Chocolate Vanilla Tuxedo Cake With Raspberry White Chocolate Buttercream Recipes

TUXEDO CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C) and grease three round 9-inch cake pans. Set aside.
• Whisk the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and espresso powder (if using) together in a large bowl. Set aside. Using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment (or you can use a whisk) mix the oil, eggs, sour cream, buttermilk, and vanilla together until combined. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, add the hot water or coffee, and whisk or beat it all until the batter is completely combined.
• Divide batter evenly between 3 pans. Bake for 21-25 minutes. Baking times vary, so keep an eye on yours. The cakes are done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
• Remove the cakes from the oven and set on a wire rack. Allow to cool completely in the pan.
• so it can cool and be ready at the same time. Place chopped white chocolate in a bowl. Heat the cream in a small saucepan until it begins to gently simmer. (Do not let it come to a rapid boil- that's too hot!) Pour over white chocolate and stir until completely combined and chocolate has melted. Cover and refrigerate until it's thick and a spreadable consistency, about 1-2 hours. You don't want it runny.
• In a large bowl using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle or whisk attachment, beat the butter on high speed until creamed, about 2 minutes. Add 4 cups confectioners' sugar, the cocoa powder, milk/cream, corn syrup, vanilla, and salt. Beat on low speed for 30 seconds, then switch to high speed and beat for 2 minutes until combined and smooth. If you want the frosting a little thicker, add the extra 1/2 cup of confectioners sugar. (I add it.)
• Place 1 cake layer on your cake stand or serving plate. Evenly cover the top with 1/2 of the white chocolate ganache. Top with 2nd layer and evenly cover the top with remaining ganache (if there is too much ganache, serve a dollop/spoonful with each slice!). Top with the third cake layer. Spread the frosting into a thick layer all over the top and sides. Garnish with raspberries and mint, if desired. Refrigerate for at least 45 minutes before slicing or else the cake may gently fall apart as you cut.
• Cover leftover cake tightly and store in the refrigerator for 5 days.

TUXEDO CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350. Spray 3 (8-inch) round cake pans with cooking spray. Line the bottoms of the pans with parchment, spray the parchment with more cooking spray, and set pans aside.
• Combine the sugar, butter, and oil in a large mixing bowl and whisk until combined. Beat in the eggs and vanilla.
• Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder in a medium mixing bowl and whisk until combined.
• Whisk the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, then slowly add the coffee (or flat cola) until just incorporated. Divide batter evenly between the prepared pans and bake for 28 to 32 minutes, until the cakes spring back when touched gently with your fingertip.
• Cool in the pans on a wire rack for 15 minutes then invert cakes onto the rack and peel off parchment paper. Let cake cool completely before proceeding. (Once cooled you can wrap tightly in plastic wrap and store at room temperature for up to 1 day.)
• Place the chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl. Place 1/2 cup of the heavy cream in a small saucepan set over medium heat and bring cream to a simmer. Do not allow to boil. Pour hot cream over the chocolate and let stand for 3 minutes. Add the corn syrup then whisk until chocolate melts and mixture is smooth. Let stand at room temperature until cool but not firm, about 30 minutes.
• Place sugar and the remaining 3/4 cup of heavy cream in a large mixing bowl. Beat with an electric mixer set to high speed until the cream holds soft peaks. Stir one quarter of the whipped cream into the cooled chocolate mixture using a rubber spatula until combined. Gently fold in remaining whipped cream.
• Microwave white chocolate at 50% power in 15-second intervals, stirring after each interval, until chocolate is melted and smooth. Allow to cool for several minutes.
• Beat cream cheese and butter together in a medium mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Beat in melted white chocolate until combined. Add powdered sugar and salt and beat on low speed until combined. Turn mixer to high and beat until very fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Place the butter in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat on medium speed until very smooth and creamy. Turn mixer to low and beat in cocoa powder, then gradually beat in 4 cups of powdered sugar. Beat 1 to 2 minutes more. Add 3 tablespoons of milk, vanilla, espresso powder (if using), and salt and beat to combine. Turn mixer to medium and beat until frosting is smooth. Add additional powdered sugar if frosting is too thin or additional milk if it is too thick.
• Trim the tops of the cake layers so they're even-a long serrated knife is your best choice of utensil here. Place 1 cake layer on a cake circle. Fit a pastry bag with a 1/2-inch round tip and fill the bag with about 1 cup of frosting.
• Spread half of the white chocolate filling over the top of the cake-don't go all the way to the edge of the cake. Pipe two lines of frosting around the edge of the cake. (This is the dam that will hold your mousse inside the cake.) Place a little less than half of the chocolate mousse on top of the white chocolate filling. You want enough to fill in the dam but not so much to overflow. Make sure the mousse reaches the edge of the buttercream, then smooth the top of the mousse. Refrigerate cake layer for 20 minutes.
• Repeat the filling instructions from the previous layer. You may not be able to use all of the mousse; keep the remainder as a well-deserved treat. Again refrigerate cake for 20 minutes.
• Top with the remaining cake layer and. Frost cake with chocolate buttercream, then refrigerate the cake while you make the glaze.
• Place the chocolate in a small heat-proof bowl. Heat the glaze in a small saucepan over medium heat until it just begins to steam. Pour over the chocolate and let sit for 3 minutes. Whisk until mixture is smooth. Let cool for 5 to 10 minutes (until it's thick but still pourable) then pour over the frosted cake. Alternatively, you can pour the glaze into a plastic squeeze bottle and squeeze a circle of glaze around the edge of the cake. Squeeze a little more glaze out in some places to create drips. Pour the remaining glaze over the cake and smooth the top. Refrigerate to set the glaze then slice and serve.

CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH RASPBERRY BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease two 9-by-2-inch round cake pans; dust the pans with flour, and knock out excess.
• In a large measuring cup, combine the buttermilk, coffee, vanilla and 1 1/2 cups water. In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, add the sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Mix on low speed. Mix in the butter and eggs, and then slowly add the buttermilk mixture, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
• Divide the batter evenly between the prepared cake pans. Bake until the cake layers begin to pull away from sides of the pan and a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean, 22 to 25 minutes.
• For the Swiss meringue buttercream: Add the sugar and egg whites to a heatproof stand mixer bowl, and set over a pan of simmering water. Whisking constantly, heat until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture registers 160 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer. Transfer the bowl to the stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, and beat on medium-high speed until fluffy and cooled, about 10 minutes. Continue beating until stiff, glossy peaks form. Reduce the speed to medium-low and add the butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the vanilla. (Makes 7 cups. See Cook's Note.)
• For the raspberry buttercream: In a stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, beat 800 grams of the Swiss meringue buttercream together with the raspberry puree until fully incorporated. (Makes 4 cups.)
• To assemble: Level and tort both cakes--you will end up with 4 layers of cake. Place one cake layer on a serving platter; add about a 1/2-inch layer of the raspberry buttercream. Repeat until you have 4 stacked layers of cake and 3 layers of filling. Frost the cake with the remaining Swiss meringue buttercream.

CHOCOLATE VANILLA TUXEDO CAKE WITH RASPBERRY WHITE CHOCOLATE BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350F with rack in the center.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 2-9 inch cake pans with butter. Place a round piece of parchment paper on the bottom of one of the pans and grease again. Sprinkle a few teaspoon of flour over the butter and shake to cover the parchment paper evenly. Shake out the excess flour. Repeat with other pan.
• Whisk together the dry ingredients (sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt)in a large bowl.
• In a large bowl or bowl of stand mixer whisk eggs till slightly thickened and a pale color.Add in the buttermilk, vanilla, oil and vinegar and whisk/beat well.
• Add in the melted and cooled chocolate and whisk/beat until combined well
• Either add the flour mixture into the wet ingredients OR the wet into the flour and mix just to combine. Add in the boiling water and mix again just to combine. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula to make sure all the dry ingredients are incorporated.
• Divide batter evenly between two prepared cake pans spreading the batter to pan walls and smooth tops with a spatula. Place pans next to each other on a center rack of the oven.
• Bake until thin skewer or toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 23 to 25 minutes.
• Let cakes rest in pans for 10 minutes. Loosen from sides of pans with a knife, if necessary, and invert onto wire racks. Let cool another 20 min. Carefully wrap the cakes in plastic wrap and place in resealable baggies and freeze completely
• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 2-9 inch cake pans with butter. Place a round piece of parchment paper on the bottom of one of the pans and grease again. Sprinkle a few teaspoon of flour over the butter and shake to cover the parchment paper evenly. Shake out the excess flour. Repeat with other pan.
• Combine the room temperature buttermilk, egg whites, whole eggs and vanilla extract in a measuring cup and stir well to combine.
• Combine the cake flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in bowl of a stand or electric mixer at low speed until well mixed. Keeping the mixer on low add the butter in one table spoon at a time until mixture resembles very fine crumbs.
• Add all but 1/2 cup of milk mixture to the flour mixture and raise speed to medium speed for about 1 1/2 minutes. Add remaining 1/2 cup of milk mixture and beat 30 seconds more. Stop mixer and scrape sides of bowl. Return mixer to medium speed and beat 20 seconds longer.
• Divide batter evenly between two prepared cake pans spreading the batter to pan walls and smooth tops with a spatula. Place pans next to each other on a center rack of the oven.
• Bake until thin skewer or toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 23 to 25 minutes.
• Let cakes rest in pans for 10 minutes. Loosen from sides of pans with a knife, if necessary, and invert onto wire racks. Let cool another 20 min. Carefully wrap the cakes in plastic wrap and place in resealable baggies and freeze completely.
• For the Raspberry Filling:
• Place the thawed raspberries, sugar and lemon juice in a sauce pan, bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and stir occasionally until reduced and thickened, about 8 minutes. Transfer to an airtight container and chill completely before use. If seedless puree is desired, pour the hot puree from the pan into a strainer set over a bowl. Scrape the puree and press against the bottom of the strainer with a spatula to pass the seedless puree into the bowl. Stop to rinse the spatula and scrape the puree off the underside of the strainer. Keep scraping and pressing until all the puree is in the bowl and only seeds are left in the strainer. Chill completely before use.
• For the Raspberry Buttercream:
• Separate the egg whites into the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the wire whip/whisk attachment
• Combine the sugar, salt and water into a 1-quart, heavy- bottomed saucepan. Stir to combine. Clip on a candy thermometer and heat the mixture over medium-high. After about 5 minutes turn the mixer on high speed, begin whipping the egg whites to stiff peaks, lower the mixer to medium speed. Raise the heat under the sugar syrup to bring the syrup to 245°F. When the syrup is at 245°F, immediately remove from heat, remove the thermometer and slowly pour the syrup into the meringue, while the whisk is still mixing on medium, being careful not to splatter.
• After 1 to 2 minutes increase the mixer speed to medium-high for 3 to 4 minutes, or until the meringue is cooled. The bowl should feel cool to touch. This takes about 7 minutes. Lower the speed to medium and add the butter 1 tablespoon at a time. It might look soupy but keep mixing. Increase the mixer speed to high for 1 to 2 minutes, or until the butter is fully incorporated. Switch to the paddle attachment. Add in the melted and cooled white chocolate Add in the raspberry puree a few tablespoons at a time with the mixer on low, stopping to scrape down the sides as necessary. Taste and add more puree if desired. Keep at room temperature if using the same day. If not, keep chilled in an airtight container and thaw at room temp before using. Transfer to a mixer and mix on low to rewhip the buttercream.
• For the Ganache:
• Chop the chocolate and place in a bowl.
• Heat the cream in a saucepan over medium heat until steaming and small bubbles form around the edges. Pour the cream over the chocolate and let sit 5 minutes. Slowly stir the mixture until smooth, do not mix fast or whip. Add in the honey. Let cool about 15 minutes until slightly thickened before using. You don't want it to runny or to firm
• For assembly:
• Unwrap one cake at a time, thaw for about 10 minutes and then carefully cut in half with a sharp long knife. Repeat with all layers making 8 thin cake layers.
• Place one layer half on a cake circle on top of a cake plate or cake turntable. Spread a ¼" thick even layer of buttercream with an offset spatula. Place another cake half on top. Pipe a ¼' thick circle of buttercream around the edges. Spread a very thin layer of the buttercream in the middle. Spoon in some of the raspberry filling until there is an even layer, about 3-4 tbsp. Place another cake layer on top. Repeat alternating layers of chocolate and vanilla cakes, the buttercream only filling and the thin buttercream and raspberry filling. Ending with a layer of cake and make sure the layers are all even. Chill about 20 minutes. Once the cake is slightly chilled spread a thin, even layer of buttercream with an offset spatula around and on top the cake. This is the crumb coat. Chill again 20-30 minutes. Finished frosting the cake with the remaining buttercream in an even layer around the sides and top, smoothing as you go. To make it super smooth heat an offset spatula in hot water, dry off and go around the sides in the same manner as the buttercream. It doesn't have to be perfectly smooth. Chill again to set the buttercream. Once the buttercream is set, spread the ganache over the top with a small offset slowly making your way to the edges of the top and push a little of the ganache over at a time in random places to let it drip down the sides. You can vary the length of the drips with how much ganache you spread over. It will firm up. To cut perfect slices have the cake completely chilled, and heat up a long sharp knife. I keep the knife in a pot of boiling water. Wipe the blade dry and slice down from the top, once at the bottom pull the knife straight back towards you. Rinse the knife off and heat again. Dry and finish cutting the slice. Use a pie or cake server to carefully remove the slice from the cake. Repeat with remaining slices. Serve cake at room temperature.

WHITE CHOCOLATE-RASPBERRY CAKE

Steps:

• Prepare pastry cream: Puree raspberries in a blender. Strain to remove seeds. Set aside pulp; you should have 1 cup.
• Whisk egg yolks, sugar, flour, and cornstarch in a bowl until completely smooth.
• Warm cream in a small saucepan over low heat until just hot enough to steam. Once steaming, add 1/2 of it to the egg mixture, whisking constantly to avoid scrambling the eggs. Add that mixture back into the hot cream mixture and continue to heat and stir until custard is very thick, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the reserved raspberry pulp. Let sit until cooled to room temperature, about 30 minutes. Place parchment or waxed paper over the surface to prevent a skin from forming and refrigerate, 8 hours to overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease the sides and bottoms of two 9-inch round, metal or glass cake pans.
• Prepare cake: Blend cake mix, water, oil, and eggs in a large bowl at low speed until moistened, about 30 seconds. Beat at medium speed for 2 minutes. Pour batter into the prepared pans.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 23 to 28 minutes. Cool in the pans on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Remove cakes from the pans and cool completely, about 15 to 20 more minutes.
• Prepare the frosting: Beat butter and confectioners' sugar in a large bowl on medium speed until creamy. Beat in melted white chocolate. Add vanilla and beat on low speed, scraping the sides and bottom of the bowl, until light and fluffy. Transfer to a piping bag fitted with a #18 star tip.
• Level the tops of the cooled cake layers with a large serrated knife. Pipe a small amount of frosting onto the center of a serving plate. Put one layer, cut-side down, on the plate. Pipe a thick ring around the top edge of that layer; this will keep the filling in the cake and prevent the layers from sliding. Spread raspberry pastry cream onto the cake. Place to remaining layer, cut-side down, on top. Frost the top and sides with remaining frosting, decorating as desired.
• Hold white chocolate bar in one hand with a paper towel (to stop it from melting in your hand). Use a vegetable peeler and slowly and carefully shave along the length of the bar to form pretty curls. Put chocolate curls on the sides of the cake and place raspberries in a ring around the top edge.

CHOCOLATE SHEET CAKE WITH VANILLA BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking pan. Line bottom with parchment; butter parchment. Stir together boiling water, cocoa, and chocolate; let cool 10 minutes. Meanwhile, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in another bowl.
• Beat butter with sugar on medium-high speed until fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Beat in eggs, one at a time, beating to combine after each addition and scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Beat in vanilla, then chocolate mixture. Reduce speed to low; beat in flour mixture in two batches, alternating with sour cream, until just combined. Scrape batter into prepared pan, smoothing top with an offset spatula.
• Bake until a tester inserted in center comes out with a few moist crumbs, 35 to 40 minutes (top will not spring back). Let cool in pan 10 minutes. Invert onto a wire rack and remove parchment; let cool completely. Cake can be made up to 1 day ahead and stored at room temperature, wrapped in plastic.
• Spread buttercream evenly over top and sides of cake. Sprinkle with chocolate curls. (Leftovers can be refrigerated, wrapped in plastic, up to 3 days; return to room temperature before serving.)

WHITE CHOCOLATE & RASPBERRY CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Grease and line the base of 2 x 20cm round, loose-bottomed cake tins. Put the butter and chocolate in a heatproof mixing bowl, set over a pan of barely simmering water and allow to melt slowly, stirring occasionally.
• When the butter and chocolate have melted, remove from the heat and allow to cool for 1-2 mins, then beat in the eggs and sugar with an electric whisk. Fold in the flour and raspberries.
• Gently pour the mixture into the tins and bake for 20-25 mins or until golden brown and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean (the raspberries may leave a residue on the skewer, so don't be fooled by their juiciness). Remove the cakes from the oven and allow to cool in the tins for 10 mins before turning out onto a wire rack.
• To make the ganache, put the chocolate in a heatproof bowl with 100ml of the cream, set over a pan of barely simmering water. Stir until the chocolate has melted into the cream and you are left with a smooth, glossy ganache. Leave the ganache to cool to room temperature, then beat in the rest of the cream.
• When the cakes have cooled, sandwich them together with the chocolate ganache. Dust with icing sugar just before serving.