Fondant Covered Wedding Cake With Raspberries And Chocolate Recipes

RASPBERRY-COCONUT CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH MARBLED FONDANT

Steps:

• Make the cake: Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Coat two 9-inch round cake pans and two 6-inch round cake pans with cooking spray; dust with flour and tap out the excess. Line the bottom of each pan with parchment.
• Whisk the flour, granulated sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. Stir in the milk, vegetable oil and eggs. Mix with a rubber spatula until just combined. Stir in the vanilla and coffee extracts.
• Pour 3 cups batter into each of the prepared 9-inch pans. Divide the remaining batter between the 6-inch pans (about 11/2 cups each); tap the pans against the counter to release any air bubbles. Bake, switching the position of the pans halfway through, until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cakes comes out clean, about 35 minutes for the 6-inch cakes and 45 minutes for the 9-inch cakes. Transfer to racks and let cool 10 minutes in the pans, then remove the cakes to the racks, discard the parchment and let cool completely.
• Using a long serrated knife, split the cake layers in half horizontally to create four 9-inch layers and four 6-inch layers.
• Whisk the coconut milk and sweetened condensed milk in a medium bowl. Brush onto the cooled cake layers, using just enough to moisten the top of each.
• Make the frosting: Puree the raspberries in a food processor until smooth. Beat the butter in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until smooth, about 1 minute. Slowly beat in 4 cups confectioners? sugar until smooth. Add the raspberry puree, the remaining 2 cups confectioners? sugar and the lemon zest and juice; beat until fluffy, about 2 more minutes.
• Assemble the cake: Place one 9-inch layer on a cardboard round. Using an offset spatula, spread about 3/4 cup frosting on top. Stack the remaining 9-inch cake layers on top, spreading 3/4 cup frosting between each. Cover the top and sides of the cake with a thin layer of frosting (this is the crumb coat). Refrigerate until set, at least 30 minutes.
• Make the fondant: Dust a surface with confectioners? sugar. Roll 8 ounces white fondant into a thick log. Roll 2 ounces each blue, pink, green and yellow fondant (or other desired colors) into thin logs the same length as the white log. Use a little water to stick the colored logs to the white log. Use your hands to roll the fondant logs together into one big log, then twist the log a few times. Fold the twisted fondant log in half, then gather together into a ball. Using a rolling pin, roll out the fondant ball into a 15-inch round, about 1/8 inch thick, dusting with confectioners? sugar as needed. Lift the round of marbled fondant and drape it over the 6-inch cake. Smooth out the fondant with your hands. Trim off the excess fondant around the cake with a paring knife. Refrigerate until ready to assemble. Place the 9-inch layer cake on a cake board or cake stand; top with the 6-inch layer cake. Pipe the reserved frosting around the bottom edges of each cake layer. Repeat steps 1 through 3 to make a larger ball of marbled fondant, using 1 pound white fondant and 4 ounces each of the colored fondants. Roll into an 18-inch round. Drape the fondant over the 9-inch cake, then smooth and trim the edges.
• Meanwhile, lay one 6-inch cake layer on a cardboard round; spread 1/4 cup frosting on top. Stack the remaining 6-inch layers on top, spreading 1/4 cup frosting between each. Cover the top and sides of the cake with a thin layer of frosting. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes. Place the remaining frosting in a pastry bag fitted with a star tip; set aside.
• Cover the tiers with marbled fondant and finish assembling. Decorate with the remaining frosting as desired. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Line three greased 9-in. round baking pans with waxed paper and grease paper; set aside. In a large bowl, combine first six ingredients. Combine buttermilk, oil and vanilla; add to dry ingredients. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition; beat 2 minutes. Gradually add coffee (batter will be thin)., Pour batter into prepared pans. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 35-40 minutes . Cool 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely., For filling, in a small saucepan, whisk together flour and milk until smooth. Cook over medium heat 1 minute or until thickened, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and let stand until cool. , In a large bowl, cream shortening and butter until light and fluffy. Gradually add confectioners' sugar and mix well. Gradually add cooled milk mixture; beat until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Beat in liqueur, salt and, if desired, food coloring., Place one cake layer on a serving plate; spread half the filling to within 1/4 in. of edge. Drizzle half the jam over filling. Repeat layers. Top with remaining cake layer. Refrigerate until filling is set, about 30 minutes. , In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Beat in cocoa and liqueur. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy. Frost top and sides of cake. Store in the refrigerator.