Raspberry Chocolate Truffle Cake – raspberry cake layers, chocolate ganache, chocolate buttercream, chocolate cake layers and a raspberry cream filling.
Raspberry Chocolate Truffle Cake
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, it’s time for a decadent, chocolate cake! While Ryan and I don’t really celebrate Valentine’s Day, I love doing some fun surprises for the kids, and that always includes a treat! (Kids seem to make every holiday a little more magical, don’t you think?)
Our favorite Valentine’s Day treats are chocolate-covered strawberries and Sees Candy. Something about those feels fancy and decadent, and who doesn’t love to feel fancy every now and then! With our favorite Valentine’s treats in mind, I made a Strawberry Dark Chocolate Truffle Cake a few years ago. It turned out so incredibly delicious and instantly became one of my mom’s favorite cakes. (She actually named it!).
This year, I wanted to revisit the chocolate-dipped fruit idea, but with raspberries!
How to Make the Raspberry Chocolate Truffle Cake
As you plan to make this cake, take note of the five different elements, as well as the bake time for the cakes. I recommend splitting this cake up over the course of a few days.
- 1: cake layers
- 2: filling and buttercream
- 3: ganache and decorating
Chocolate Cake
This chocolate cake is a half of my regular dark chocolate cake recipe. You’ll be using one 8-inch round cake pan and baking at 325 for about 30 to 35 minutes. Remember, when you insert a toothpick in the center of your cake, it should come out with a few moist crumbs on it. That’s when you know it’s ready!
Raspberry Cake
The raspberry cake is so flavorful and tender! I think you might characterize it as slightly more dense, but in a good, moist kind of way. Definitely not pound cake-like – more tender and moist kind of dense. You’ll be using freeze-dried raspberries, in addition to a raspberry compote (which is just raspberries cookies and pureed over the stove). The color is a beautiful natural pink. However, if you find that yours don’t look as pink as mine, it may be that your freeze-dried raspberries weren’t as bright. No worries! Just add a little red or pink food coloring to brighten it up, if you want.
ALSO! Just a heads up, the raspberry cake doesn’t get as tall as the chocolate cake.
Raspberry Cream Filling
You may remember this filling from my Chocolate Raspberry Swiss Roll. It’s incredibly easy to make and incredibly delicious. You will need a food processor or blender for this one. Mixing the ingredients at such a high speed creates a stable whipped filling without any kind of added gelatin. It’s awesome!
Chocolate Buttercream
For the chocolate buttercream, I’m using my go-to recipe you’ve probably seen on here with several cakes. It’s silky, smooth and full of chocolate flavor. When making the buttercream, remember to heat the cream, pour it over the chocolate chips, and then stir to make a ganache – before adding it to the butter and powdered sugar. This ensures you don’t get any chunks of chocolate in your buttercream.
Chocolate Ganache
For the chocolate ganache, we’re using heavy cream and chocolate. Simple as that. We want it to cool to room temp before using in the cake, but then save some for the drip. When you’re ready for the drip, just reheat the ganache to think it out a little.
How to Stack and Decorate This Cake
Now for the stacking and decorating! My favorite part!
Before starting, use a cake leveler or serrated knife to split each cake layer in half. If you’re making your layers ahead of time and freezing them, I like splitting them before I freeze them.
Step 1: Stack and Crumb Coat
Place one of the chocolate cake layers on your cake board. Evenly spread 1 cup of the raspberry cream filling over the chocolate cake with an offset icing spatula. 
Drizzle and spread about ¼ cup of the chocolate ganache over the filling. Place one of the raspberry cake layers on top of the ganache. 
Evenly spread 1 cup chocolate buttercream over the raspberry cake layer. Place your second chocolate cake layer on the chocolate buttercream. Spread another 1 cup of the raspberry buttercream over the cake layer. Spread another ¼ cup of the ganache on the filling, making sure to leave about an inch around the edge clear of the ganache. Apply a thin layer of buttercream around the entire cake. Scrape off excess buttercream and then freeze the cake for 10-15 minutes.
Step 2: Frost and Decorate
Now it’s time to do our final coat of frosting and decorate the cake.
Tools I like to use for decorating:
- Offset and straight spatulas
- Acrylic disk
- Scrapers
- Drip bottle
- Piping bag
You’ll find them all HERE.
Place the acrylic disk on top of your chilled cake. Get eye level to make sure it looks even. While lightly holding the disk in place, apply buttercream around the disk and then down over the rest of the cake. Use your straight scraper to smooth out the sides. Once you’ve done this, freeze the cake for another 10 minutes and then use a knife to cut off the disk. Apply your chocolate ganache using a drip bottle. Use your offset icing spatula to spread the ganache on top of the cake. With leftover buttercream and raspberry cream, pipe a few dollops on top of the cake using your favorite piping tip (I used the Wilton 6B.
Some fresh raspberries and chocolate shavings also look amazing on this cake.
Don’t you just love how all the colors pop!
Cake Making Tips
Don’t forget to follow my go-to tips for getting your cakes to rise and bake well:
- Preheat your oven for 30 minutes prior to baking.
- Beat the butter and sugar for a few minutes on medium-high speed, until light and fluffy.
- Use good quality pans like Fat Daddio.
- Spray your pans with nonstick spray and line with parchment paper.
- Don’t overmix your cake batter once you add the dry ingredients.
- Use room temperature wet ingredients.
- Use fresh baking powder.
- Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out with a few moist crumbs on it.
Enjoy!
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Raspberry Chocolate Truffle Cake
Ingredients
FOR THE CHOCOLATE CAKE
- 1 1/4 (150 g) cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup (59 g) dark cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon (4 g) baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon (2 g) baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon (2.8 g) kosher salt
- 1/2 cup (120 g) buttermilk at room temperature
- 1/4 cup (54.5 g) vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs at room temperature
- 1/2 teaspoon (2.1 g) pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup (118.3 g) hot water
FOR THE CHOCOLATE BUTTERCREAM
- 2 cups (452 g) unsalted butter slightly cold
- 10 oz. dark or semi sweet chocolate chips
- 5 cups (625 g) powdered sugar measured and then sifted
- 1 teaspoons (4.2 g) pure vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup (57.75 g) heavy cream
- Pinch of salt
FOR THE RASPBERRY CAKE
- 3/4 cup (150 g) granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup (113 g) unsalted butter at room temperature
- 1 egg at room temperature
- 2 egg whites at room temperature
- 1/2 tsp (2.1 g) vanilla
- 1 tsp (4 g) baking powder
- 1 1/4 cups (143.75 g) cake flour
- 1 oz freeze dried raspberries measured and then pulverized into a powder
- 1/2 tsp (2 g) salt
- 1/2 cup (120 g) sour cream at room temperature
- 1/2 cup (116 g) raspberry puree about 1 ½ cups chopped raspberries, pureed and simmer over the stove to thicken and reduce to ½ cup
FOR THE RASPBERRY CREAM FILLING
- 2 cups (455 g)heavy cream
- 1/2 cup (100 g) sugar
- 1/2 oz. (15 g) freeze dried raspberries measured and then pulverized into a powder
FOR THE CHOCOLATE GANACHE
- 1 cup (175 g) dark or semi sweet chocolate chips
- 3/4 cup (173 g) heavy cream
Instructions
FOR THE CHOCOLATE CAKE
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Spray one 8-inch round cake pans with nonstick spray. Line the bottom of each pan with parchment paper, then spray the parchment paper. Set aside.
- Combine the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and mix on low speed until combined.
- In another bowl, combine the buttermilk, oil, eggs, water and vanilla. Whisk until combined.
- With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry. Mix just until combined and then scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl and mix again briefly (only about 20 seconds).
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 28 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs on it.
- Cool in the pan for 10 to 15 minutes, then turn them out onto a cooling rack and cool completely. (I like to spray my cooling racks with nonstick spray to ensure non of the cake sticks to the racks).
- Divide the cake layer, horizontally. Wrap the entire cake layer in plastic wrap and freeze until ready to use.
FOR THE CHOCOLATE BUTTERCREAM
- In a bowl fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium-high speed for about two minutes.
- Slowly add the ganache mixture (from the buttercream recipe section) and beat on medium speed until smooth. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and mix for another 30 seconds.
- With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the powdered sugar and mix until combined.
- Add the vanilla and salt. Turn the mixer to medium-high and beat the frosting for another 3-4 minutes until light and fluffy.
- Before frosting your cake, use a wooden spoon to hand mix the frosting to push out air bubbles.
FOR THE RASPBERRY CAKE
- Preheat your oven to 325 degrees F. Spray one 8-inch round cake pan with cooking spray. Line the bottom with parchment. Spray again. Set aside.
- In a medium sized mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt and freeze dried raspberries. Set aside.
- In a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the sugar and butter for about 2 minutes, until light and fluffy.
- Add the egg and egg whites, one at a time, and mix well after each addition. (Be sure to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl between each addition too). Add the vanilla.
- With the mixer on low, alternatively add the flour mixture with the raspberry puree, starting and finishing with the flour mixture. Mix until just incorporated. Fold in the sour cream.
- Bake the cake for about 30 to 35 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs on it.
- Let cool completely and then divide the layer like you did with the chocolate cake.NOTE: The raspberry cake doesn't get as tall as the chocolate cake. You didn't do anything wrong if it's not as tall as the chocolate cake.
FOR THE RASPBERRY CREAM FILLNG
- In a food processor or blender, pulse the freeze dried raspberries until they resemble a powder.
- Add the sugar and cream. Scrape down the sides and corners to gather all the fruit powder.
- Pulse the mixer for about 1 to 2 minutes or until the texture becomes thick like Greek yogurt. Keep chilled until ready to use.
FOR THE GANACHE
- In a microwave safe bowl, heat the cream on medium-high heat for about 1 minute.
- Pour the cream over the chocolate chips and stir until the chocolate chips are melted and you've created and silky smooth texture. If the chips aren't melting all the way, you can microwave the mixture in 20 second intervals, stirring each time, until you've reached the desired consistency.
ASSEMBLY
- Starting with the chocolate cake, place the first half of the chocolate cake on a cake board. Spread about 1 cup of of the raspberry cream over the cake layer. Drizzle and spread chocolate ganache over the cream filling.
- Place one of the raspberry cake layers on top of the ganache and spread with 1 cup of the chocolate buttercream.
- Repeat step 1 and finish with the second raspberry cake layer on top (top-side down).
- Apply a thin layer of the chocolate buttercream around the entire cake. This thin layer of frosting is your crumb coat. After you apply the crumb coat, you'll put the entire cake into the freeze for 10 to 15 minutes. This sets the crumb coat and locks the crumbs in place so you don't have them in your final coat of frosting.
- Once the cake has chilled for 10 to 15 minutes, continue to frost the cake with the remaining chocolate buttercream. You can then use extra ganache, buttercream and raspberry cream to decorate the top, if desired.
This cake looks divine! I hope I can get a chance to make it one of these days.
I am so so excited to try this cake! I am not a huge chocolate frosting fan (although I still haven’t tried yours) and I’m wondering if I can make the strawberry buttercream from your strawberry dark chocolate truffle cake, make it raspberry and use it on the outside of the cake??
Of course!
When do should the sour cream be added to the raspberry cake?
You fold it in at the end.
Have you perchance measured how much powder comes from blitzing the freeze-dried raspberries?
I haven’t measured that but it should be 1 oz before pulverizing.
This looks so good! Do you think I could use raspberry jam or raspberry emulsion for the filling instead of freeze dried?
Sure!
I don’t understand the step 2 for the chocolate buttercream when you say “ ganache mixture from the buttercream recipe section”… is that part of the chocolate ganache (heavy cream+ chocolate) that goes into the buttercream?. I got confused in that part of the recipe!. Also, do you think this is a beginners recipe or intermediate…? Thank you! It looks delicious!!!!❤️
Yes! and it’s definitely a little more advanced with all the steps!
So you leave the seeds in the raspberry purée? Can’t wait to make this!!
I strained mine bc as much as I love raspberry, I can’t do those seeds! It ruins anything raspberry for me if they’re in there!
Such a pretty cake!! I love the one side drip. Thank you for all of the amazing cake tutorials and recipes!
Thank you!
I need help! I love the taste of your chocolate cake recipe but for some reason, every time I make it, the batter mixes up really thin and then doesn’t rise much in the oven. I’m at a low altitude so does that affect it? I made sure my baking soda and powder were fresh. Just at a loss! Thanks 🙂
It is a very thin batter and the cakes aren’t huge. You did nothing wrong!
Hello! I’m trying to get ingredients together to make this cake! I haven’t been able to find freeze dried raspberries but found freeze dried strawberries and also bought rasp jam without seeds. Which do you think would work better for a substitution?
They have them at target and amazon!
I’m not in the US and we don’t have freeze dried raspberries. I can find regular frozen raspberries and fresh raspberries, do they work?
No fresh ones wont work the same way. They will add too much moisture. You would need to follow my red white and blue berry cake for instructions on how to use fresh berries in the berry Flavored layers.
I didn’t see the instruction for how many cake layers this makes? I’m assuming 2, based on the sliced pictures but the whole cake looks like more? I read carefully and didn’t see any mention of it.
You are making two cakes. One 8-inch raspberry and one 8-inch chocolate cake. You will split those layers in half to become the four layers of cake.
For the raspberry cream, mine came out too soft despite whipping it in the food processor for 2-3 minutes. Any tips on how to get it stiffer? Every element of this recipe tasted AMAZING!
You just need to go longer!
I’m confused on the buttercream. So is the chocolate ganache for the buttercream the 10 oz of chocolate chips and 1/4 cup whipped cream?
yes.
Would it be okay to freeze the cake once it’s all assembled or would it mess up the heavy whipping cream in the raspberry filling? LOVING the recipe and can’t wait to try it😍
It’s ok to freeze all assembled!
I am planning to make this cake for an upcoming family gathering, but am wondering if it needs to be kept refrigerated prior to serving or should it be served at room temperature?
Thanks in advance! I am really looking forward to making this.
If made the day of it can be room temp! Anything before that, it should be frozen!
I don’t get it. I know I did everything right. I follow all you videos and everything. But everytime I bake your chocolate cake it rises great but middle doesn’t bake and domes at top and cracks. I use fat daddyo Pans too. Any suspicious on what I might do wrong? 8” round 2” high right?
Are you using fresh ingredients? Are you overmixing?
Can Raspberry Bakery Emulsion be used in place of the raspberry purée?
Unfortunately, no. The emulsion is a condensed, highly concentrated form of flavoring, as I’m sure you know. If you sub it for the puree, one for one, it will be too much emulsion. If you don’t want to use the puree, replace it with buttermilk of the same amount and a teaspoon emulsion.
This cake turned out amazing! I subbed the water in the chocolate cake recipe for a dark roast coffee and it was divine. Thank you!
Yum!!
So excited to make this cake today! Could I substitute buttermilk for the sour cream in the raspberry cake? Thanks!
Yes.
The cake is amazing. Beautifully layered, beautiful colors, and tastes delicious. I’ll make it again, for sure.
The raspberry cake layer texture is very different than the chocolate layer. I made two as the first didn’t seem baked even though I baked it longer than required. It’s much denser and both Iayers still looked underbaked.
10/10 still
This recipe is not the same as the recipe in the cookbook!! This calls for two eggs in the raspberry cake but the cookbook only says 1. My raspberry cake was super dense and not a great texture using 2 eggs so highly recommend just using 1!