Chocolate Raspberry Cake Recipe: Sweet Perfection

Chocolate raspberry cake represents a decadent fusion of rich, velvety flavors that dance across your palate with extraordinary elegance.

Intense cocoa notes intertwine seamlessly with bright, tangy berry undertones, creating a sensory experience that transcends ordinary desserts.

Sweet and slightly tart raspberries provide a stunning contrast against deep chocolate foundations, offering sophisticated complexity in every delectable slice.

Delightful textures emerge from carefully balanced ingredients, elevateing simple components into an extraordinary culinary masterpiece.

Sophisticated bakers understand how strategic ingredient combinations can elevate a basic cake into an unforgettable dessert moment.

Professional pastry techniques merge with classic comfort to produce something truly remarkable and memorably indulgent.

This recipe promises a elevateative baking adventure that challenges traditional expectations and delights discerning taste buds.

Why Chocolate Raspberry Cake Is Sweet and Sophisticated

• Craft a Decadent Dessert Masterpiece: This chocolate raspberry cake transforms ordinary baking into an extraordinary culinary experience with its rich layers, vibrant raspberry notes, and stunning presentation that looks professionally crafted.
• Texture Paradise: Enjoy the perfect balance of moist chocolate cake, silky smooth cream cheese frosting, and luscious raspberry preserves that create an irresistible combination of soft, creamy, and fruity textures in every single bite.
• Impressive Yet Achievable: Despite looking like a professional bakery creation, this recipe breaks down complex techniques into manageable steps, making it accessible for home bakers who want to create something spectacular without requiring advanced pastry skills.
• Flavor Explosion: The strategic blend of cocoa, espresso powder, and raspberry creates a sophisticated flavor profile that elevates this cake from simple dessert to a memorable taste experience, balancing deep chocolate richness with bright, tangy fruit notes.

Ingredients for a Rich Chocolate Raspberry Cake

• Cake Flour: Light and soft flour for a tender cake crumb with delicate texture..
• Granulated Sugar, Brown Sugar: Sweet base that provides moisture and rich flavor..
• Cocoa Powder: Deep chocolate flavor with intense dark notes..
• Hot Water: Helps bloom cocoa powder and enhance chocolate intensity..

• Sour Cream, Milk: Adds richness and keeps cake incredibly moist..
• Vegetable Oil: Ensures smooth, tender cake texture..
• Eggs: Provides structure and binding for the cake..

• Vanilla Extract: Rounds out chocolate flavor with warm sweetness..
• Espresso Powder: Deepens chocolate flavor without adding coffee taste..
• Salt: Balances and enhances overall cake flavors..

• Baking Soda, Baking Powder: Helps cake rise and become light and fluffy..

• Unsalted Butter: Creamy base for smooth frosting texture..
• Powdered Sugar: Creates sweet, smooth frosting consistency..
• Cream Cheese: Adds tanginess and stabilizes frosting..
• Freeze-Dried Raspberry Powder: Intense raspberry flavor without added moisture..
• Raspberry Preserves: Provides natural fruity sweetness..

• Heavy Cream: Creates smooth, glossy chocolate drip..
• Chocolate: Rich, dark chocolate for intense drip flavor..
• Vegetable Oil: Helps create perfect pouring consistency..

• Fresh Raspberries: Bright, fresh fruit topping..
• Mini.

Baking a Chocolate Raspberry Cake Is Easy

Step 1: Prepare Baking Equipment

Preheat the oven to 350°F and gather three 9-inch round cake pans.

Line each pan with parchment paper, lightly coat with cooking spray, and dust with flour to prevent sticking.

Step 2: Create Chocolate Batter Base

In a mixing bowl, combine cake flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and espresso powder.

In a separate container, whisk hot water with cocoa powder until dissolved.

In another bowl, mix together sour cream, whole milk, eggs, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract.

Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients along with the cocoa mixture and whisk until smooth.

Divide the batter evenly across the three prepared pans.

Step 3: Bake Chocolate Layers

Place the pans in the preheated oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes.

Check doneness with a toothpick—look for moist crumbs but no wet batter.

Let cakes cool in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.

Allow the layers to cool completely before frosting.

Step 4: Whip Raspberry Cream Frosting

Cream softened butter in a mixer until fluffy, then gradually add powdered sugar.

Mix in milk, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt until smooth.

Fold in freeze-dried raspberry powder, then beat cream cheese until silky.

Blend in raspberry preserves to create a rich, fruity frosting.

Step 5: Layer and Construct Cake

Place the first cake layer on a serving stand and spread frosting evenly on top.

Pipe a frosting border and fill the center with raspberry preserves.

Repeat the process with the second layer, then position the final layer upside down for a flat top.

Apply a thin crumb coat over the entire cake and refrigerate for 30 minutes to set.

Step 6: Create Chocolate Ganache Drizzle

Heat heavy cream and pour it over chopped chocolate.

Let sit for 4 minutes, then stir until smooth and glossy.

Add a bit of vegetable oil for extra shine if desired.

Drizzle the ganache over the chilled cake, guiding drips down the sides with a spatula.

Step 7: Final Decorative Touch

Pipe the remaining raspberry frosting decoratively on top of the cake.

Sprinkle mini chocolate chips and add fresh raspberries for a finished look.

Chill for 20 minutes before slicing and serving.

Tips for Layering Chocolate and Raspberry Flavors

• Flour with Finesse: Properly dust cake pans with flour to prevent sticking and ensure easy cake removal without tearing.
• Cocoa Whisking Wisdom: Whisk hot water and cocoa powder thoroughly to eliminate lumps and create a smooth, rich chocolate base.
• Temperature Triumph: Allow cake layers to cool completely before frosting to prevent melting and maintain structural integrity.
• Crumb Coat Confidence: Apply a thin initial frosting layer and chill to lock in crumbs, creating a clean, professional-looking final finish.
• Ganache Perfection: Let ganache cool slightly before dripping to achieve those picture-perfect, controlled chocolate drips that cascade elegantly down the cake sides.

Best Ways to Store and Reheat Chocolate Raspberry Cake

• Refrigerator Storage: Place cake in an airtight container, carefully covering exposed cake edges to prevent drying. Seal tightly and store in the refrigerator for 4-5 days.
• Freezer Option: Wrap individual cake slices or whole cake in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil. Freeze up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
• Reheating Technique: Remove cake from refrigerator 30 minutes before serving to allow it to come to room temperature. Ganache and frosting will soften, restoring the cake’s original texture and flavor.

What Goes Well with Chocolate Raspberry Cake

• Savor Robust Red Wine Pairing: A full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot complements the rich chocolate cake, balancing its sweetness with deep, complex wine notes that enhance the raspberry and chocolate flavors.
• Create Coffee Companion Experience: A smooth espresso or dark roast coffee brings out the cake’s deep cocoa undertones, cutting through the creamy frosting while adding a warm, intense flavor profile that elevates each bite.
• Match Dessert Wine Delight: A late-harvest Raspberry Moscato or Port wine creates a divine flavor harmony, mirroring the cake’s raspberry essence while providing a sweet, luxurious finishing touch that intensifies the dessert’s fruity and chocolate notes.
• Explore Sparkling Contrast: A chilled Champagne or Prosecco offers a crisp, effervescent counterpoint to the cake’s rich texture, cleansing the palate and adding a celebratory lightness to each decadent slice.

Raspberry Cake Variations for a New Flavor Spin

• Berry Chocolate Bliss: Replace raspberry preserves with mixed berry compote for a vibrant, multi-berry flavor profile.
• Nutty Chocolate Dream: Incorporate chopped toasted almonds between cake layers and sprinkle crushed nuts on top for added crunch and depth.
• Dark Chocolate Elegance: Use 70% dark chocolate for ganache and swap raspberry powder with intense dark cocoa for a more sophisticated, rich chocolate experience.
• Mocha Raspberry Fusion: Add an extra shot of espresso to the cake batter and incorporate coffee liqueur into the frosting for a sophisticated adult version.

Chocolate Raspberry Cake Recipe

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4.7 from 29 reviews

• Total Time: 55 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

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Description

Rich chocolate raspberry cake delivers pure indulgence with layers of moist chocolate sponge and silky raspberry buttercream. Delicate chocolate ganache and fresh raspberries crown this irresistible dessert that promises to delight your senses.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients (Cake):

• 3 cups cake flour
• 2 and ¼ cups light brown sugar
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 and ½ cups full-fat sour cream
• 4 large eggs
• 1 and ½ cups + 2 tablespoons unsweetened natural cocoa powder
• 2 cups hot water

Supplemental Ingredients (Cake and Stabilizers):

• ½ cup vegetable oil
• ¼ cup milk
• 3 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 and ½ teaspoons baking powder
• ¾ teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons espresso powder
• 1 and ½ teaspoons vanilla extract

Frosting and Decoration Ingredients:

• 1 and ¾ cups salted butter
• 5 cups powdered sugar
• 6 ounces full-fat cream cheese
• 1 cup + 2 tablespoons freeze-dried raspberries
• 2 tablespoons raspberry preserves
• ⅔ cup raspberry preserves
• 4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate
• ½ cup heavy cream
• 1–2 teaspoons vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon milk
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt
• Fresh raspberries
• Mini chocolate chips

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Instructions

1. Meticulously prepare three cake pans by greasing with shortening, lining with parchment circles, and dusting with flour. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Whisk hot water and cocoa powder until silky, allowing the mixture to cool and develop rich chocolate notes.
3. Combine cake flour, sugars, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and espresso powder in a large mixing bowl, creating a dry ingredient foundation.
4. Incorporate sour cream, milk, eggs, vegetable oil, vanilla, and cooled cocoa mixture into the dry ingredients. Gently whisk until just combined, maintaining a smooth texture with minimal lumps.
5. Distribute batter evenly across prepared cake pans, ensuring uniform layers.
6. Bake for 23-27 minutes, monitoring until a toothpick reveals moist crumbs when inserted.
7. Allow cakes to rest in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire racks for complete cooling.
8. Cream butter until light and fluffy, gradually introducing powdered sugar in three separate additions.
9. Enhance frosting with milk, vanilla, and salt, creating a silky smooth consistency.
10. Fold in freeze-dried raspberry powder and raspberry preserves, then integrate cream cheese until perfectly blended.
11. Position first cake layer on a stand, spreading frosting and creating a preserves-filled center with piped borders.
12. Repeat layering process, ensuring even frosting distribution between cake tiers.
13. Invert final layer for a pristine top surface, applying a delicate crumb coat before refrigerating.
14. After chilling, generously frost the exterior, embracing a semi-naked aesthetic by strategically removing some frosting.
15. Create ganache by simmering heavy cream and pouring over finely chopped chocolate. Allow to rest, then stir until glossy.
16. Incorporate vegetable oil to achieve a perfect dripping consistency.
17. Cascade ganache over chilled cake, guiding elegant drips with an offset spatula.
18. Decorate with remaining frosting, fresh raspberries, and miniature chocolate chips.
19. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container, refrigerated for 4-5 days.
20. Pro tip: Cake layers and frosting can be prepared in advance, maintaining freshness and convenience.

Notes

• Prepare cake pans meticulously by greasing, lining with parchment, and dusting with flour to ensure easy cake removal and perfect shape.
• Cocoa mixture requires cooling to room temperature for seamless integration with other cake ingredients, preventing potential texture issues.
• Raspberry frosting demands precise beating technique to achieve smooth, creamy consistency without overmixing cream cheese.
• Crumb coat step is crucial for creating a clean, professional cake appearance and preventing loose cake crumbs from showing in final frosting.
• Chocolate ganache drip technique requires chilled cake surface and careful pouring to create elegant, controlled drips along cake edges.
• Refrigeration helps stabilize cake layers and frosting, ensuring structural integrity and enhancing flavor melding between components.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 455
• Sugar: 53 g
• Sodium: 230 mg
• Fat: 24 g
• Saturated Fat: 14 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
• Trans Fat: 0.5 g
• Carbohydrates: 58 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 4 g
• Cholesterol: 80 mg