White Chocolate Cake with Champagne-Raspberry Sauce

White Chocolate Cake with Champagne-Raspberry Sauce

This special-occasion cake has many steps. Luckily, they can be made in stages and you can assemble the cake the day before. For true white chocolate flavor, be sure that cocoa butter is a primary ingredient in the chocolate that you buy. Because the frosting has to chill completely, plan to make it at least four hours before frosting the cake.

Frosting
16 oz. white chocolate, divided
3/4 cup whipping cream
10 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut up
2 teaspoons light corn syrup

Cake
1/4 cup unsalted butter
6 large eggs
1 cup sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup all-purpose flour

Syrup Filling and Sauce
2 1/2 cups sweet Champagne or sparkling wine, divided
1/4 cup sugar
1 (12-oz.) pkg. frozen raspberries
1/2 cup seedless raspberry jam, divided

Finely chop 12 oz. of the white chocolate and place in large bowl; reserve remaining 4 oz. chocolate for garnish. Place remaining frosting ingredients in medium saucepan; cook over medium heat 2 to 3 minutes or until butter is melted and cream is hot (do not let cream boil). Pour over chocolate; let stand 3 to 4 minutes or until chocolate is soft and melted. Gently whisk until smooth.

Pour into 13x9-inch baking pan. Refrigerate 2 to 4 hours or until frosting is of spreadable consistency.

Meanwhile, heat oven to 350¦. Spray 2 (9x2-inch) round baking pans with nonstick cooking spray. Line bottoms with parchment paper. Spray paper with nonstick cooking spray; lightly flour.

To make cake, melt 1/4 cup butter in small saucepan over low heat or in microwave. Skim foam from top; cover to keep warm.

In large bowl, whisk together eggs, 1 cup sugar and salt until blended. Set bowl over saucepan of barely simmering water (bowl should not touch water). Cook 2 to 3 minutes or until sugar is dissolved and mixture is warm to the touch, whisking constantly. Remove from heat.

Beat at medium-high speed 5 minutes or until mixture is pale and thick; beat in vanilla. Sift half of flour over egg mixture; gently fold until combined. Sift and fold in remaining flour. Stir about 1 cup of the cake batter into melted butter. Fold mixture back into batter. Divide batter between cake pans.

Bake 18 to 20 minutes or until golden brown and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack 10 minutes. Run small knife around pan edges to loosen; invert onto rack; cool completely.

Meanwhile, make syrup. Combine 1/2 cup of the Champagne and 1/4 cup sugar in medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. Boil 2 to 3 minutes or until reduced to 1/2 cup. Place in small bowl; cool to room temperature.

To make sauce, place remaining 2 cups Champagne in another medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high to high heat; boil until reduced to 1 to 1 1/4 cups, about 10 minutes. Stir in raspberries and 1/4 cup of the jam; reduce heat to low.

Simmer 1 minute or until jam is melted and raspberries are thawed. Cool slightly. Place mixture in food processor or blender; process until smooth. Strain through sieve to remove seeds. Cover and store in refrigerator.

To assemble cake, place one layer on serving platter or cardboard round. Brush with half of the syrup; spread with remaining 1/4 cup of the jam. Spread about 1/2 cup of the frosting over raspberry jam (donãt worry if layers blend together).

Top with second cake layer. Brush with remaining half syrup; frost top and sides of cake with remaining
frosting. Using vegetable peeler, make chocolate curls or shavings. Press curls onto sides of cake. Store in refrigerator; let stand at room temperature 30 minutes before serving. Serve with raspberry sauce. Makes 12 servings