RASPBERRY CHAMPAGNE CAKE

Raspberry Champagne Cake – champagne infused cake with raspberry champagne buttercream, raspberry drip glaze, fresh raspberries and cream. A new layer cake recipe perfect for Valentine’s Day!

Nothing says I love you like a homemade cake.  Except maybe a fabulous homemade cake with champagne, berries and cream, topped with a drippy pink glaze.  Whether you’ve found the love of your life or are celebrating February 14th with your best gal pals, today’s recipe has Valentine’s Day covered.

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A light and airy champagne cake finds its perfect match with a dreamy raspberry champagne buttercream.  Fresh raspberries are pureed and simmered with bubbly, straight from the bottle, to create a reduction that works amazingly well in both the buttercream and the glaze.  The flavors in this cake build with each individual component, creating something undeniably raspberry and truly delicious.  Plus, that pink hue from the berries is love at first sight.

A sweet yet tart glaze that’s naturally pink and spiked with champagne – I’m not sure if it gets much better than that.  Oh but wait, it actually does get better.  Now that we have the champagne and raspberries under control, the only thing missing is the whipped topping. [post_ads_2] Yes, here comes the fun part!  When ready to serve, add dollop of Reddi-wip and feel the excitement build.  There is seriously something about that whoosh of cream that makes any treat seem more decadent.  Made with real cream, Reddi-wip is the perfect topping for this cake and totally completes the champagne, berries and cream theme.  Who knew it was only 15 calories per serving?

This cake is a big one, definitely meant for sharing.  What better excuse do you need to slow down a bit, take a break from all the chaos, and experience joy in the moment.  We often get so caught up in the craziness of everyday life that we miss everyday opportunities to experience joy.  So gather your besties or invite over your closest couple friends and make this Valentine’s Day the best one yet.  Because this Raspberry Champagne Cake – and joy – are even better when shared.  No matter how you do it, take a moment to celebrate those you love and spread some Valentine’s Day joy!

RASPBERRY CHAMPAGNE CAKE

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by Carrie Sellman

For the Champagne Cake:

3 1/3 cups cake flour

2 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/4 cups butter

1 3/4 cups granulated sugar

1 1/4 cup champagne, room temperature

6 egg whites

2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Butter and lightly flour three 8″ round pans.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt.   Set aside.
3. In bowl of stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar on medium speed 4 minutes until light and fluffy.
4. Add egg whites, one at a time, beating well after each addition and scraping down sides of bowl as needed.
5. Add the vanilla extract and mix again.
6. Gradually add the dry ingredients and the champagne, alternating, starting and ending with the dry ingredients.  Mix until just combined, being careful not to over mix.
7. Divide batter evenly between the three 8″ round pans.
8. Bake for 23-25 minutes, until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.
9. Let cool in pans for 5 to 10 minutes, then remove to wire rack to finish cooling.

Note: Baking the cake in three 8″ round pans creates shorter layers that do not need to be torted (cut in half horizontally).

For the Raspberry Champagne Reduction:

9 ounces fresh raspberries

3/4 cup champagne

1. Puree raspberries and strain to remove seeds.
2. Place raspberry puree and champagne in a saucepan over med-low heat.  Simmer, stirring occasionally at first and watching carefully as to not bubble over.  All those champagne bubbles!
3. Continue to simmer, while stirring, until reduced by half.  You should have 3/4 cup remaining.  Set aside to cool.  This reduction is used in the buttercream and the glaze.

For the Raspberry Champagne Buttercream (outside frosting and filling)

1 pound unsalted butter, room temperature

1/2 cup raspberry reduction, cooled

2 teaspoons vanilla

6 cups confectioner’s sugar

pinch of salt

3 ounces fresh raspberries

1. In bowl of stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and salt until creamy.
2. Add in 1/2 cup raspberry reduction and vanilla.   Mix well.
3. Gradually add confectioner’s sugar 1 cup at a time, mix and scrape down sides of bowl as necessary.
4. Mix until smooth.
5. Remove 3 to 3 1/2 cups of frosting from the mixing bowl and set aside.  This will be the plain pink frosting for the outside of the cake.
6. Add 3 ounces fresh raspberries to remaining buttercream in mixing bowl.  Mix on low speed for just a moment, until raspberries start to break up.  You should have chunks of raspberry throughout.  This will be the filling for between the cake layers.

For the Glaze:

1/4 cup raspberry reduction

1 cup confectioner’s sugar

1/4 teaspoon vanilla

corn syrup (optional)

In a small bowl, combine raspberry reduction, confectioner’s sugar and vanilla.  Whisk until smooth with no clumps.  Add additional water or corn syrup until desired consistency for drizzling.

For the Assembly:

Reddi-wip

Fresh raspberries

Place one layer of cake onto serving plate or cake stand and top with about one cup of raspberry champagne filling (the buttercream studded with chunks of raspberries).  Repeat with second cake layer, more filling and then last layer of cake.  Crumb coat and frost cake with the reserved raspberry champagne frosting (the plain pink buttercream).  Refrigerate for 20 minutes or until frosting is set. Drizzle glaze over the top with small drips overflowing the edge.  Refrigerate for 20 minutes or until glaze is set.  When ready to serve, garnish with Reddi-wip and additional raspberries.

Store in refrigerator.  Serve at room temperature.

This is sponsored content written by me on behalf of Reddi-wip. The opinions are all mine. Recipe and photography by Carrie Sellman for TheCakeBlog.com.

Courtesy: The Cake Blog