The temperatures are going down again – working in my kitchen is finally possible without getting a heat stroke ;) But that is basically the only good thing with lower temperatures – I prefer summer. Autumn and winter are so wet and cold…. brrr. Well – you have to be happy with what you can get… for example this Red Velvet Torte :P
I know – the gap between temperature and this cake seems big right now, but you will understand the connection later :P
So… when I made this cake, the “heat was (still) on” (I like that song :P) and my kitchen was more or less like a sauna under the roof. The buttercream loved it – working with it was very easy at that moment – it was snuggling with the cake ;)
If you are following my Instagram account, you might have seen it already – the latest addition to my little kitchen friends – a nice mixing bowl that can be heated from KitchenAid*. I showed it already several times doing its magic. There is nothing more relaxing than watching a kitchen machine doing its work, don’t you think? Well.. the bowl is really something special – a bowl that can be heated while you are using it in your KitchenAid stand mixer. You can replace the regular bowl that belongs to your KitchenAid machine with that bowl or use it even without the machine. The correct name of that bowl is Precise Heat Mixing Bowl* – which says it all ;)
So what’s the deal? What can you do with it? Well… you can warm/heat up things :P You can for example melt chocolate to the perfect temperature, you can give a yeast dough a nice warm place to rise or you can create the perfect Swiss Meringue Buttercream as I did. Without handling different bowls, a pot with boiling water and thermometer – just this bowl and your KitchenAid :) The bowl/machine does everything. You select a temperature, turn on the machine – that’s i. You can do whatever you want until the bowl beeps – half of your work is done by then…
You can prepare the meringue the old-fashioned way of course – it’s just a bit more effort ;) Take a look at this recipe for Banana Cupcakes with Swiss Meringue Buttercream – there I tell you how to make it the “traditional” way.
INGREDIENTS / ZUTATEN
1/2 cup (120g) butter, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups (300g) sugar
1 1/2 cups (200g) all-purpose flour
1/3 cup (45g) cornstarch
2 tbsp. cocoa powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
2 large eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup (240ml) milk
1 tbsp. white wine vinegar
red food coloring
For the buttercream:
3.5 oz. (100g) egg whites (about 3 eggs)
1 1/2 cups (150g) sugar
6.7 oz. (190g) butter, at room temperature
pinch of salt
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
3.5 oz. (100g) white chocolate, melted and cooled
some drops pink food coloring (optional)
For the filling:
3,5 oz. (100g) fresh raspberries
3,5 oz. (100g) raspberry marmalade
For the decoration:
Fresh raspberries
some white chocolate shreds
120g weiche Butter
300g Zucker
200g Mehl
45g Speisestärke
2 EL Kakaopulver
1 TL Natron
1/2 TL Salz
2 Eier (L)
1 TL Vanille Extrakt
240ml Milch
1 EL Weißweinessig
rote Lebensmittelfarbe
Für die Buttercreme:
100g Eiweiß (etwa 3 Eier)
150g Zucker
190g weiche Butter
Prise Salz
1/2 TL Vanille Extrakt
100g Weiße Schokolade, geschmolzen und abgekühlt
ein paar Tropfen rosa Lebensmittelfarbe (optional)
Für die Füllung:
100g frische Himbeeren
100g Himbeermarmelade
Für die Dekoration:
frische Himbeeren
Abrieb von weißer Schokolade
BTW here is a little trick on how to get cake layers that are less or hardly domed. I guess you know that problem. Some cakes stick to the sides when baking whatever you do – greasing and dusting with flour – the result is a domed center you have to cut off if you need even layers. So what do you have to do? Pretty easy. Keep some temperature off of the sides of the cake and the center will rise with the outer sides at the same time. Take a long paper towel, make it wet and wrap around the tin, then bake as usual. Don’t worry, it won’t go up in flames – just get dry – but it helps a lot :)
DIRECTIONS / ZUBEREITUNG
2. Sift the flour, cornstarch, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt and set aside. Mix the milk, vinegar and red food color (you decide how red you want it, but for a strong red, you need quite a lot of color) and let thicken for about 5-8 minutes.
3. In a large bowl mix the butter and sugar on high speed until light in color. Add the eggs and beat on high speed until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla extract and mix in. Add the flour mixture in three batches, alternating with the milk mixture and mix until just combined. Divide the batter evenly between the tins and bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Take out of the oven, let cool down some time in the tins, then remove and let cool down completely on a wire rack. You can do the baking one day in advance and wrap the cakes loosely in plastic wrap to finish the cake the next day.
4. For the buttercream melt the white chocolate and let cool down again. Add the egg whites and sugar to the KitchenAid bowl that can be heated and set the temperature to 149°F (65°C) and mix on low speed. As soon as the bowl gives the signal for the temperature, turn it off and increase the speed to high and beat the egg whites for about 8-10 minutes – you should get a nice thick and glossy meringue. Slow down the machine a bit and add the butter in small pieces and mix well after each addition. When all of the butter is incorporated, add the salt and vanilla extract and mix on high speed for another minute or two. Add the melted chocolate and mix on high speed for another 4-5 minutes. If the buttercream is too soft, place in the fridge for about 10 minutes. If you don’t have that KitchenAid bowl, go for the traditional way – whisk the egg whites and sugar over a bowl with simmering water until you reach the temperature (check with a thermometer), then transfer to a kitchen machine and continue as described with the butter, etc.
5. To assemble the cake, place the first layer on a serving plate or cake stand and spread a small amount of buttercream on top of the cake – you just need a very thin layer so the filling is not soaking the cake too much. Fill some of the buttercream into a piping bag with a large round tip and pipe a circle on the edge of the cake to create a barrier that keeps the filling inside. Mix the fresh raspberries and raspberry marmalade in a small bowl – smash the raspberries a bit – and add half of the filling on top of the cake inside the buttercream ring. Place the second cake layer on top and repeat the procedure. Add the third cake layer on top and cover the whole cake with a thin crumb layer. Place in the fridge for 20-30 minutes. When the cake has cooled enough, coat the cake with the remaining buttercream. If you want some color like in the pictures, keep about a teaspoon of buttercream and mix with pink food color. Add that colored buttercream on the outside of the cake and spread a bit – you actually don’t need much of the colored cream for the effect. Decorate with fresh raspberries and some chocolate shreds.
2. Das Mehl mit der Stärke, Kakaopulver, Natron und Salz mischen und sieben. Zur Seite stellen. Die Milch mit dem Essig und der roten Lebensmittelfarbe vermischen und für etwa 5-8 Minuten andicken lassen. Je nachdem wie rot ihr den Kuchen haben wollt, desto mehr Farbe muss rein).
3. Die Butter mit dem Zucker in einer großen Schüssel auf höchster Stufe hell und luftig aufschlagen. Die Eier zugeben und ebenfalls rühren, bis alles luftig ist. Vanille Extrakt zugeben und unterrühren. Die Mehlmischung abwechselnd mit der Milchmischung in drei Portionen zugeben und jeweils nur kurz unterrühren. Den Teig gleichmäßig auf die drei Backformen verteilen und dann für 25-30 Minuten backen – mit einem Zahnstocher testen, ob noch Teig kleben bleibt und erst herausnehmen, wenn der Zahnstocher sauber herauskommt. Aus dem Ofen nehmen, in den Formen etwas abkühlen lassen und dann herausnehmen und auf einem Kuchengitter komplett auskühlen lassen. Die Kuchenschichten können einen Tag im Voraus gemacht werden – einfach locker in Plastikfolie wickeln, damit sie nicht austrocknen.
4. Für die Buttercreme die weiße Schokolade schmelzen und wieder abkühlen lassen. Das Eiweiß und den Zucker in die beheizbare KitchenAid Schüssel geben und die Temperatur auf 65°C (149°F) einstellen. Das Eiweiß/Zucker auf niedriger Stufe verrühren, bis sich die Schüssel meldet und die Temperatur erreicht ist. Die Schüssel ausschalten und dann auf höchster Stufe für 8-10 Minuten aufschlagen – die Meringue Masse sollte dick und glänzend sein. Die Geschwindigkeit reduzieren und dann die Butter in kleinen Stücken zugeben und jeweils gut unterrühren. Wenn die Butter komplett untergrührt ist, das Salz und den Vanille Extrakt zugeben und für 1-2 Minuten auf höchster Stufe unterrühren. Die geschmolzene Schokolade zugeben und noch einmal auf höchster Stufe für etwa 4-5 Minuten aufschlagen. Wenn die Buttercreme zu weich sein sollte, einfach für 10 Minuten in den Kühlschrank stellen. Wer keine beheizbare Schüssel hat, kann natürlich ganz klassisch mit einer Schüssel über heißem Wasserbad arbeiten und dann mit einem Thermometer die Temperatur messen – dann wie beschrieben in der Küchenmaschine weitermachen.
5. Zum Zusammenbau der Torte die erste Kuchenschicht auf einer Servierplatte oder Tortenständer legen und eine dünne Schicht Buttercreme auftragen. Etwas Creme in einen Spritzbeutel mit großer runder Öffnung füllen und dann am Rand des Kuchens einen Ring Creme aufspritzen – damit soll die Füllung in der Torte gehalten werden. Die frische Himbeeren für die Füllung mit der Himbeermarmelade vermischen und die Himbeeren dabei etwas zerdrücken. Die Hälfte dieser Füllung innerhalb des Rings auf die Kuchenschicht auftragen. Die zweite Kuchenschicht darauflegen und die Prozedur wiederholen. Mit der letzten Kuchenschicht abschließen und dann rundum eine dünne Schicht Buttercreme auftragen. Die Torte für 20-30 Minuten in den Kühlschrank stellen. Wenn die Torte durchgekühlt ist, mit der restlichen Buttercreme einstreichen. Wenn die Torte eine Marmorierung bekommen soll, einfach einen Teelöffel Creme mit etwas Lebensmittelfarbe einfärben, stellenweise auftragen und verstreichen. Mit frischen Himbeeren und Schokoladenstückchen verzieren.
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Here is a version of the recipe you can print easily.
PrintRed Velvet Raspberry White Chocolate Torte
- Prep Time: 1h
- Cook Time: 30m
- Total Time: 2h 45m
- Yield: 1 1x
- Category: Cake
- Cuisine: American
Description
Raspberries and white chocolate are a winning combination – especially in this little cake :)
Ingredients
For the cake:
1/2 cup (120g) butter, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups (300g) sugar
1 1/2 cups (200g) all-purpose flour
1/3 cup (45g) cornstarch
2 tbsp. cocoa powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
2 large eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup (240ml) milk
1 tbsp. white wine vinegar
red food coloring
For the buttercream:
3.5 oz. (100g) egg whites (about 3 eggs)
1 1/2 cups (150g) sugar
6.7 oz. (190g) butter, at room temperature
pinch of salt
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
3.5 oz. (100g) white chocolate, melted and cooled
some drops pink food coloring (optional)
For the filling:
3,5 oz. (100g) fresh raspberries
3,5 oz. (100g) raspberry marmalade
For the decoration:
Fresh raspberries
some white chocolate shreds
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line three 7 inches (18cm) springform tins with baking parchment, grease, and dust with flour. Set aside.
2. Sift the flour, cornstarch, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt and set aside. Mix the milk, vinegar and red food color (you decide how red you want it, but for a strong red, you need quite a lot of color) and let thicken for about 5-8 minutes.
3. In a large bowl mix the butter and sugar on high speed until light in color. Add the eggs and beat on high speed until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla extract and mix in. Add the flour mixture in three batches, alternating with the milk mixture and mix until just combined. Divide the batter evenly between the tins and bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Take out of the oven, let cool down some time in the tins, then remove and let cool down completely on a wire rack. You can do the baking one day in advance and wrap the cakes loosely in plastic wrap to finish the cake the next day.
4. For the buttercream melt the white chocolate and let cool down again. Add the egg whites and sugar to the KitchenAid bowl that can be heated and set the temperature to 149°F (65°C) and mix on low speed. As soon as the bowl gives the signal for the temperature, turn it off and increase the speed to high and beat the egg whites for about 8-10 minutes – you should get a nice thick and glossy meringue. Slow down the machine a bit and add the butter in small pieces and mix well after each addition. When all of the butter is incorporated, add the salt and vanilla extract and mix on high speed for another minute or two. Add the melted chocolate and mix on high speed for another 4-5 minutes. If the buttercream is too soft, place in the fridge for about 10 minutes. If you don’t have that KitchenAid bowl, go for the traditional way – whisk the egg whites and sugar over a bowl with simmering water until you reach the temperature (check with a thermometer), then transfer to a kitchen machine and continue as described with the butter, etc.
5. To assemble the cake, place the first layer on a serving plate or cake stand and spread a small amount of buttercream on top of the cake – you just need a very thin layer so the filling is not soaking the cake too much. Fill some of the buttercream into a piping bag with a large round tip and pipe a circle on the edge of the cake to create a barrier that keeps the filling inside. Mix the fresh raspberries and raspberry marmalade in a small bowl – smash the raspberries a bit – and add half of the filling on top of the cake inside the buttercream ring. Place the second cake layer on top and repeat the procedure. Add the third cake layer on top and cover the whole cake with a thin crumb layer. Place in the fridge for 20-30 minutes. When the cake has cooled enough, coat the cake with the remaining buttercream. If you want some color like in the pictures, keep about a teaspoon of buttercream and mix with pink food color. Add that colored buttercream on the outside of the cake and spread a bit – you actually don’t need much of the colored cream for the effect. Decorate with fresh raspberries and some chocolate shreds.
Notes
Enjoy baking!
*I have partnered with KitchenAid and used their heating bowl to make this delicious cake. That is why I have to declare this here in Germany as Advertising. All I wrote in this article is still based on my own opinion and has not been affected by anybody :)
Hi Marc,
thinking of baking this beautiful cake for Christmas. We are 6 adults and 4 kids. Should you double the ingredients? Need your advise … Best, Elina
Hi. The cake as it is is quite small. I would double with that many people.
Cheers Marc