Description
The ultimate dessert for chocolate lovers, this rich and moist cake is layered with creamy raspberry frosting, perfect for any celebration.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups hot water
- 1 1/2 cups + 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 3 cups cake flour
- 2 1/4 cups light brown sugar
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 3 tsp baking soda
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 2 tsp espresso powder
- 1 1/2 cups full-fat sour cream
- 1/4 cup milk
- 4 large eggs
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 3/4 cups salted butter, softened
- 5 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tbsp milk
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- A pinch of salt
- 1 cup + 2 tbsp freeze-dried raspberries, powdered
- 2 tbsp raspberry preserves
- 6 oz cream cheese, softened
- 2/3 cup raspberry preserves
- 4 oz semi-sweet chocolate
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1–2 tsp vegetable oil
- Fresh raspberries
- Mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease three 9-inch cake pans.
- Whisk hot water and cocoa powder until smooth. In another bowl, mix cake flour, light brown sugar, granulated sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and espresso powder. Add sour cream, milk, eggs, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract; stir until combined. Divide the batter between the pans.
- Bake for 23-27 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- For the raspberry frosting, beat butter until creamy, then gradually add powdered sugar, milk, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt, mixing until smooth. Add freeze-dried raspberries and raspberry preserves, then mix in softened cream cheese until fluffy.
- Assemble the cake by placing one layer on a plate, spreading raspberry frosting, adding preserves, and repeating with the remaining layers. Apply a thin crumb coat and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- For the chocolate ganache, heat cream until hot, pour over chopped chocolate, let sit, and stir until smooth. Mix in vegetable oil. Create drips on the chilled cake and refrigerate to set.
- Decorate with frosting swirls, fresh raspberries, and mini chocolate chips.
Notes
Serve at room temperature with fresh raspberries or chocolate chips on the side. Consider adding vanilla ice cream or whipped cream for an extra treat.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 38g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 56g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
Keywords: chocolate cake, raspberry frosting, dessert, cake, celebration