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+ servings

Dark Chocolate Berry Cake

Dark chocolate cake with cream cheese filling, berry jam and chocolate ganache frosting
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 3 hours
Course Dessert
Cuisine American, baking
Servings 6

Ingredients
  

For the Cake:

  • 2 cups granulated white sugar
  • 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
  • ¾ cup dark cocoa powder
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup hot coffee

Cream Cheese Frosting:

  • 4 ounces full-fat cream cheese softened to room temperature
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter softened to room temperature
  • 1 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
  • 1 tbsp berry jam

Berry Jam:

  • 1 1/2 cup fresh or frozen mixed berries
  • 1/4 cup granulated white sugar
  • 2 tsp lemon juice

Dark Chocolate Ganache:

  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 16 oz dark chocolate chopped

To Finish:

  • Fresh mixed berries
  • ¼ cup dark chocolate chips melted

Instructions
 

For the berry jam:

  • Add the berries, sugar and lemon juice into a medium saucepan. Heat over low heat stirring every so often allowing it to come to a simmer. Cook the mixture for about 20 minutes, until thick and glossy and the berries have broken down.
  • Once the jam is at room temperature, using a food processor pulse the jam and strain it using a fine mesh strainer to get rid of any large seeds.
  • Place in the fridge to cool completely before using.

For the cream cheese frosting:

  • In a large bowl using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle or whisk attachment, beat the cream cheese and butter together on high speed until smooth and creamy. Add the confectioners’ sugar and berry jam. Beat on low speed for 30 seconds, then switch to high speed and beat for 3-4 minutes.

For the chocolate ganache:

  • Place chopped chocolate in a medium heat-proof bowl. Heat the cream in a small saucepan over medium heat until it begins to gently simmer.
  • Pour the cream over the chocolate, then let it sit for 2-3 minutes to gently soften the chocolate. With a metal spoon or small rubber spatula, very slowly stir until chocolate has melted and mixture is smooth.
  • Let it cool minutes at room temperature until thick enough to spread on cake.

For the Cake:

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F/180C. Grease and line with parchment three 6-inch round baking pans.
  • Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in large bowl. Add eggs, buttermilk, oil and vanilla; beat on medium speed of mixer 2 minutes. Stir in the hot coffee (batter will be thin). Pour batter into prepared pans about 2/3 full with batter.
  • Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from pans and place on wire racks to cool completely.

Assembly:

  • Place 1 cake layer on a cake stand or serving plate. Using an offset spatula, evenly cover the top with cream cheese frosting and a layer of berry jam. Repeat with the second layer of cake.
  • Top with the third cake layer. Frost the top and sides of the cake with the ganache using an offset spatula. Top with fresh berries and chocolate drip.
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