Raspberry Laced Vanilla Cake Food

RASPBERRY-LACED VANILLA CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Grease bottoms and sides of 3 (9-inch) round cake pans with shortening; lightly flour. In small bowl, mix flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda; set aside.
• In large bowl, beat 1 1/2 cups butter and the granulated sugar with electric mixer on high speed, scraping bowl occasionally, until fluffy. On medium speed, beat in flour mixture, milk, 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla and the eggs until blended. Beat 2 minutes longer. Pour evenly into pans.
• Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to cooling racks. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
• In medium bowl, beat 1 cup butter and the powdered sugar on medium speed until smooth. Gradually beat in liqueur and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla until smooth and spreadable.
• Cut each cake horizontally to make 2 layers. (Mark side of cake with toothpicks and cut with long, thin serrated knife.) Place 1 layer, cut side up, on serving plate; spread with 1/3 cup raspberry jam to within 1/4 inch of edge. Top with another layer, cut side down; spread with 1/3 cup frosting. Repeat with remaining layers.
• Frost side and top of cake with remaining frosting. Pipe frosting on top of cake if desired. Garnish with chocolate leaves. Store loosely covered.

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.

RASPBERRY LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 190c/fan 170c/gas 5. Butter 2 x 20cm sandwich tins and line each with a circle of baking parchment. In a large bowl, beat together all the cake ingredients until you have a smooth, soft mixture. Spoon the mixture equally into the two tins, smoothing over the top of each with the back of the spoon. Bake in the oven for 20 mins until golden and the cake springs back when gently pressed. Turn the cakes onto a cooling rack.
• Heat the sugar, 2 tbsp water and Disaronno together until the sugar has dissolved. Leave to cool, about 10 mins. Use a large serrated knife to cut each cake in half. Brush the syrup all over all four pieces of cake with a pastry brush.
• For the filling, whip the cream until it forms soft peaks. Beat the mascarpone and caster sugar in a large bowl to loosen, then fold in the cream and mix together until smooth.
• Spoon a third of the cream mixture over one of the cake halves. Scatter over some of the fruit (you don't want to cover the cake), then sandwich another half on top. Spread with cream and fruit as before and top with another half of cake and more cream and berries. Lay the final cake half on top. Gently press down, then wrap tightly in cling film and leave in the fridge overnight. To stop the cream from melting, this cake needs to be transported to the picnic in a cooler box. At the picnic, carefully remove clingfilm and dust with icing sugar to decorate, if you like.

RASPBERRY-LACED VANILLA CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350.
• Grease and flour three 9 incn round cake pans.
• Mix flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda; set aside.
• Beat butter and sugar in large bowl with electric mixer on high speed, scraping bowl occasionally, until fluffy.
• Beat in flour mixture, milk, vanilla, and eggs on medium speed until blended. Beat 2 minutes longer. Pour into pans.
• Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool ten minutes, remove from pans to wire rack, cool completely.
• For frosting beat butter and powdered sugar in medium bowl on medium speed until smooth. Gradually beat in liqueur and vanilla until smooth and spreadable.
• Cut each cake horizontally to make 2 layers. (Mark side of cake with toothpicks and cut with long, thin, serrated knife.) Place 1 layer, cut side up, on serving plate; spread with 1/3 cup raspberry jam to within 1/4 inch of edge. Top with another layer, cut side down, spread with 1/3 cup frosting. Repeat with remaining layers.
• Frost side and top of cake. Pipe remaining frosting on top of cake, if desired. Garnish with fresh raspberries, if desired. Store loosely covered at room temperature.

RASPBERRY-LACED VANILLA CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 3 9-inch round cake pans. Mix flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda and set aside. Beat butter and sugar in large bowl until fluffy. Beat in the flour mixture, milk, vanilla and eggs until blended. Beat 2 minutes longer. Pour into pans.
• Bake 25-30 minutes or until toothpick instered in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes. Remove from pans to wire rack and cool completely.
• Cut each cake horizontally to make 2 layers. Place 1 layer, cut side up, on serving plate. Spread with 1/3 cup of the jam to within 1/4 inch of the edge. Top with another layer, cut side down. Spread with 1/3 cup Raspberry Cream Frosting (recipe follows). Repeat with the remaining layers. Frost side and top of cake and garnish with raspberries if desired.
• RASPBERRY CREAM FROSTING:.
• 1 cup butter or margarine, softened.
• 3 cups powdered sugar.
• 1/2 cup raspberry syrup.
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla.
• Beat butter and powdered sugar until smooth. Gradually beat in the syrup and vanilla until smooth and spreadable.