Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Have a Happy National Raspberry Cake Day with Chocolate Raspberry Upside-Down Cake!

This deep, rich cake has become my family’s favorite indulgence, not least because it comes out of the oven already frosted! It makes a 9-inch single layer cake that’s perfect for a small gathering (serves 6 to 8). You’ll want a rounded bottom (contour) cake pan for this cake – check your local baking supply store, or see this pan here


Chocolate Raspberry Upside-Down Cake
by Maurita

Frosting:
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup seedless raspberry jam (note: apricot jam works well, too!)
3 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped or broken into pieces

Batter:
1/2 cup boiling water
1/3 cup plus 2 teaspoons cocoa powder (NOT Dutch process)
1/4 cup whole milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup seedless raspberry jam
1 cup flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 pound (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs

Preheat oven to 350˚F and generously butter a 9-inch contour (rounded at the bottom edge) cake pan.

Prep the frosting: place the cream, jam, and chocolate in a 3-cup bowl or measuring cup. Microwave at 70% power for 2 min 30 seconds, until cream is hot. Whisk until smooth. (NOTE: of course you could do all this in a saucepan over low heat if you prefer). Pour frosting into the greased cake pan.

Prep for the batter: measure 1/2 cup boiling water into a measuring cup, and whisk in the cocoa powder until smooth. Add the milk, vanilla extract, and jam; whisk again. Set aside. Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt, and set the dry ingredients aside.

Make the batter: using an electric mixer, beat the butter and both sugars together until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each one. Add the dry ingredients alternately with the cocoa mixture, beginning and ending with the flour mix. Beat well after each addition.

Pour the batter evenly over the frosting, and bake in the center of the oven 45-50 minutes, until a tester inserted into the cake comes out clean. The frosting on the bottom will still be liquid. Cool the cake in its pan on a rack at least 30 minutes.

NOTE: the cake may be made one day ahead of time, cooled completely and left in its pan, covered, at room temperature. To unmold: reheat the cake, uncovered, at 350˚F about 10 minutes.

When the cake has cooled, but the pan is still warmish, unmold the cake. Run a thin knife around the edge of the pan, and twist pan gently back and forth on a flat surface to loosen the cake. Invert a cake plate with a slight lip over the pan, and flip the cake onto the plate. The frosting will cover the cake and run onto the plate. Great warm, and still great when it’s cooled.

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