Dark Chocolate Truffle Cake With Raspberry Sauce Food

CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE CAKE WITH RASPBERRIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. and butter a 10-inch springform pan.
• Chop chocolate and cut butter into pieces. In a double boiler or a metal bowl set over a saucepan of barely simmering water melt chocolate and butter with sugar, stirring until smooth (sugar will not be dissolved). Remove top of double boiler or bowl from heat and cool mixture to room temperature. Transfer mixture to a large bowl.
• Separate eggs, putting yolks in a small bowl and whites in a large bowl. Add yolks 1 at a time to chocolate mixture, whisking well after each addition. With an electric mixer beat whites until they just hold soft peaks. Sift flour over chocolate mixture and with a whisk fold flour and half of whites into mixture gently but thoroughly. With a rubber spatula fold in remaining whites gently but thoroughly.
• Pour batter into pan, smoothing top, and bake in middle of oven 40 to 45 minutes, or until a tester comes out with moist crumbs adhering. Cool cake completely in pan on a rack. Cake may be made up to this point 2 days ahead and kept in an airtight container at room temperature.
• Chop chocolate and in a double boiler or a metal bowl set over a saucepan of barely simmering water melt chocolate, stirring frequently until smooth. Remove top of double boiler or bowl from heat. While chocolate is melting, in a small saucepan bring cream just to a simmer and add espresso. Add cream mixture to chocolate with butter and liqueur and stir until smooth.
• Remove side of pan and cut cake into 8 wedges. Invert wedges (so that top sides will be flat) onto a large rack set over a large shallow baking pan, spacing them at least 1 inch apart. Pour enough warm ganache evenly over wedges to coat them and let stand 5 minutes.
• Scrape excess ganache from baking pan into bowl of ganache and pour ganache over wedges again, making sure they are coated completely. (Remaining ganache may be chilled, covered, and reheated for using as a chocolate sauce.) Let wedges stand at room temperature until ganache is set, at least 1 hour, and up to 6.
• Just before serving, pick over raspberries and cover top of each wedge with raspberries.

CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE CAKE

Steps:

• For the truffles: Combine the chocolate, cream and butter in a small heatproof bowl set over simmering water and let melt. When almost melted, remove from heat and stir the mixture until smooth. Stir in your flavoring of choice and refrigerate until thick enough to mound on a spoon, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes.
• Line a baking tray with waxed or parchment paper. Scrape the chocolate mixture into a pastry bag fitted with a #3 plain tip. Pipe 8 (1-inch) mounds onto the prepared tray. Place 1 raspberry in the center of each chocolate mound and pipe a little more of the chocolate mixture to enclose completely. Refrigerate until firm, about 15 minutes.
• For the cake: Position the rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter or coat with vegetable spray, 8 oversize muffin cups (4-inches wide and 2-inches deep) or 1 1/4-cup custard cups. Line bottoms with rounds of waxed paper.
• In the top of a double boiler or a small heatproof bowl set over simmering water, melt together the chocolate and butter, cool slightly.
• Meanwhile in the bowl of an electric mixer with a paddle or beaters, beat the eggs, egg yolks and sugar on high speed until tripled in volume, about 5 minutes. Scrape in the chocolate mixture and, on low speed, beat until just combined. Remove the bowl from the mixer and fold in the flour, using a rubber spatula. Spoon a little of the batter into each of the prepared cups, top with 1 truffle, and cover with the remaining batter. Arrange the cups on a baking tray and bake until the edges of the cakes begin to pull away from the sides of the cups, 12 to 13 minutes.
• Let stand 10 minutes. Invert onto individual dessert plates and carefully peel off the paper. Serve warm. Spoon softly whipped cream or ice cream next to each cake and, if desired, garnish with a few fresh raspberries. Serve immediately.

CHOCOLATE MOLTEN CAKES WITH RASPBERRY SAUCE AND CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Butter six 3/4-cup souffle dishes or custard cups.
• Stir the butter and chocolate in a heavy, medium saucepan over low heat until melted. Cool slightly.
• Whisk the eggs and egg yolks in a large bowl to blend. Whisk in the confectioners' sugar, and then the melted chocolate and the flour. Pour the batter into the prepared dishes, dividing equally. Bake the cakes until the sides are set but the center remains soft and runny, about 11 minutes (or up to 14 minutes for batter that was refrigerated).
• Run a small knife around the cakes to loosen. Immediately turn the cakes out onto plates. Spoon Raspberry Sauce around the cakes. Top with Vanilla Sweet Cream and Chocolate Truffles.
• Cook the raspberries, confectioners' sugar and lemon juice over low heat for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Strain through a fine sieve to remove any seeds and chill.
• In chilled bowl, whisk the cream until it begins to foam and thicken. Add the confectioners' sugar and vanilla and continue to whisk just until soft peaks form.
• Heat the heavy cream in a 2-quart heavy-bottomed saucepan until bubbles begin to form around the edge of the pan. Make sure that you have chopped the chocolate as finely as possible to allow it to melt quickly and easily. Place the chopped chocolate in a medium-size mixing bowl. Make a ganache by pouring about half of the hot cream over the chocolate and letting it sit for 30 seconds to melt the chocolate. Then slowly whisk until smooth and homogenous. Do not add all of the hot cream to the cold chocolate at once; the shock of the temperature extremes would cause the fat in the chocolate to separate.
• Pour the ganache onto a plastic wrap-covered baking sheet and spread evenly with a rubber spatula. Cover the ganache with plastic wrap and allow it to cool for at least 4 hours at room temperature.
• When the ganache has cooled to the consistency of a thick paste, scrape it into a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2-inch plain tip. Pipe 1-inch-diameter mounds spaced 1-inch apart on a parchment paper-covered baking sheet. To pipe the mounds, hold the pastry bag at a slight angle and allow the tip to touch the parchment as you begin to pipe. Once you have formed the mound, stop squeezing and lift the tip straight up, leaving a small tail on the top of each mound. You can also use a spoon and drop small mounds of ganache onto the baking sheet. Let the truffles harden in the refrigerator for 15 minutes, until they are hard enough to roll with your hands.
• To roll the mound into a ball, place a truffle between both palms, squeeze slightly and roll between your hands. The truffles will look nicer if they are as round as possible.
• When all the truffles are rolled into balls, they are ready to be coated. If they have become too soft, place them in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 hours until they are firm enough to coat. Roll in cocoa powder or chopped walnuts, one at a time.

CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY MOUSSE TRUFFLE CAKE, RASPBERRY-CASSIS SAUCE

Steps:

• MAKE THE CHOCOLATE SOUR CREAM CAKE:.
• Preheat oven to 350ºF.
• Lightly butter the bottom and sides of two 9x2" round cake pans. Line the bottoms of the pans with parchment paper. Dust the sides of the pans with flour and tap out the excess.
• Sift together flour, baking soda and salt onto a piece of waxed paper.
• Place chocolate in microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on medium(50%power)1 minute. Stir. Microwave 1 minute more or until chocolate softens.
• Stir until smooth. Let cool.
• Beat butter and shortening in mixing bowl until creamy, using electric mixer at medium speed.
• Add brown sugar.
• Continuing to beat, gradually add granulated sugar over a 4 minute period.
• Continue beating for another 1-2 minutes or until mixture is a light texture and off-white in color. Beat in vanilla.
• Beat eggs with fork until frothy. At medium speed while continuing to beat, slowly add beaten eggs to batter.
• Add sour cream aand beat until smooth. Beat in melted chocolate until blended. Scrape down sides and bottom of bowl with rubber spatula.
• At low speed, beat in flour mixture alternating with milk, beginning and ending with flour, mixing until just blended. Mix batter for 10 more seconds.
• Divide batter between prepared pans and smooth top.
• Bake 35-40 minutes or until center springs back when gently pressed with a finger.
• Cool in pans on wire racks for 5 minutes.
• Run a thin-bladed knife around the edges of layers to loosen. Invert the cake layers onto wire racks.
• Peel off the paper circles and leave them loosely attached to the bottom of the cake layers. Reinvert the layers onto other racks so that they are right side up.
• Cool cake layers completely.
• MAKE THE RASPBERRY SYRUP:.
• Combine water and sugar in small saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until the sugar is completely dissolved.
• Raise heat to medium-high and bring syrup to boil. Remove the pan from heat and stir in the raspberry brandy and Grand Marnier.
• Keep syrup covered until ready to assemble the cake.
• MAKE THE CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY MOUSSE:.
• Put chocolate in food processor fitted with the metal chopping blade. Cover and process 30-45 second or until finely ground.
• Combine frozen raspberries and 1/3 cup sugar in a noncorrosive medium saucepan. Cook over medium-heat, stirring constantly, until sugar dissolves and raspberries soften.
• Press raspberry mixture through a fine meshed sieve into noncorrosive saucepan. Discard seeds. Cook raspberry pureé over medium-high heat until it reduces to 1/3 cup.
• Pour hot pureé over ground chocolate.
• Combine egg yolks, 3 tablespoons sugar and salt in small bowl. Whisk vigorously until well blended.
• Scald 3/4 cup heavy cream in a small saucepan over medium heat. While whisking constantly, temper egg yolk mixture into saucepan of hot cream.(To temper eggs; stir a little of the hot cream into eggs to warm "temper" them. The warmed eggs are then stirred into the remaining hot mixture. Tempering helps to prevent eggs from curdling).
• Continue to cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture starts to thicken. (Do not allow the custard to overcook or the custard will be grainy.).
• With the motor of the food processor running immediately pour the hot custard through the feed tube. Process for 15-25 seconds or until chocolate is completely melted.
• With a spatula, scrape down the side of bowl.
• Add raspberry brandy, Grand Marnier and vanilla. Process briefly until blended.
• Turn chocolate/raspberry mixture into large bowl.
• Whip remaining heavy cream in chilled bowl just until it starts to thicken and barely forms soft peaks, using electric mixer at high speed.(Do not overwhip cream or mousse will be grainy.).
• Using a rubber spatula gently fold one-third of whipped cream into chocolate/raspberry mixture to lighten it. Fold in remaining whipped cream.(Do not OVERFOLD the mousse.) Keep the mousse at room temperature while preparing cake layers.
• ASSEMBLE THE TRUFFLE CAKE:.
• Line the inside of 2 quart round glass bowl with plastic wrap. Remove paper circles from bottoms of cake layers. Using a long serrated knife, slice each cake layer in half horizantally.
• Trim one cake layer into 6-1/4" circle. Generously brush with some of the raspberry soaking syrup. Place the cake circle into the bottom of the prepared bowl. Spoon slightly less than half of the chocolate raspberry mousse over the cake and spread it evenly with a spatula.
• Trim a second cake layer into 7-1/2" circle and generously brush with soaking syrup. Place cake circle on top of the mousse and press it down gently. Cover with remaining mousse.
• Brush a third layer cake with remaining syrup and press it gently on top of the mousse.
• Wrap the bowl in plastic-wrap and chill the truffle cake overnight.(Reserve the leftover cake layer for another use. It may be frozen for up to 1 month.).
• MAKE THE RAPBERRY-CASSIS SAUCE:.
• Combine frozen raspberries, red currant jelly and sugar in noncorrosive medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until sugar is completely dissolved and the berries are soft. Do not let mixture boil.
• Strain raspberry mixture a fine-meshed sieve into a bowl. Discard seeds. Pour raspberry pureé back into noncorrosive medium saucepan.
• Put arrowroot in small cup. Slowly stir in water until mixture is smooth. Stir arrowroot paste into raspberry mixture.
• Cook raspberry mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a gentle boil. Continue to boil for 30-60 seconds or until sauce is translucent.
• Do not boil more than 1 minute or the sauce will become watery. Remove pan from heat. Cool sauce to room temperature and stir in Crème de Cassis, to taste. Transfer sauce to a bowl; cover and refrigerate.
• MAKE THE TRUFFLE FROSTING:.
• Put chocolate in food processor fitted with metal chopping blade. Process for 30-45 seconds or until finely ground.
• Heat cream, corn syrup and salt in small saucepan over medium heat to a gentle boil.
• Pour cream mixture over chocolate in food processor. Add vanilla. Let the mixture stand for 30 seconds to melt chocolate. Process briefly until mixture is smooth. Turn into a small bowl and cover surface with plastic wrap.
• Let mixture stand at room temperature for about 1 hour or until stiff enough to frost truffle cake.
• ASSEMBLE THE TRUFFLE CAKE:.
• Remove the plastic from the top of the truffle cake bowl. Invert bowl onto cake plate and remove bowl and plastic wrap from the top of the cake.
• Using a small metal cake spatula, cover the cake with an even layer of truffle frosting.
• Create decorative swirls in the frosting using the back of a soup spoon.
• Lightly dust the cake with cocoa powder.
• Store the truffle cake in refrigerator under a cake dome for up to 4 days.
• TO SERVE:.
• Spoon a pool of raspberry-cassis sauce onto a dessert plate. Lay a slice of cake on top of sauce. Garnish with fresh raspberries.

FLOURLESS DARK CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH FRESH RASPBERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 10-inch cake pan.
• Melt chocolate chips and butter over a double boiler. Let cool slightly and fold in eggs. Pour batter into the prepared pan. Place pan in a deep roasting pan and pour in enough boiling water to come 1 inch up the sides of the cake pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 45 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes and cover with a paper towel.
• Turn cake out of pan upside-down onto a cake plate.
• Combine raspberries, water, and sugar in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook until sauce has thickened and reduced, 5 to 7 minutes. Strain sauce and let cool 10 minutes before serving with the cake.

TRIPLE-CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH RASPBERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°. In a large bowl, combine cake mix, pudding mixes, eggs, water and oil; beat on low speed 30 seconds. Beat on medium 2 minutes. Fold in chocolate chips., Pour into a well-greased 10-in. fluted tube pan. Bake 60-65 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely., Meanwhile, place water, raspberries and sugar in a blender; cover and process until well blended. In a small saucepan, combine cornstarch and lemon juice; stir in raspberry puree. Bring to a boil. Cook and stir 2 minutes or until thickened. Refrigerate until serving., Dust cake with confectioners' sugar. Serve with sauce.

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.

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.

CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE LOAF WITH RASPBERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Line 8 1/2 by 4 1/2 inch loaf pan with plastic wrap.
• In a small bowl mix 1/2 cup cream with egg yolks until blended.
• In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine chocolate, 1/2 cup corn syrup and butter, and cook five minutes or until chocolate and butter melt, stirring constantly.
• Add egg mixture; cook three minutes longer, stirring constantly.
• Remove from heat and cool to room temperature.
• In a medium sized bowl with electric mixer at high speed, beat remaining 1 1/2 cups cream, confectioner's sugar and vanilla until soft peaks form.
• With rubber spatula, fold cream mixture into chocolate mixture until no streaks remain. (Wait until chocolate mixture is cooled sufficiently or the cream will separate, and you don't want that.).
• Pour into prepared pan. Refrigerate overnight or chill in freezer for three hours.
• For raspberry puree: Puree thawed raspberries in their liquid in a blender or a food processor. Run puree through a wire strainer to separate seeds and strain puree into a small bowl. Stir in remaining 1/3 cup corn syrup to the puree.
• Garnish truffle loaf with fresh raspberries and mint leaves if desired, and serve with raspberry puree.

CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY TRUFFLE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Prepare a 9" springform pan: Attache bottom to sides and spray with non-stick vegetable spray. Wrap outside of pan with foil to "seal" the seams for the Bain Marie (water bath).
• Combine crumbs and butter and press onto bottom of the springform pan.
• Combine 3 packages cream cheese and the sugar, mixing at medium speed until well blended.
• Add eggs, one at a time, blending on low speed till incorporated well.
• Blend in sour cream and vanilla; pour over crust.
• Combine remaining cream cheese and the melted chocolate, mixing until well blended. Add jam and mix well.
• Drop rounded tablespoons of chocolate-raspberry-cheese mixture evenly spaced over plain batter; pushing the "truffles" into the plain batter if necessary; do not swirl.
• Bake in the Bain Marie at 325F for 1 hour and 20 minutes.
• Bain Marie - Use a large roasting pan, place springform pan in roasting pan then fill roasting pan with boiling water to a level of half way up the sides of the springform pan.
• Remove cake from Bain Marie and allow to cool for 30 minutes.
• Loosen cake from rim of pan with a thin flexible blade and then remove sides from springform pan. Cool completely.
• Prepare Topping: Melt chocolate chips and whipping cream over low heat, stirring until smooth. Spread over cheesecake, top and down sides, as well, as desired. Chill for at least 4 hour.
• Alternate shortbread crust: In a food processor, place 1 cup + 2 Tbs. AP flour, 4 or 5 Tbs. sugar, 3 Tbs. cocoa powder (the darker the better), a pinch of salt, and 5 Tbs. cold butter. Pulse to combine and cut in butter. Add 1 1/2 egg yolks and process till dough comes together. Divide into 2/3 and 1/3. Use larger portion for bottom, pressing onto removable bottom of pan and bake at 350º F for 12-14 minutes. Roll remaining third into a rope long enough to go around the pan's circumference. Remove baked bottom crust from oven and allow to cool slightly. Attach sides of pan to bottom and press remaining crust around the sides of the pan and up about 2 inch high (height is not critical) Fill with cheesecake batter and bake as directed above.

CHOCOLATE-RASPBERRY TRUFFLE CAKE

Steps:

• Puree raspberries in a food processor.
• Press raspberry mixture through a wire mesh sieve, using the back of a spoon to squeeze out the juice; discard seeds.
• Bring juice and the 1-2 T sugar to a boil over high heat, then cook over medium heat, stirring often until the mixture is reduced to 1/2 cup.
• Remove from heat and cool completely.
• Butter an eight inch cake pan and line bottom with parchment or waxed paper.
• Heat the 1/3 cup sugar and the Chambord in a saucepan over medium heat until sugar dissolves, stirring occasionally.
• Add butter and continue heating and stirring until butter melts.
• Remove from heat and add chocolate, stir until smooth and cool.
• (I heated the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl in the microwave at 50% power for about four minutes, then stirred until smooth and then added the warm melted chocolate to the liquor/butter mixture-It seemed to make it a lot smoother and quicker).
• Whisk together the raspberry reduction,eggs, flour, and almond extract in a large bowl.
• Add chocolate mixture and beat at medium speed with an electric mixer until well blended.
• Pour into prepared cake pan.
• Place cake pan into a larger pan (I used the broiler pan from the oven) and add hot water to a depth of one inch.
• Bake at 325°F for 42 to 45 minutes.
• Cake will have risen and not be completely "set".
• Remove from water bath and cool cake completely on a wire rack.
• Cake will "collapse" as it cools down.
• Run a thin knife around pan to loosen cake.
• Invert cake onto a plate, remove the parchment or waxed paper, and invert again onto a serving plate.
• To serve, cut cake into small wedges and place on plates that have been drizzled with the chocolate syrup.
• Garnish with whipped cream and a few fresh raspberries and serve.
• If desired, cake can be made a day ahead of time.
• Cover and chill in refrigerator then let stand at room temperature for at least one hour before serving.

CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE RASPBERRY CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine cookie crumbs and butter. Press onto the bottom and 1 in. up the sides of a greased 9-in. springform pan; set aside. , In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Beat in the melted chips, cream and vanilla. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Pour into crust. Drop jam by teaspoonfuls onto filling; swirl with a knife. Place pan on a baking sheet. , Bake at 325° for 45-50 minutes or until center is almost set. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer., For truffle layer, in a small heavy saucepan, combine cream and sugar. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat; stir in chips and jam until smooth. Transfer to a bowl; refrigerate for about 1 hour or until slightly set. Beat for 1-2 minutes or until light and fluffy. Gently spread over cheesecake. Refrigerate overnight., Garnish with raspberries and mint if desired.

CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE PIE WITH RASPBERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine wafer crumbs and butter. Press onto the bottom and up the sides of a 9-in. pie plate coated with cooking spray. Freeze for 30 minutes. Spread chocolate ice cream over crust; freeze for 1 hour or until firm., In a microwave, melt chocolate chips and whipping cream; stir until smooth. Cool slightly. Quickly and carefully spread over chocolate ice cream. Freeze for 30 minutes. Top with vanilla ice cream; sprinkle with almonds. Cover and freeze until firm., For sauce, in a blender, cover and puree raspberries. Strain and discard seeds. In a saucepan, combine cornstarch and raspberry juice until smooth. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 1-2 minutes or until thickened. Cool completely. , Remove pie from the freezer 10 minutes before cutting. Serve over raspberry sauce.

CHOCOLATE GANACHE CAKE WITH RASPBERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Grease a 10-in. springform pan and dust with baking cocoa; set aside., In a large saucepan, melt chocolate and butter over medium heat; stir until smooth. Set aside to cool. In a large bowl, beat eggs on medium-high speed for 5 minutes. Using low speed, add the flour, 1 tablespoon at a time. Gradually add chocolate mixture; beat on medium for 2 minutes. Pour into prepared pan. , Bake at 350° for 25-28 minutes or just until set. Cool on a wire rack to room temperature. Remove sides of pan and invert onto a serving plate; invert again, so top side is up., For ganache, in a small saucepan over low heat, melt chocolate chips with cream; stir until smooth. Cool until slightly thickened, stirring occasionally. Spread ganache over top of cake, allowing some to drape over the sides., For sauce, in a large saucepan, heat raspberries. Transfer raspberries to a fine mesh strainer over a large bowl. Mash and strain raspberries, reserving juice. Discard seeds. , In another saucepan, combine the sugar, cornstarch, water and reserved raspberry juice until smooth. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium; cook and stir for 2-3 minutes or until mixture reaches desired consistency. Stir in orange extract., For whipped cream, in a small bowl, beat cream until it begins to thicken. Add sugar, cocoa and vanilla; beat until soft peaks form. Garnish cake with chocolate whipped cream and sauce.