This White Chocolate Raspberry Cake combines white chocolate cake layers with a white chocolate swiss meringue buttercream, fresh raspberries, and raspberry jam. A perfect flavor combination!
Hi everyone! Sorry it’s been so long since my last post/recipe — this was not intended. For those of you who don’t know, we got a puppy at the end of June and it’s been pure chaos ever since. I knew that puppies were a lot of work, but this is a whole ‘nother level of craziness.
I actually made this White Chocolate Raspberry Cake weeks (months?) ago with the intent to post it in July. That obviously didn’t happen.
In addition to the puppy (who we named Zelda, after our mutual love of the video game franchise), we were also dealing with some unplanned renos due to a water leak in a neighbor’s unit that flooded our basement in early June.
I exaggerate a bit when I say flooded — it was a slow leak in a cracked pipe that cause water to seep up from under the floorboards. But still, one wall and the entire floor had to be ripped up and replaced which finally just happened last week, so we were living in a construction zone for 2 months.
This might not seem like that big of a deal, but the basement is actually where we hang out the most. It’s a walkout with huge windows and a view — it’s where we have our tv, and it’s generally the coziest room in the house. If we had a fireplace down here, I’m convinced we’ve never leave! It’s also the main puppy space, so the whole reno was really disruptive.
Ryan and I opted to do the demo and move all our furniture to save a bit of time/money. We have some rather large pieces of furniture down here that we had to move (giant sectional + chaise, book cases, tv, etc). It was a lot of work! Poor Zelda was confined to her pen for the better part of a weekend, and then got shuffled upstairs while the work was being done.
I’m complaining. I tend to do that. In the grand scheme of things, it could have been a lot worse. None of our stuff was damaged, insurance paid for the whole thing, and we have a nice new floor down here now (the old one was terrible).
Zelda though, she’s a handful omg. Potty training has been a nightmare. I think (hope) that’s mostly due to all the disruption we’ve had with the unplanned renos (literally the worst timing for that to happen). She’s been moved around from downstairs to upstairs and back again. Hoping things calm down a bit in that regard since the renos are officially done (YAY!). Now that that’s settled, I’m hoping to get a bit more consistency for her with everything.
The worst part, though, has been the biting. I know that puppies bite. But she BITES. Like, draws blood if you let her (and sometimes even if you try not to), with those razor sharp puppy teeth. I know it’s her way of playing/teething, but omg, it is brutal. My arms and hands are just shredded and bruised from those puppy teeth. It’s SO painful. Literally nothing we try has worked. We’ve tried redirecting her to toys, disengaging, yelping (which only gets her more hyper). There was honestly a point this weekend where I was like, this is hell. Wtf did we do??
But then there are times where she’s so cute and adorable I can’t imagine that I was ever mad/frustrated with her. My friend Eva said to me yesterday, “Puppies are as cute as they are for survival purposes – otherwise you’d kill them.” There has never been a more accurate statement.
Anyhow, let’s talk about this White Chocolate Raspberry Cake, because it’s crazy delicious.
I’m actually not a fan of white chocolate. It’s not really chocolate after all. It contains no cocoa solids and is made up strictly of cocoa butter, sugar, and milk. But I had a request in my Facebook Group for a White Chocolate Raspberry Cake, and who am I to turn that down? It makes perfect use of those summer berries, too.
Honestly, this cake is now one of my favorites. The white chocolate flavor is there, but it’s not overpowering like straight up white chocolate can be. And the sweet/tart fresh raspberries are a perfect compliment.
How to make this White Chocolate Raspberry Cake
To make this white chocolate cake, I modified the recipe from my White Chocolate Candy Cane Cake. Technically the ratio of sugar in this recipe is too high, because the white chocolate also has sugar in it. I didn’t find it overly sweet though, and I loved the texture, so I’m leaving the recipe as-is. Note that the cake will bake up with a darker golden crust due to the extra sugar. If you like, you can reduce the granulated sugar in the recipe to 1 1/2 cups instead.
This is considered a mud cake due to the chocolate in the cake batter. Mud cakes are dense, moist, and almost fudgy in texture. If you’re looking for a light and fluffy cake, this is not it!
I used raspberry jam between the layers along with fresh raspberries for an extra hit, but you can leave the jam out if you like. I used store-bought seeded jam (I like the seeds), but you can use any you like, or even homemade if you prefer!
The decorating style of this White Chocolate Raspberry Cake is very simple. I kept the sides semi-naked and did a design on top similar to my Lemon Elderflower Cake. I piled some fresh raspberries on top, and added some thyme sprigs for a pop of green.
This truly is a delicious flavor combination, and the fresh berries make it so perfect for summer!
Looking for more berry desserts?
- Strawberry Cake with Mascarpone Buttercream
- Vanilla Custard Cookie Cups
- Raspberry Mango Cake
- Lemon Blueberry Cake
- Blueberry Shortcake
Tips for making this White Chocolate Cake with Raspberries
- This is considered a mud cake due to the chocolate in the cake batter. Mud cakes are dense, moist, and almost fudgy in texture. If you’re looking for a light and fluffy cake, this is not it!
- The ratio of sugar in this recipe is high due to the addition of the white chocolate. This will give a darker crust. I did not find it overly sweet, but you can reduce the sugar to 1 1/2 cups instead.
- Try to use the best quality white chocolate you can find. White chocolate chips will do, but the flavor will be better with good quality white chocolate.
- If you don’t like raspberries, this white chocolate cake would be just as delicious with blueberries, blackberries, or strawberries.
- Be sure to check my Swiss Meringue Buttercream post for tips and troubleshooting.
- To help ensure your cake layers bake up nice and flat, check out my Flat Top Cakes post!
White Chocolate Raspberry Cake
Ingredients
White Chocolate Cake:
- 6 oz white chocolate chopped (or white chocolate chips)
- 2 cups milk
- 3 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 Tbsp baking powder
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter room temperature
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs room temperature
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
White Chocolate Swiss Meringue Buttercream:
- 6 large egg whites
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 cups unsalted butter room temperature
- 8 oz white chocolate chopped, melted, cooled
Assembly:
- 500 g fresh raspberries divided
- 6 Tbsp raspberry jam seeded or seedless (optional)
Instructions
White Chocolate Cake:
- Heat milk and chocolate until melted and combined, cool to room temperature.*
- Preheat oven to 350F. Grease and flour three 8″ cake rounds and line with parchment.
- In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt until well combined. Set aside.
- Using a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar on med-high until pale and fluffy (approx 3mins). Reduce speed and add eggs one at a time fully incorporating after each addition. Add vanilla.
- Alternate adding flour mixture and milk mixture, beginning and ending with flour (4 additions of flour and 3 of milk). Fully incorporating after each addition.
- Bake for approx. 40mins or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean.
- Place cakes on wire rack to cool for 10mins then turn out onto wire rack and cool completely.
White Chocolate Swiss Meringue Buttercream:
- Place egg whites and sugar into the bowl of a stand mixer, whisk until combined.**
- Place bowl over a double boiler on the stove and whisk constantly until the mixture is hot and no longer grainy to the touch (approx. 3mins). Or registers 160F on a candy thermometer.
- Place bowl on your stand mixer and whisk on med-high until the meringue is stiff and cooled (the bowl is no longer warm to the touch (approx. 5-10mins)).
- Switch to paddle attachment. Slowly add cubed butter and mix until smooth.***
- Add white chocolate and whip until smooth.
Assembly:
- Reserve 1/3rd of the prettiest raspberries (160g) for the top of the cake. Very roughly chop remaining 2/3rds of the raspberries (330g). I basically just made sure each was cut in half.
- Place one layer of cake on a cake stand or serving plate. Spread approx. 3 Tbsp of raspberry jam evenly across the layer, right to the edges. Top with 1 cup of buttercream and spread evenly. Press half of the chopped raspberries evenly into the frosting. Repeat with next layer.
- Top with final layer of cake and crumb coat. Add 1 cup of buttercream to the very top and smooth until it hangs over the sides. Use an icing smoother to smooth the sides and create a lip on the top with the frosting.
- Dollop a bit of frosting on the top and spread out in a rustic manner. Top with fresh raspberries and thyme sprigs if desired.
Notes
** Wipe your mixer bowl and whisk down with lemon juice or vinegar to make sure it is completely grease free and make sure there is no trace of yolk in your whites or your meringue will not stiffen.
*** The buttercream may look like it’s curdled at some point. Keep mixing until it is completely smooth. If it looks soupy, place it in the fridge for 20mins and rewhip.
Sandra Sykes says
This is my second time baking this cake. It was a huge hit the first time.
This time, I set the timer for 30 minutes for the 3 layers. I am glad I did as the toothpick was completely clean when tested. I like to see it “mostly clean” as the recipe says. The next time, I’ll check it a little sooner than 30 minutes. Hope it will still be moist!
Olivia says
Hi Sandra! So happy you love it. I’m sure it will be fine! You can always add some simple syrup to the layers if you’re worried 🙂 https://livforcake.com/simple-syrup-recipe/
Janice Ann Jones says
Dear Liv,
I made this as a 3 tier wedding cake for my son. I made the cake a few weeks previous and froze the tiers.
I defrosted the cake the day before in the fridge at the venue. It stacked with no problems at all and cut perfectly.
Once again a huge success, I made the Lemon and Elderflower SMBC cake 3 years ago for my daughter’s wedding.
I hope this helps other people thinking about making the cake and freezing it.
Many many thanks Liv from the UK.
ps I didn’t add anymore SMBC as I thought I might and it was fine.
Olivia says
Hi Janice! I’m so happy to hear it was a hit. Thanks so much for your feedback 🙂 xo
Janice Ann Jones says
Hi Liv I would like some advice please.
I am making the white choc and raspberry cake as a 3 tier wedding cake for my son. (I did the lemon and elderflower for my daughter 3 years ago).
Firstly I am freezing the cakes, I have frozen the top tier but would like to add more of the swiss meringue to improve the appearance. Can I add to the cake whilst it is still frozen and before it thaws out!?
I am stacking the cakes with dowels, and I have forgotten do i need to put the cakes on cake boards before stacking.?
Thank you Liv
Best wishes Jan
Olivia says
Hi Jan! You definitely need the cakes on boards before stacking, yes. Are you just wanting a thicker layer of frosting? I would thaw it overnight in the fridge (so it’s not completely frozen, but still cold) and try to add more frosting then. I am not sure how well the berries will freeze/thaw though. They might get a bit mushy. It might not be noticeable but you may want to test it since it’s for a wedding and all. Let me know how it turns out!
Janice Ann Jones says
HI Liv thank you for replying, I will let you know how i go on.
thanks Jan
Victoria says
Hi there, can I add the raspberries into the batter?
Olivia says
Hi Victoria! I haven’t tried it myself but it should work fine. Be sure to toss them in flour first and gently fold them in at the end.
Kat says
Hi there! Raspberries are very expensive in winter, could I substitute for thawed frozen berries?
Olivia says
Hi Kat! That should work ok but do not thaw them in advance. Toss them in flour frozen and fold them in.
Alison says
What depth cake pan did you use? I’m making this for one of the tiers of a wedding cake and the couple loved it so much on tasting day, they want it to be their largest, so I am trying to sort the conversions…
Olivia says
Hi Alison! My cake pans are all 2″ deep.
Tiffany Silva says
Hi!!! What kind of milk? Whole or 2%?
Olivia says
Hi Tiffany! Any will work. Whole is ideal but use 1% as that’s what I tend to have in the fridge.
Zoe says
I want to use this frosting the lightly fill and semi frost [for a semi naked] 4 layer 8 inch cake.
I have fruit fillings for middle to I only need a bit to act as a border and then enough for outside, but again as I said its semi naked so I won’t be needing alot and I won’t need any for rosettes etc.
will a standard recipe using the 6 egg whites be sufficient do you think?
Olivia says
Hi Zoe! If only using as a border and a light frosting it should be ok, depending on how much you use for the border.
Nelly says
Hi there,
Do you think this would hold up in a two tiered wedding cake? Or is it to fudge and will collapse?
Olivia says
Hi Nelly! If the tiers are properly supported it should be fine.
Desirett Deuley says
Hiii! Can I swapped the flour to cake flour?
Olivia says
Hi Desirett! I haven’t tried it myself but it should work ok.
Nedra Smith says
Do you think this cake would be good with a mascarpone frosting? I’m just wanting an easier frosting to make.
Olivia says
Hi Nedra! Yes, I think that would be delicious. Alternatively you can give my Ermine or German buttercreams a try. Both are much easier! https://livforcake.com/category/frostings-fillings/
Katelyn says
Question. I’m wanting to make these into cupcakes and was wondering what you thought about adding fresh chopped raspberries to the batter before baking?
Olivia says
Hi Katelyn! Adding fresh berries can change the texture of the cake due to the extra moisture. If you’re up for experimenting I wouldn’t chop the berries and be sure to toss them in flour before gently folding into the cake batter.
Abigail says
Hello Olivia,
This cake looks so yummy! I’m hoping to make it for my husband’s birthday. I was just wondering, can I bake the layers and put them in the freezer for two days before assembling the cake?
Or do they need to be baked the same day they are assembled?
Thank you!
Olivia says
Hi Abigail! For sure, just double wrap them in plastic wrap and they freeze well for up to 3 months.
Asia says
Did you also line the sides of the cake pan?
Olivia says
Hi Asia! No, I grease and flour the whole thing (I actually use cake release: https://livforcake.com/homemade-cake-release/) but I only line the bottom.
Diya says
Would it be ok I used strawberries instead of raspberries? With the same measurements and eveything?
Olivia says
Hi Diya! Yes, for sure.
Alex says
I made this yesterday and it was so good!! I always struggle with cakes from scratch but surprisingly this recipe was super easy to follow. I even had to make a huge last minute adjustment to just two layers and it turned out amazing! Thanks so much!
Olivia says
Hi Alex! So happy you loved this one and found it easy to follow 🙂
Jaye says
This recipe is amazing! Thank you!! I made it gluten free with no other substitutes and it was moist and fudgey and delicious! This will be my go-to for vanilla birthday cakes now yum!
Olivia says
Hi Jaye! I’m so happy you loved it. Good to know it worked well GF!
Mary-Grey says
This looks amazing! Would this recipe work for cupcakes? I am making the cake for a birthday but they want cupcakes of the same flavor too – since its a mud cake didn’t know if would be too dense for cupcakes?
Olivia says
Hi Mary-Grey! For sure, just start checking them at 15mins or so. It should make 18-24 depending on size. They will be more dense than normal cupcakes but I think they would be delicious.
Teresa says
This was amazing!!! I made this cake for my daughter’s birthday and everyone loved it! It’s definitely heavy! I did 1.5C of sugar as suggested in the script.
Olivia says
Hi Teresa! So happy everyone loved it 🙂
Beth says
This is a great recipe! I used it for a school formal cake and am about to bake another one for my daughters birthday. Thank you!
Olivia says
Hi Beth! So happy you love it, thank you!