Sweet Symphony: Irresistible Chocolate Raspberry Cake Recipe

Decadent chocolate meets vibrant raspberry in this showstopping chocolate raspberry cake that promises pure indulgence.

Rich chocolate layers meld seamlessly with tangy raspberry notes, creating a dessert that’s both luxurious and irresistible.

Every slice tells a story of deep cocoa warmth and bright fruity accents.

The delicate balance of flavors guarantees a memorable experience for anyone who takes a bite.

Smooth chocolate ganache and fresh raspberry garnish complete this elegant dessert.

Dessert lovers will swoon over the harmonious blend of classic chocolate and bright raspberry tones.

This cake stands ready to become your new go-to celebration centerpiece.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes

Calories: 515 kcal

Servings: 13

What Goes into a Chocolate Raspberry Cake

• All-Purpose Flour: Provides sturdy structure and tender crumb for the cake's foundation.
• Cocoa Powder: Delivers rich, deep chocolate flavor and dark color to the cake.
• Espresso Powder: Enhances chocolate intensity and adds subtle coffee undertones.
• Granulated Sugar, Brown Sugar: Creates sweetness and helps with moisture retention.
• Baking Soda, Baking Powder: Essential leavening agents for cake's light and fluffy texture.
• Salt: Balances sweetness and amplifies overall flavor profile.

• Eggs: Bind ingredients and create structure with protein content.
• Vegetable Oil: Ensures moisture and softness throughout the cake.
• Sour Cream: Adds tanginess and creates exceptionally tender crumb.
• Milk: Provides liquid consistency and helps ingredients blend smoothly.
• Vanilla Extract: Introduces warm, aromatic undertones to complement chocolate.

• Unsalted Butter: Creates creamy, smooth base for frosting.
• Powdered Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps achieve perfect frosting consistency.
• Cream Cheese: Adds richness and stabilizes frosting texture.
• Freeze-Dried Raspberry Powder: Concentrates authentic raspberry flavor.
• Raspberry Preserves: Introduces bright, fruity notes between cake layers.
• Heavy Cream: Essential for creating silky chocolate ganache.
• Chocolate: Delivers luxurious drip and intense chocolate flavor.
• Fresh Raspberries: Provides elegant, fresh garnish.
• Mini Chocolate Chips: Adds textural contrast and decorative element.

Kitchen Tools to Bake Chocolate Raspberry Cake

• 9-inch cake pans: Essential for baking the cake layers evenly.
• Parchment paper: Helps prevent cake from sticking and ensures easy removal.
• Large measuring cup or bowl: Perfect for mixing cocoa and water smoothly.
• Large mixing bowls: Needed for combining dry and wet cake ingredients.
• Wire cooling racks: Critical for cooling cake layers completely.
• Electric mixer: Crucial for beating butter, frosting, and creating smooth mixtures.
• Offset spatula: Helps spread frosting evenly and create clean ganache drips.
• Piping bag: Great for creating decorative borders and frosting details.
• Whisk: Useful for mixing ingredients and breaking up lumps.
• Small saucepan: Needed for heating cream for ganache.
• Cake stand: Provides a beautiful platform for assembling and presenting the cake.

Baking Instructions for Chocolate Raspberry Cake

Raspberry Chocolate Dream

• Cake Pan Preparation

Create the perfect canvas for your delectable dessert by setting up three cake pans. Line each with parchment and lightly grease to ensure smooth cake release.

• Chocolate Mixture Creation

Craft a rich chocolate base by blending cocoa with warm water, allowing the flavors to meld and deepen. Let the mixture cool and develop its intense character.

• Batter Blending

Combine dry ingredients in a spacious bowl, creating a foundation of flour, sugars, and subtle enhancers like espresso powder. Gently fold in wet ingredients until a silky smooth batter emerges.

• Baking Magic

Pour the luscious batter into prepared pans, transforming raw ingredients into golden cake layers. Bake until the edges pull slightly away and a gentle touch reveals springy perfection.

• Raspberry Frosting Brilliance

Whip soft butter into a creamy base, gradually introducing powdered sugar. Incorporate cream cheese, freeze-dried raspberry powder, and preserves to create a vibrant, tangy frosting.

• Cake Construction

Layer the cooled cake rounds with generous frosting and raspberry preserves. Build a stunning masterpiece that balances chocolate richness with fruity brightness.

• Ganache Glamour

Create a glossy chocolate drip by melting chocolate with warm cream. Allow the ganache to cascade elegantly down the cake’s sides, creating a professional finish.

• Final Flourish

Adorn your creation with fresh raspberries and delicate chocolate chips. Refrigerate briefly to set the stunning design before serving this show-stopping dessert.

Tips to Make Your Chocolate Raspberry Cake Stand Out

• Swap freeze-dried raspberry powder with other ground dried fruits like strawberries or cherries for unique taste variations.
• Prevent dry cake layers by checking doneness early and using a toothpick test – remove from oven when moist crumbs still cling to the pick.
• Adjust chocolate drip thickness by varying cream-to-chocolate ratio or adding more vegetable oil for smoother, more flowing coverage.
• Ensure cream cheese is room temperature to prevent lumpy frosting and achieve silky-smooth spreading consistency.
• Extend cake life by freezing individual layers wrapped tightly in plastic wrap for up to one month before assembling and frosting.

Serving Chocolate Raspberry Cake with Style

• Party Slice Presentation: Create elegant individual slices on white porcelain plates, garnishing each with a delicate fresh raspberry and sprinkle of chocolate shavings for a sophisticated dessert experience.
• Berry Bliss Pairing: Serve alongside a small scoop of raspberry sorbet or vanilla bean ice cream to complement the cake's rich chocolate and fruity raspberry flavors, enhancing the overall taste profile.
• Afternoon Tea Elegance: Offer this decadent cake as a centerpiece during a luxurious afternoon tea, accompanied by light Earl Grey tea or champagne to elevate the dessert's gourmet appeal.
• Celebration Platter: Design a stunning dessert board with cake slices, fresh berries, chocolate truffles, and edible flowers, creating an Instagram-worthy display perfect for special occasions and gatherings.

Storing Chocolate Raspberry Cake the Smart Way

• Fridge Storage Strategy: Seal the cake in an airtight container to maintain moisture and prevent drying. Place a piece of plastic wrap directly on the cut surface to keep the cake fresh for 4-5 days.
• Room Temperature Tip: If serving within 24 hours, keep the cake in a cool spot away from direct sunlight. Cover loosely with a cake dome or plastic wrap to protect from dust and air exposure.
• Freezing Technique: Wrap individual cake layers in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil. Freeze up to 2 months for future use. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before assembling and frosting.
• Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare cake components separately to simplify assembly. Bake layers, create frosting, and make ganache in advance. Store each element in sealed containers in the refrigerator for maximum convenience and streamlined cake preparation.

Velvety Chocolate Raspberry Cake Recipe

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4.5 from 21 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
• Yield: 13 1x

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Description

Silky chocolate raspberry cake combines rich cocoa with tangy berry notes for an elegant dessert. Chocolate lovers will savor each indulgent slice while celebrating complex flavor harmonies.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 3 cups (360 g) cake flour
• 2 ¼ cups (450 g) light brown sugar
• 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 1 ½ cups + 2 tbsps (180 g) unsweetened natural cocoa powder
• 1 ½ cups (360 ml) full-fat sour cream
• 2 cups (480 ml) hot water
• ½ cup (120 ml) vegetable oil
• ¼ cup (60 ml) milk
• 3 tsp baking soda
• 1 ½ tsp baking powder
• ¾ tsp salt
• 2 tsp espresso powder
• 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract
• 1 ¾ cups (400 g) salted butter
• 5 cups (600 g) powdered sugar
• 6 oz (170 g) full-fat cream cheese
• 1 cup + 2 tbsps (40 g) freeze-dried raspberries
• 2 tbsps raspberry preserves
• ⅔ cup (160 ml) raspberry preserves
• 4 oz (115 g) semi-sweet chocolate
• ½ cup (120 ml) heavy cream
• 1–2 tsp vegetable oil
• 1 tbsp milk
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt
• Fresh raspberries
• Mini chocolate chips

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Instructions

1. Preparation: Grease three cake pans with shortening, line with parchment circles, and dust with flour. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Chocolate Base: Whisk hot water and cocoa powder until silky, allowing mixture to cool and develop intense chocolate flavor.
3. Dry Ingredients: Blend cake flour, sugars, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and espresso powder in a large mixing bowl.
4. Batter Fusion: Combine sour cream, milk, eggs, vegetable oil, vanilla, and cooled cocoa mixture with dry ingredients. Whisk gently until smooth.
5. Baking Process: Distribute batter evenly across prepared pans and bake for 23-27 minutes. Test doneness with a toothpick, looking for moist crumbs.
6. Cooling Stage: Rest cakes in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire racks for complete cooling.
7. Frosting Creation: Cream butter, gradually add powdered sugar, then incorporate milk, vanilla, salt, freeze-dried raspberry powder, raspberry preserves, and cream cheese until perfectly blended.
8. Cake Assembly: Layer cakes on a stand, spreading frosting and preserves between each tier. Apply a crumb coat and refrigerate.
9. Finishing Touch: Frost exterior in a semi-naked style, create chocolate ganache by simmering cream and pouring over chopped chocolate. Add vegetable oil for perfect dripping consistency.
10. Decoration: Cascade ganache over chilled cake, embellish with remaining frosting, fresh raspberries, and miniature chocolate chips. Serve immediately or refrigerate for 4-5 days.

Notes

• Nail Perfect Cake Pans: Line pans meticulously with parchment to guarantee seamless cake release and avoid frustrating sticking.
• Master Cocoa Hydration: Whisking hot water with cocoa powder intensifies chocolate depth, unlocking richer flavor profiles.
• Prevent Overmixing Batter: Gently combine wet and dry ingredients until just incorporated, protecting the cake’s tender, delicate crumb structure.
• Temperature Control Matters: Allow cake to cool completely before frosting to prevent melting and ensure pristine layer definition.

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

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 13
• Calories: 515
• Sugar: 59 g
• Sodium: 370 mg
• Fat: 28 g
• Saturated Fat: 16 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 63 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 5 g
• Cholesterol: 90 mg