Dark Chocolate Raspberry Cake Food

DARK CHOCOLATE-RASPBERRY LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease three 9-inch round cake pans. Line bottoms with parchment paper; grease paper. Lightly dust with cocoa, tapping out excess.
• Fill 4-quart saucepan with water to depth of 2 inches. Heat to simmering. In large heatproof bowl, combine chocolates, vanilla, salt, 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar, and 10 tablespoons butter. Set over simmering water. Gently stir occasionally until chocolates and butter melt. Remove from heat. While stirring, add egg yolks, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Gently fold in flour just until incorporated.
• In another large bowl, with mixer on medium-high speed, beat egg whites until frothy. Gradually add remaining 1/4 cup granulated sugar and continue beating until stiff peaks form. Gently fold egg whites into chocolate mixture one-third at a time just until incorporated. Divide batter among prepared pans.
• Bake 15 minutes or until cakes are set and toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes. Invert onto racks; remove pans. Discard parchment paper; cool completely.
• Place 1/2 cup raspberries in fine-mesh sieve set over small bowl. With wooden spoon, mash raspberries to extract 2 tablespoons juice; discard solids. In large bowl, with mixer on medium speed, beat cream cheese and remaining 12 tablespoons butter until smooth and fluffy. Beat in confectioners' sugar, then raspberry juice, until blended. If thin and runny, refrigerate 5 minutes to achieve frosting consistency. Transfer to piping bag fitted with 1/2-inch plain tip.
• Place 1 cake layer on cake stand. Decoratively pipe on one-third of frosting. Top with another cake layer. Repeat, piping remaining frosting on final layer. Decorate top of cake with raspberries and serve with any remaining raspberries. Refrigerate up to 1 day. Bring to room temperature before serving.

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.

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 BUNDT CAKE

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Spray a bundt pan with nonstick cooking spray.
• In a large mixing bowl, use a handheld electric mixer to whisk the milk, jam, melted butter, liqueur and eggs. Add the cake mix and beat on medium speed for about 1 minute.
• Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and bake until a toothpick or cake tester comes out clean when inserted into the cake, about 35 minutes. Let cool in the pan for 15 minutes. Remove the cake from the pan and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
• For the ganache: Put the chocolate, jam, and liqueur in a mixing bowl. Bring the cream to a low simmer in a small pan set over medium-high heat. Pour over the chocolate and let stand 10 minutes. Stir with a whisk until smooth. Let stand another 10 minutes.
• Place the cake on a cake stand or serving dish and pour the ganache over it, letting it drip down the sides. Use the raspberries and mint to decorate it to look like a holiday wreath if desired.

RICH, DARK CHOCOLATE PATE WITH RASPBERRY SPLASH

Steps:

• Line a 9 by 5 loaf pan with parchment paper.
• Place chopped chocolate into the top of a double boiler; add cream and butter. Melt over medium heat, stirring until completely smooth. Remove from heat and let cool for 1 minute, continuing to stir.
• Whisk in egg yolks. Sift icing sugar into chocolate mixture, whisking constantly. Whisk in liqueur. Pour into prepared pan.
• Chill for at least 8 hours to set, or overnight.
• Unmould cake, removing paper. Dust top with cocoa powder. Drizzle a large spoonful of the raspberry splash on each plate. Using a hot, wet knife, slice cake and place on plate.
• Raspberry Splash: In a food processor, puree raspberries, berry sugar and lemon juice. Pass sauce through sieve to remove seeds.
• Note: I have taken this recipe and cut it in half quite successfully ~ or ~ I have placed the cake in 2 smaller loaf pans and frozen one. Freeze for 1 month.

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.

RASPBERRY & DARK CHOCOLATE CHEAT'S ICE CREAM TERRINE

Steps:

• Line a 900g loaf tin (ours was 9 x 20 x 7cm) with two sheets of overlapping baking parchment, leaving some overhanging on all sides of the tin. Put 175g of the raspberries, the caster sugar and lemon juice in a pan over a medium heat and simmer for 3 mins until softened slightly. Tip into a food processor or use a hand blender to blitz until smooth.
• Whisk the double cream, vanilla and condensed milk using an electric whisk until soft peaks form. Pour in the raspberry purée, then stir carefully a few times to marble the raspberry through the cream.
• Tip the remaining raspberries into the base of the lined tin. Cover with a third of the cream mixture, spreading it out evenly. Tap the tin down on a surface so that the mixture covers the raspberries. Using a spoon, drizzle over half of the melted chocolate to cover the cream. Top with another third of the cream mixture and spread it out. Drizzle over the remaining chocolate and top with the remaining cream.
• Use the overhanging parchment to cover the top of the tin, using more parchment if it doesn't cover the terrine completely, and freeze for at least 8 hrs, or overnight. Before serving, let the ice cream sit at room temperature for 10 mins. Tip upside down and remove from the tin, and drizzle with a little more melted chocolate to decorate. Run boiling water over your knife, wipe dry, and slice to serve.

DARK CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH A RASPBERRY FILLING

Steps:

• Batter: Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Grease 2 9-inch cake pans, set side.
• In a small microwave-safe bowl, melt the chocolate, and the tablespoon of butter in the microwave on medium (50%) heat.
• In a large mixing bowl, stir together the stick of butter, the sugar, and the vanilla.
• Stir in the eggs, 1 at a time until they are all incorporated.
• Stir in the chocolate.
• Stir in the salt and oil.
• Stir in 1 1/4 cups of the flour then the 1/2 cup of milk.
• Stir in the last 1 1/4 cup on flour and the baking powder.
• Pour the batter evenly between the 2 cake pans and bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
• Filling: In a small sauce pan, combined all of the ingredients and bring to a boil over medium-high heat; set aside to cool.
• Frosting: In a medium bowl, add all of the ingredients and beat with an electric hand mixer until light and fluffy; set aside.
• Cake: When the cake is done, remove it from the oven and let sit for 5 minutes.
• Loosen the edges with a knife, and turn them out onto a cooling rack(s) to cool completely.
• When the cakes are cool, pour the raspberry filling onto one of the cakes and then top with the other cake.
• Let cake cool for a while, then spread the frosting on the top and sides.
• To garnish you can place raspberries on the top and around then cake.

DARK CHOCOLATE-RASPBERRY CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a fluted tube pan (such as Bundt®).
• Combine cake mix, water, oil, eggs, and almond extract in a large mixing bowl. Mix thoroughly by hand, then fold in pie filling; batter will be thick. Pour into the prepared pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Let cool completely on a wire rack before inverting carefully onto a cake platter or cake stand, about 30 minutes.
• For glaze, melt butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Add chocolate chips and stir constantly with a whisk until melted, then quickly stir in milk.
• Remove from heat and pour to drizzle evenly over cake. Garnish with fresh raspberries.