Chocolate Raspberry Polka Dot Cake Food

CONTEST-WINNING RASPBERRY CHOCOLATE TORTE

Steps:

• Line a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan with waxed paper; grease the paper. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Combine flour and cocoa; gradually beat into the creamed mixture. Transfer to prepared pan. , Bake at 350° until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 20-25 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes before inverting onto a wire rack to cool completely. Carefully remove waxed paper., For glaze, stir water and gelatin until gelatin is dissolved. Stir in jam. Brush evenly over bottom of cake. Trim edges; cut cake widthwise into thirds., For topping, in a microwave, melt chips; stir until smooth. Fold in half of the whipped topping until blended; fold in remaining whipped topping (mixture will be thick)., Place 1 cake layer on a serving platter; spread with 3/4 cup topping. Repeat layers; top with raspberries. If desired, decorate the top with confectioners' sugar and chocolate curls.

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.

CHOCOLATE-RASPBERRY COOKIES

Steps:

• Whisk 1 1/2 cups flour, 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, 3/4 teaspoon baking soda and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl. In a large bowl, beat 1 1/4 sticks softened butter and 1 cup light brown sugar with a mixer on medium-high speed, 4 minutes. Beat in 1 egg and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Beat in the flour mixture on low speed. Stir in 3/4 cup chocolate chips and 1/2 cup each white chocolate chips and crushed freeze-dried raspberries. Roll into 1 1/2-inch balls; arrange on parchment-lined baking sheets and bake at 375˚ F until set, 12 to 15 minutes.

CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH RASPBERRY FILLING

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat the sugar, milk, coffee, oil, eggs and vanilla until well blended. In a small bowl, combine the flour, cocoa, coffee granules, baking soda, baking powder and salt; gradually beat into sugar mixture until blended., Pour into two greased and floured 9-in. baking pans. Bake at 325° for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely., For filling, in a large bowl, beat butter and confectioners' sugar. Add jam; beat until blended., For frosting, melt chocolate in a microwave; stir until smooth. In a large bowl, beat butter and chocolate until fluffy. Add marshmallow creme, confectioners' sugar and extract; beat until smooth., Place one cake layer on a serving plate; spread with filling. Top with remaining cake layer. Spread frosting over top and sides of cake. Garnish with raspberries and chocolate curls. Store in the refrigerator.

CHOCOLATE & RASPBERRY BIRTHDAY LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Oil and line two round 20cm springform cake tins with baking parchment. Whisk the oil, sugar, eggs and milk in a bowl until smooth. Sieve the flour, cocoa and bicarb into another large bowl, then gradually mix in the wet ingredients.
• Divide the mixture between the tins and bake for 35-40 mins until the cakes are risen and spring back when pressed. Leave to cool in the tins for 10 mins, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
• For the raspberry layer, stir the jam and the defrosted raspberries together. Once the cakes are cool, whip the cream with the sugar to soft peaks, then gently fold half the raspberry mixture through the cream to create a ripple effect.
• Spoon most of the reserved raspberry mixture over one of the cakes, then dollop on half of the cream. Smooth over with a palette knife, then place the other sponge on top. Swirl over the remaining cream and swirl the last of the raspberry mixture through it. Will keep in the fridge for two days.

RASPBERRY CHOCOLATE COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease baking sheets.
• Mash the butter and sugar together in a bowl with a wooden spoon until the mixture is creamy and well blended, and beat in eggs, one at a time. Stir in the raspberry extract, almond extract, and milk. In a separate bowl, stir the flour and baking powder together until thoroughly combined, and gradually beat into the butter-egg mixture. Stir in the chocolate chips, and drop by spoonfuls onto the prepared baking sheets.
• Bake in the preheated oven until very lightly browned at the edges, 8 to 10 minutes.