Recipe: Raspberry & Chocolate Mousse Cake

Fruit and chocolate, a match made in culinary heaven!

There’s something utterly delightful about the combination of sweet, creamy chocolate and the natural sweetness and tang of fresh fruit. Whether it’s the classic pairing of strawberries dipped in rich, velvety chocolate, the tropical twist of bananas drizzled with melted chocolate, or the tangy sweetness provided by raspberries contrasting the indulgent depth of the chocolate, never fails to tantalize the taste buds.

The contrast in flavors and textures is what makes fruit and chocolate such a winning combination. The smoothness of chocolate complements the juicy burst of flavor from the fruit, creating a harmonious blend of sweetness that satisfies both the palate and the soul.

The following recipe takes its inspiration from one of our favorite cakes from the King Arthur Baking Company. It is a moist and fudgy cake filled with a tangy chocolate mousse and fresh raspberries, covered in a delicious chocolate frosting. The original recipe was created by Sharon Kurtz of Emmaus, PA, who took top honors with it at the Great Allentown Fair; and subsequently at the national 2010 Great Cake Contest, sponsored in part by King Arthur.

Cake

• 1 3/4 cups (210g) King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon sea salt (We used Maldon)
• 2 cups (397g) granulated sugar (We used coconut sugar)
• 1 cup (85g) unsweetened cocoa, Dutch-process or natural (we used Valrhona)
• 1/2 cup (99g) vegetable oil
• 1 cup (227g) buttermilk or yogurt, at room temperature (we used buttermilk)
• 1 cup (227g) water, boiling
• 1 teaspoon Instant espresso powder
• 2 teaspoons Pure Vanilla Extract (we used Nielsen-Massey Vanilla)
• 3 large eggs, at room temperature

Filling

• 2 tablespoons (28g) butter, softened (We used Plugra)
• one 8-ounce package (227g) cream cheese, at room temperature (We used Philadelphia)
• 1 cup (113g) confectioners’ sugar, divided
• 1/2 teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract (We used Nielsen-Massey Vanilla)
• 1/8 teaspoon sea salt (We used Maldon)
• 2/3 cup (113g) semisweet chocolate, chips, melted (We used Valrhona Hukambi 52%)
• 1 cup (227g) heavy cream

• 1 teaspoon Instant ClearJel, optional*
• 1 1/2 to 2 pints raspberries, fresh preferred, washed and dried

*For stabilizing during hot weather

Frosting

• 1/2 cup (92g) vegetable shortening, butter-flavored preferred*
• 8 tablespoons (113g) unsalted butter, at room temperature (We used Plugra)
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt (We used Maldon)
• 4 cups (454g) confectioners’ sugar, sifted
• 1/2 cup (43g) unsweetened cocoa, natural or Dutch-process (We used Valrhona)
• 1/4 cup (57g) whole milk
• 1 teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract (We used Nielsen-Massey Vanilla)

Decoration

• Chocolate pearls – Valrhona Perles Mixtes Craquantes

Cake Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 325°F. Lightly grease two 8″ round pans at least 2” deep (and preferably 3” deep); four 8″ round pans at least 1 1/2” deep; or three 9″ round pans. If you have parchment rounds, line the pans with parchment, and grease the parchment. Note: If your pan assortment doesn’t include any of these particular combinations, you can bake the cake batter in batches; the unbaked batter won’t suffer while awaiting its turn in the oven.
2. Weigh your flour; or measure it by gently spooning it into a cup, then sweeping off any excess. In a large mixing bowl, add the dry ingredients in the order listed: flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, sugar, cocoa. If any of the ingredients look clumpy, especially the cocoa, press them through a sieve.
3. Place water in a pan and bring to a boil. Add a teaspoon of instant espresso powder and dissolve. Remove from heat.
4. Combine the oil, buttermilk or yogurt, boiling espresso coffee water and vanilla in a medium bowl or large measuring cup. Add to the dry ingredients and beat at medium speed for 30 seconds to 1 minute, until the batter is smooth.
5. Scrape the sides and bottom of the mixing bowl, then beat in the eggs one at a time. Mix on medium speed for another minute, or until smooth.
6. Divide the batter among the prepared pans. The total weight of the cake batter will be about 50 ounces (1417g). To ensure your layers are all the same size, divide the batter’s weight by the number of layers you’re baking, and weigh the amount into each pan. For two deep 8″ layers, use about 25 ounces (709g) batter in each. For three 9″ layers, use about 16 1/2 ounces (472g) in each pan. For four shallow 8″ layers, use about 12 1/2 ounces (354g) batter in each pan.
7. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes for two 8” pans; or 25 to 30 minutes for four 8″ pans or three 9″ pans, until the cake just begins to pull away from the edge of the pan, and a tester inserted in the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs.
8. Remove from the oven and place on a rack to cool for 15 minutes. Run a table knife around the edge of each pan to free the crust, and turn the cakes onto the rack to cool completely. While the cake layers are cooling, make the filling.

Chocolate Mousse Filling Instructions

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the butter, cream cheese, 3/4 cup (85g) of the confectioners’ sugar, vanilla, and salt, mixing at medium-low speed until smooth.
2. Melt the chocolate; a minute or less in the microwave should be sufficient, stir them until completely melted and smooth. You can also add the chopped chocolate to a stainless steel bowl and place over a pan of gently simmering water and melt. Add the melted chocolate to the bowl and mix on medium-high speed for 1 minute, or until a bit lightened and fluffy.
3. Whisk together the remaining 1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar with the Instant ClearJel. Beat the heavy cream until soft peaks form, then add the confectioners’ sugar mixture. Beat just until the cream is stiff; guard against over-beating, which will turn the cream grainy.
4. Fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture; scrape the bowl, and stir to combine any sticky residue.
5. Split the cake layers horizontally if you’ve baked two deep 8″ cakes; trim any domes off the tops if you’ve baked three or four individual layers.
6. Place the first layer on a serving plate (line the edges with strips of waxed or parchment paper to keep the plate clean), and spread it with one-third of the filling (1 cup; 7 5/8 ounces; 216g). Cut 1/2 pint of raspberries in half lengthwise (rather than around the circumference), and place them over the filling, covering its entire surface. Repeat until all the layers are stacked; place the last layer bottom-side up for a flat surface on top.
7. Once the layers are assembled with filling and raspberries, place the cake in the refrigerator or freezer for at least 30 minutes to firm it up. This will make frosting the cake much easier since the layers are less likely to slide around and chilling helps prevent the cake from shedding crumbs as you frost. While the cake is chilling, make the frosting.

Chocolate Frosting Instructions

1. In a large bowl, beat together the shortening, butter, and salt.
2. Sift the confectioners’ sugar and cocoa through a strainer to remove any lumps, and gently beat into the butter mixture alternately with the milk. Add the vanilla. Beat on medium-high speed for 2 minutes, or until fluffy.
   
   To finish the cake: For the best-looking cake, do the frosting in two steps. First, spread a very thin layer of frosting around the sides and across the top; this is called a crumb coat. You should actually be able to see the cake through the frosting in spots, it’s that thin. Refrigerate the cake for 20 minutes to let this layer set up. Once the cake is chilled, use the remaining frosting to coat it thoroughly and evenly; our cake styling guide offers six pro-style options for “styling” your cake, including a classic look with swoops, and more.
   
   You can decorate the cake anyway you wish. We added Valrhona crunchy chocolate pearls all over the top of the cake, however you can also add chocolate curls, jimmies (sprinkles), or leave it as is.
   
3. Refrigerate the cake until ready to serve. Garnish with fresh raspberries just before serving.
4. Storage information: Store any leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days; freeze for up to a week.