Chocolate Raspberry Cake

Chocolate Cake: 2 layer baked in 8 inch round pans

Ingredients:

2 cups all purpose flour

1 1/2 granulated sugar

1/2 cup + 1 tsp Dutch processed cocoa powder

2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 cup buttermilk room temp. (Alternative: 1 cup milk + 1 tablespoon lemon juice for homemade version, let sit for 10 min.)

2 large eggs

1 cup hot water

1 tsp vanilla bean paste (or 2 tsp vanilla)

Chocolate ganache:

8 oz. semi sweet quality chocolate, chopped

1 cups heavy cream, hot

1/4 tsp espresso powder

2 tbsp unsalted butter

Filling: Raspberry and Strawberry Jam

Topping: Fresh fruit such as raspberry, blackberry, and strawberry

Directions:

1. Line and butter two 8 inch baking pan. Turn the oven on 350 F.

2. Place water in a kettle and boil.

3. Mix dry ingredients from flour to salt in a bowl or a stand mixer bowl. Set aside.

4. In another bowl, add vegetable oil, buttermilk, and eggs. Whisk.

5. Add the 1 cups water into the liquid mixture slowly (so you don't cook the eggs) while mixing. Add vanilla.

6. Add liquid mixture over dry mixture and set the mixture on medium speed for 3 min. Or mix by hand with a whisk for 3 min.

7. Add even amounts of the batter to the baking pans.

8. Bake for 40 - 45 mins. Or when wood pick comes out clean.

9. When done, allow to cool completely for 2 hrs.

10. to layer for a cake, use a bread knife or a sharp knife and carefully cut out the cake dome.

For ganache frosting:

1. It’s best to make this frosting using a double boiler. Place a small sauce pan with 2 cups of water and bring to a boil. Place another glass or metal heat safe bowl on top of the sauce pan.

2. Place chopped chocolate in the bowl with heavy cream and espresso. Let it sit and allow the chocolate to melt.

3. Once the chocolate is starting to melt, then use a whisk to mix the chocolate and cream. Keep mixing fast until the ganache comes together.

4. add butter and allow it to melt. Once melted, mix fast with chocolate cream in order incorporate it.

5. Let the cream sit for 30 min to 1 hr. in order to harden.

6. Assemble the cake by placing a layer of cake, a layer of ganache, a layer of jam, and then a layer of cake. Coat the cake with the remaining ganache.