (a skinny layer). Spoon about 1/2 cup of the chocolate buttercream right into a piping bag fitted with a big spherical piping tip. I exploit Wilton 2A. (Or simply use a disposable piping bag and lower about 3/4-inch off the tip and use that with out a piping tip.) Pipe a thick border of buttercream across the fringe of the frosted cake layer, utilizing about half of the buttercream within the piping bag). Then, utilizing a small offset spatula, unfold half of the thickened and chilled raspberry filling (about 1/2 cup) contained in the buttercream border. Place 2nd cake layer on prime after which repeat the filling course of: unfold frosting, pipe border with remaining frosting in piping bag (for those who ran out, simply use extra from the large bowl of buttercream), then unfold on remaining raspberry filling. High with third cake layer.
9. Apply crumb coat: Utilizing the remaining chocolate buttercream, unfold a skinny layer of buttercream on the highest and across the sides as a crumb coat. Run a bench scraper across the cake to clean out crumb coat. Chill uncovered within the fridge for not less than half-hour and as much as 3 hours to set the crumb coat.
10. As your crumb coat units, make and chill the chocolate ganache: Place finely chopped chocolate in a medium heat-proof bowl. Warmth the cream and raspberry liqueur, if utilizing, in a small saucepan over medium warmth till it begins to softly simmer. (Don’t let it come to a speedy boil—that’s too sizzling!) Pour over chocolate, then let it sit for two–3 minutes to softly soften the chocolate. With a metallic spoon or small rubber spatula, very slowly stir till chocolate has melted and combination is clean. Ganache is skinny. The finer you chopped the chocolate, the faster it’ll soften with the cream. If it’s not melting, don’t microwave it. If wanted, see Troubleshooting Chocolate Ganache. As soon as ganache combination is clean, let it chill for half-hour within the fridge to thicken earlier than spreading on chilled crumb-coated cake.
11. Pour/spoon thickened ganache on chilled cake, and unfold throughout cake with an icing spatula. Garnish with recent raspberries, if desired. Serve cake instantly or chill, uncovered, for as much as 4–6 hours earlier than serving. Cake could be served at room temperature or chilled.
12. Cowl leftover cake tightly and retailer within the fridge for five days. I like utilizing a cake carrier for storing and transporting.

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Notes

1. Make Forward & Freezing Directions for Cake: Put together cake by means of step 6. Wrap the person baked and cooled cake layers tightly and refrigerate for as much as 2 days or freeze as much as 3 months. Carry to room temperature, then proceed with step 7. You possibly can put together the raspberry filling and chocolate buttercream prematurely. See step 2 for raspberry sauce particulars. For the buttercream, cowl and refrigerate for as much as 3 days. Carry to room temperature earlier than utilizing and beat in somewhat extra room-temperature heavy cream to skinny out if mandatory. You can even put together the chocolate ganache forward of time. Refrigerate ready ganache for as much as 3 days. Carry to room temperature earlier than spreading onto cake. Frosted cake freezes properly, as much as 3 months. Thaw in a single day within the fridge, then convey to room temperature or serve chilly.
2. Freezing Directions for Raspberry Filling: After the raspberry filling cools utterly, freeze in a freezer-friendly container for as much as 3–6 months. Thaw on the counter or within the fridge earlier than utilizing. Will probably be very thick.
3. Particular Instruments (affiliate hyperlinks): Electrical Mixer (Stand Mixer or Handheld) | 9-inch Cake Pans | Large Icing Spatula | Small Offset Spatula | Bench Scraper | Piping Bag (Disposable or Reusable) and Large Round Piping Tip for buttercream “dam” | Cake Carrier
4. Cocoa Powder: This recipe requires pure cocoa powder for its acidity, so don’t use dutch-process.
5. Espresso Powder/Espresso: Espresso powder and low won’t make the cake style like espresso. Moderately, they deepen the chocolate taste. I extremely advocate them each. If espresso isn’t your factor, you’ll be able to omit the espresso powder and use additional sizzling water as a substitute of the new espresso.
6. Bitter Cream: As an alternative of bitter cream, you need to use plain yogurt. The cake gained’t style as wealthy, but it surely’s a positive substitute.
7. Buttermilk: Buttermilk is required for this recipe. You can also make your personal DIY model of buttermilk if wanted. Add 1 teaspoon of white vinegar or lemon juice to a liquid measuring cup. Then add sufficient complete milk to the identical measuring cup till it reaches 1/2 cup (120ml). (In a pinch, lower-fat or nondairy milks work for this soured milk, however the cake gained’t style as moist or wealthy.) Stir it round and let sit for five minutes. The home made “buttermilk” will likely be considerably curdled and able to use within the recipe.
8. Why Room Temperature? All refrigerated gadgets must be at room temperature so the batter and frosting combine collectively simply and evenly. Learn extra about why room temperature components are necessary.
9. Chocolate Raspberry Ganache: Be happy to switch the raspberry liqueur with 1/4 cup (60ml) extra heavy cream to make a plain chocolate ganache as a substitute. When melting chocolate, I like to recommend utilizing pure chocolate baking bars (chocolate chips have stabilizers). You could find them proper subsequent to the chocolate chips within the baking aisle. I like Bakers or Ghirardelli manufacturers, those labeled bittersweet (60% cacao) or semi-sweet (56% cacao), which are available in 4-ounce (113g) bars.
10. 6-Inch Cake: To make a scaled down 3-layer 6-inch model of this cake, use this chocolate cupcake batter and comply with my 6-inch cake baking directions and particulars. I like to recommend utilizing the identical quantity of raspberry filling, and having some leftover. Use about 1/3 cup between the layers. You possibly can halve the buttercream and ganache recipes.
11. Cupcakes: For raspberry-filled chocolate cupcakes, make these very related cream-filled chocolate cupcakes, however swap the cream filling for the raspberry filling.
12. Useful Tutorials: 10 Ideas for Baking Good Muffins | The best way to Make Parchment Paper Rounds for Muffins | Raspberry Cake Filling | Chocolate Buttercream | Chocolate Ganache | 10 Important Cake Baking & Adorning Instruments

Key phrases: chocolate raspberry cake