Description
A rich chocolate cake layered with raspberry buttercream and chocolate ganache, perfect for any celebration.
Ingredients
- 2 cups hot water
- 1 and 1/2 cups + 2 tbsp unsweetened natural cocoa powder
- 3 cups cake flour, spooned & leveled
- 2 and 1/4 cups light brown sugar, packed
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 3 tsp baking soda
- 1 and 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 2 tsp espresso powder
- 1 and 1/2 cups full fat sour cream, at room temperature
- 1/4 cup milk
- 4 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1 and 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 and 3/4 cups salted butter, softened at room temperature
- 5 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tbsp milk
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- Salt to taste
- 1 cup + 2 tbsp freeze dried raspberries, pulsed to a powder
- 2 tbsp raspberry preserves
- 6 ounces full fat cream cheese
- 2/3 cup raspberry preserves
- 4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1-2 tsp vegetable oil
- Fresh raspberries and mini chocolate chips for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease three 9-inch cake pans with shortening and dust with flour.
- In a large bowl, whisk hot water and cocoa together until dissolved. Set aside to cool.
- In a mixing bowl, combine dry ingredients: cake flour, sugars, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and espresso powder.
- Add eggs, sour cream, milk, oil, vanilla, and the cooled cocoa mixture to the dry ingredients. Mix until combined.
- Divide the batter among the prepared pans and bake for 23 to 27 minutes. Cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
- For the raspberry frosting, beat softened butter until creamy, then gradually add powdered sugar. Mix in milk, vanilla, salt, freeze dried raspberry powder, and raspberry preserves. Finally, beat in the cream cheese until smooth.
- Assemble the cake by layering with frosting and raspberry preserves, then crumb coat and chill until set.
- Prepare the chocolate ganache by heating heavy cream and pouring over chopped chocolate. Stir until smooth and add vegetable oil for consistency.
- Pour the ganache over the cake, creating drips down the sides. Chill until set, then decorate with remaining frosting and garnish with raspberries and chocolate chips.
Notes
Use room temperature ingredients for the best results. Chill the cake layers between steps for easier assembly.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 27 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American