Romance Chocolate Blackberry Cake
Ingredients:
For the Cake:
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup buttermilk
For the Blackberry Filling:
2 cups fresh blackberries
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon cornstarch
For the Chocolate Ganache:
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup heavy cream
Directions:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
In a large bowl, cream together the butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
In a separate bowl, mix the cocoa powder with the buttermilk until smooth. Gradually add the dry ingredients and the cocoa mixture to the butter mixture, alternating between the two, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients.
Divide the batter evenly between the prepared cake pans. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
For the Blackberry Filling:
In a medium saucepan, combine the blackberries, sugar, and lemon juice. Cook over medium heat until the blackberries release their juices and the mixture begins to simmer.
In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water until smooth. Stir the cornstarch mixture into the blackberry mixture and cook until thickened, about 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool completely.
For the Chocolate Ganache:
In a small saucepan, heat the heavy cream over medium heat until it just begins to simmer. Remove from heat and add the chocolate chips. Let sit for 5 minutes, then stir until smooth and glossy.
To Assemble:
Place one cake layer on a serving plate and spread the blackberry filling over the top.
Place the second cake layer on top of the filling. Pour the chocolate ganache over the top of the cake, letting it drip down the sides.
Decorate with additional fresh blackberries, if desired.
Prep Time: 40 minutes | Cooking Time: 30 minutes | Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 12 servings | Calories per serving: 450 kcal