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The Daring Bakers Challenge: Fraisier inspired Raspberry and Blueberry Cream Chocolate Cake

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Raspberry/Blueberry Chocolate Cream Cake

This month’s challenge was just made for me, what could be better than a strawberry cream cake?  I did have one slight problem and I need to make sure I remember next time; if you want to keep the kids from eating the strawberries (that you know are their favorite)  make sure you tell them they are reserved! Therefore, when it came time to finish the cake, it became a framboise/bluet-r (love my French – straight from the translator) because the fraise were history.  No matter, it was still delicious.
Jana of Cherry Tea Cakes was our July Daring Bakers’ host and she challenges us to make Fresh Frasiers inspired by recipes written by Elisabeth M. Prueitt and Chad Robertson in the beautiful cookbook Tartine.
I followed her recipes here using the chocolate version of the cake.  I did vary (besides the fruit) in that I made my own almond paste using honey and brown sugar.  It wasn’t the most photogenic, but tasted great and was very simple.
Ingredients for Almond Paste:
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup hone
1/3 cup water
3 cups blanched, whole almonds
1/4 cup butter
In a heatproof bowl microwave sugar, honey and water to a strong boil.  While the mixture is heating, pulse the almonds until coarsely ground.  Pour the honey mixture over the almonds and blend until smooth which may take 10 minutes or more.  If the mixture is too thick add a small amount of water.

Grind the almonds, honey and brown sugar

Just before use, knead in the butter to make a smooth consistency.

Knead with butter, then roll thin layer for the top of the cake

After making the chocolate cake and cream filling per the recipe, I assembled the cake pretty much as directed but using the raspberries and blueberries instead of the already devoured strawberries.  I also didn’t seem to have enough cream left for the top layer so instead I made a quick chocolate ganache (1/2 cream and 1/2 chocolate).  Next time I would leave more space between the berries as I would have liked the cream to show through more but all in all it was still pretty and very delicious!

Sliced

15 thoughts on “The Daring Bakers Challenge: Fraisier inspired Raspberry and Blueberry Cream Chocolate Cake

  1. ericasedibles

    Beautiful! Your berries look perfect and they really stand out with the chocolate cake. Would love to try a piece of that 🙂

    1. simplycooking101

      Thanks, it was great and I’d be happy to share but it didn’t last much longer than the strawberries!

  2. Korena

    What a fantastic looking cake, those berries are flawless! I bet it was delicious, it’s certainly making *my* mouth water 🙂

  3. Renata

    Wow! How beautiful is your Fraisier! One of the yummiest of the challenge, made me drool

  4. pastry

    Great job and impessive phptography!

  5. Rufus' Food and Spirits Guide

    You added chocolate! Brilliant!

  6. Shelley C

    Your fraisier is beautiful, strawberries or not. The raspberry/blueberry design came out so wonderfully, and the whole cake looks delicious! Wonderful job.

  7. Lucie

    Since I saw your fraisier in DB forum I admire your perfect job on this challenge!

  8. German Mama

    What a gorgeous looking cake! Love the fruit combination.

  9. Namratha

    Your fraisier is simply perfect, layered nicely and absolutely stunning…very nicely done!

  10. chef_d

    Kudos for making your own marzipan. Gorgeous cake! Excellent job!

  11. Kelly Mecker

    Yum… chocolate and berries! No need for strawberries, that looks delicious.

  12. IrinaIrina

    Indeed, raspberries and chocolate – who needs strawberries 🙂 And what a great idea to use brown sugar for the almond paste! At first I thought it was some caramel/light chocolate icing. Congratulations!

  13. […] some additional fillings I used some things I have made before honey caramel and honey almond paste to add to the lime ganache and Pate de Fruit.  Using the same technique as the white chocolate I […]

  14. […] some additional fillings I used some things I have made before honey caramel and honey almond paste to add to the lime ganache and Pate de Fruit.  Using the same technique as the white chocolate I […]

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