Decadent Quintuple Chocolate Raspberry Layer Cake Recipes

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.

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.

Steps:

• CAKE:.
• 1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
• 2. In large mixing bowl, combine cake mix, chocolate pudding mix, sour cream, oil, eggs, and water. Mix well. Add mini chocolate chips, stir.
• 3. Butter 2 8-inch round cake pans and divide batter equally. Bake for 30-40 minutes, until cakes test done. (Stick a toothpick in near the middle and see if it comes out clean. Watch out, if you hit a chocolate chip you may think it's not finished baking when it is!).
• 4. Allow cakes to cool about 15 minutes before turning out of pans to cool completely (at least 1 hour).
• GANACHE:.
• 1. Once cakes are in oven, begin ganache. (This give it enough time to set.) Dump the Ghirardelli milk chocolate chips, 2 tbsp butter, and 1 tsp vanilla into a blender or food processor.
• 2. In a small saucepan, heat 1 cup of the heavy cream and granulated sugar until boiling. Stir constantly, being careful not to burn it.
• 3. Once it begins boiling, pour cream mixture over chocolate chips in blender or food processor. Mix until smooth.
• 4. Place ganache in a covered container and refrigerate until cool and desired consistency.
• MOUSSE:.
• 1. In mixing bowl, combine 2 tbsp softened butter, 8 oz softened cream cheese, 3/4 c of the powdered sugar, 1/2 tsp vanilla extract, and 1/8 tsp salt. Mix at medium speed until smooth.
• 2. Melt 2/3 c chocolate chips in the microwave, about 20 seconds at a time, stirring between each time. They are done when you can stir them completely smooth.
• 3. Add melted chocolate to cream cheese mixture, mixing until fluffy and incorporated, about 1 minute.
• 4. In a separate mixing bowl, combine 1/4 c powdered sugar and 1 tbsp vanilla pudding mix. The pudding mix stabilizes your whipped cream and keeps it from falling or weeping! Add remaining 1 c heavy whipping cream and beat until stiff peaks form. (It should look like whipped cream.).
• 5. Scrape whipped cream into chocolate cream cheese mixture and fold gently to incorporate, stirring gently as needed to combine all ingredients.
• ASSEMBLY:.
• 1. Split cake layers horizontally so that you have 4 layers. Place first layer on cake tray or stand. Divide your mousse into three equal parts.
• 2. Place one third of your mousse in the center of the cake layer. Gently spread it out to the edges to cover.
• 3. Slice some raspberries in half (from top to tip) and cover the mousse with halved raspberries.
• 4. Place next cake layer on top of raspberries.
• 5. Repeat steps 2-4 until you have placed the top layer on the cake.
• 6. Check on your ganache. You want it to have a soft frosting consistency. If it has not set firm enough yet, you can set your container in a bowl of ice water (be careful not to get water in the ganache!) to set faster. If it has set too firm, microwave for 5-10 seconds at a time and stir before microwaving any more.
• 7. Scoop ganache a little at at time on the center of your top layer and spread outwards and down to cover top and sides of cake.
• 8. Place whole raspberries in a ring around top of cake to decorate.
• 9. You may wish to refrigerate your cake a short time before serving to help set ganache and stabilize mousse, or serve immediately. This is a cake to slice THIN. Enjoy!

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F Grease a 10" tube pan.
• Pour boiling water over chocolate and butter; let stand until melted.
• Stir in vanilla and sugar, then whisk in egg yolks, one at a time, until blended well.
• Mix soda and sour cream and whisk into chocolate mixture.
• Mix flour and baking powder well, and add to batter, mixing thoroughly.
• Beat egg whites until stiff but not dry. Stir in a quarter of the egg whites thoroughly into the batter. Scoop the remaining egg whites on top of the batter and gently fold together.
• Pour batter into prepared pan. Set on the middle rack of the oven and bake for 40-50 minute or until the edges have pulled away from the pan and the cake tester inserted comes out clean. Cool in pan for 10 minutes; unmold and cool completely before frosting.
• To Make the Frosting:.
• Place all ingredients in a heavy saucepan and whisk until smooth over low heat. Cool slightly; add more sugar if necessary. Spread on cake while frosting is still warm.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).
• Combine chopped chocolate and hot coffee in a bowl. Stir occasionally until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Set aside.
• Sift sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together in a large bowl.
• Beat eggs in a bowl using an electric mixer until slightly thickened and lemon-colored. Slowly add oil, buttermilk, vanilla extract, and melted chocolate mixture. Beat until well combined. Add sugar-flour mixture; beat on medium speed until just combined. Divide batter between the prepared cake pans.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 1 hour to 1 hour and 10 minutes. Let cool completely in pans on wire racks, about 30 minutes. Invert layers onto racks.
• While cakes are cooling, bring heavy cream, sugar, and corn syrup to a boil over low heat in a small saucepan. Whisk until sugar dissolves. Add chocolate; whisk until melted. Add butter; whisk until smooth. Let ganache frosting cool until spreadable, about 10 minutes.
• While frosting and cakes continue to cool, puree raspberries in a food processor. Press through a fine mesh strainer with the back of a spoon into a saucepan. Pour in sugar and cornstarch; bring to a boil over medium-low heat. Cook until thickened and reduced, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in lemon zest. Remove raspberry filling from heat.
• Cut each cake layer in 1/2 horizontally to produce 4 equal layers. Spread 1/3 raspberry filling onto each of 3 layers and stack. Place top layer onto cake. Spread ganache frosting evenly from center of top layer down the sides of the 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.

Steps:

• CHOCOLATE CAKE.
• Prepare Chocolate Cake according to package directions in two 9 inch cake pans.
• Cool completely. For best results and time permitting, place the layers in freezer until firm.
• RASPBERRY CREAM FILLING.
• Place softened cream cheese and jam in a mixing bowl and cream together until well incorporated, about 2 minutes.
• Add powdered sugar, one cup at a time, until it reaches desired consistency. Use more or less than 2 cups, as desired.
• Frost only ONE of the cooled layers leaving a 1 inch unfrosted margin all around the edge of the layer. Then place the other layer on the Raspberry Filling. The top layer will push the Raspberry Filling toward the edges of the cake, that's why it's important to leave the 1 inch margin.
• CHOCOLATE FROSTING.
• Beat the frosting in mixing bowl for 2-3 minutes.
• Completely frost the sides of the cake.
• Put remaining frosting in decorating bag. Using a large star tip, create a shell border around the top of the cake. The border will keep the ganache on top of the cake. Place cake in refrigerator until ganache is ready.
• RASPBERRY CHOCOLATE GANACHE.
• Combine cocoa, sugar and cornstarch in a saucepan and whisk.
• Gradually add water and jam, continue to whisk the mixture.
• Bring to a simmer over medium heat, whisking constantly.
• Remove from the heat and stir in raspberry liqueur, if using.
• Let cool slightly.
• Remove cake from refrigerator and pour/spread ganache on top.
• Garnish with candies or raspberries.