Sweet Bites by: Cafe Maria

Chocolate Raspberry Cake Delight 🍫🍓

Ingredients:

Raspberry filling:

1.5 tablespoons of water
1.5 tablespoons cornstarch
3 cups fresh or frozen raspberries
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Dark chocolate cake:

1 and 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup unsweetened natural cocoa powder
1 and 3/4 cups granulated sugar
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 large eggs
3/4 cup full-fat sour cream
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup hot water or black coffee
1 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips
Chocolate buttercream:

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
3 and 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1/2 cup unsweetened natural or Dutch cocoa powder
3 tablespoons heavy cream or milk
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Chocolate and raspberry ganache:

8 ounces quality semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
3/4 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup raspberry liqueur (optional)
Instructions:

Start with the raspberry filling by whisking corn and water together. Combine with raspberries, sugar and lemon juice in a saucepan over medium heat. Once boiled, remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract. Let it cool.
For the cake, mix dry ingredients in a bowl. In another bowl, mix oil, eggs, sour cream, buttermilk and vanilla. Combine wet and dry ingredients, then add hot water or coffee. Folded in chocolate chips. Pour batter into cake pans and bake at 350°F for 24-26 minutes.
Prepare the chocolate buttercream by beating the butter until creamy. Add sugar, cocoa powder, cream, salt and vanilla. Beat until smooth.
For the ganache, pour hot cream (and liqueur if using) over chopped chocolate. Stir until smooth.
Assemble the cake by layering with raspberry filling and buttercream.

Salted Caramel Chocolate Cake

Ingredients

For the chocolate cake:

2 cups granulated sugar

1 cup light brown sugar, packed

2 and 3/4 cups all-purpose flour (not packed!)

1 and 1/2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted

3 teaspoons baking soda

1 and 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 and 1/4 teaspoons salt

3 large eggs + 2 large egg yolks, at room temperature

1 and 1/2 cups full-fat sour cream

1/3 cup whole milk

3/4 cup vegetable oil (you may also sub in melted coconut oil)

2 tablespoons vanilla extract

1 and 1/2 cups hot water

For the salted caramel chocolate frosting:

2 cups unsalted butter (4 sticks, 16 ounces), VERY soft

4 and 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 tablespoons heavy cream (more if needed)

2 tablespoons salted caramel sauce

Garnish:

1 and 1/4 cups salted caramel sauce

Flaky sea salt

Instructions

For the chocolate cake:

Preheat oven to 350°(F). Cut out three 9-inch round segments of parchment paper to line your cake pans with. Spray each pan generously - sides and bottom - with nonstick cooking spray, then place the parchment paper cut out in the bottom of the pans and spray again. It's important to make sure every bit of pan and paper are sprayed so your cakes don't get stuck. Set pans aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a large bowl using a handheld electric mixer, combine both sugars, flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt; mix on low until dry ingredients are thoroughly combined. Use your hands to break up any large clumps, if needed.

In a separate bowl combine the eggs, egg yolks, sour cream, milk, oil and vanilla extract; mix until completely combined. Pour mixture into the dry ingredients and beat on low until just incorporated. Pour in hot water and continue mixing until completely combined; about 1 minute. The batter will quite thin.

Divide batter evenly among prepared pans. Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until a wooden toothpick or cake tester inserted in the center of a cake comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs attached. Cool cakes for 10 minutes in the pan before removing from pans and transferring to a cooling rack; cool cakes completely before frosting.

For the chocolate frosting:

In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the softened butter on medium-speed until completely smooth; about 3 minutes.

Turn the mixer off and sift the powdered sugar and cocoa into the mixing bowl. Turn the mixer on the lowest speed and mix until the sugar/cocoa have been absorbed by the butter; about 2 minutes. Increase mixer speed to medium; add in vanilla extract, salt, heavy cream and salted caramel; beat for 3 minutes. If your frosting appears a little too thin, add a little more confectioners' sugar; If your frosting needs to be thinner, add additional heavy cream, 1 tablespoon at a time.

Using a serrated knife, carefully trim the raised top of each cake, making each one an even, level surface. Transfer 1 layer to a large plate or cake stand. Spread a thin layer of frosting on top, then add a 1/2 cup of caramel; top with another cake layer, and repeat, thinly spread it with a layer of frosting, then adding a 1/2 cup of caramel. Top final cake layer and place cake in the fridge to set for 1 hour. Once set, finishing frosting the top and sides of the cake. Sprinkle with sea salt. Slice and serve, or keep refrigerated for up to 5 days.