Instructions

CAKE

1. Adjust an oven rack to the center position and preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 2 8-inch cake rounds with nonstick baking spray and set aside.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs until blended. Add sour cream and vanilla extract to the eggs and whisk together until combined and set aside.
4. In the bowl of a stand mixer, with the paddle attachment attached, mix the melted butter, and oil together on low speed. Add the cold water and continue to mix on low speed. Add all of the flour mixture and continue to mix on medium-low speed for 1 minute. Add the egg mixture and mix for another minute until blended. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as necessary. Divide batter into the prepared cake pans evenly.
5. Bake cakes for 35 to 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs attached. Cool the cakes in their pans on wire racks for about 15 minutes.
6. Invert cakes onto wire racks and let cool completely.

FILLING

1. Puree thawed berries in a blender or food processor until smooth. Over a bowl, pour raspberry puree over a sieve to remove the seeds. The puree will be thick. Use a spoon to stir and press the puree through the sieve. Place raspberry puree in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Add sugar and cornstarch mixture and bring to a simmer stirring constantly to keep lumps from forming. Once the puree thickens, remove from the heat. Cool for 5 minutes and then add fresh lemon juice and Chambord. Chill for a 2-3 hours in the refrigerator until ready to use.

WHIPPED GANACHE

1. Place chocolate in the bowl of a stand mixer.
2. In a medium saucepan, bring the heavy cream to a gentle boil over medium-high heat. Pour hot cream over the chocolate and let sit for 1 minute, then whisk until the chocolate is melted and smooth. Whisk in the Chambord. Cover the surface of the ganache with plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm enough to whip, at least 6 hours
3. With the whisk attachment attached to a stand mixer, beat the ganache on medium-high speed, until medium peaks form and is firm enough to spread, about 1 minute.

GLAZE

1. In a double broiler, melt chocolate, butter, corn syrup, salt and Chambord stirring until smooth. Remove the bowl from the heat and let cool slightly.

ASSEMBLE

1. Remove any cake domes that may have formed with a knife. Cut each layer of cake horizontally creating 4 thin layers of cake. Place one layer on a cake pedestal or serving platter. With an offset cake spatula, spread about 1/3 cup raspberry filling on top, stopping about ½-inch from the edge. Place another cake layer on top and repeat with the second and third cake layers.
2. Top with the last cake layer and spread whipped chocolate ganache over the top and sides of the cake. The ganache frosting is thick. An easy way to evenly spread the frosting over the cake without pulling the cake is to fill a large piping bag fitted with just a coupler or medium round piping tip with frosting. Pipe frosting from the top to the bottom, moving all around the cake. Next, pipe frosting on the top. (No need to do anything fancy here, this is just to get the frosting on the cake. With a large offset cake spatula, heated under hot water and dried, smooth out the sides of the cake. The spatula will help smooth out the frosting without melting it. Continue with this method all around and on top of the cake, heating the spatula as necessary. Once the cake is completely frosted, chill in the refrigerator for 10 minutes.
3. With the slightly cooled glaze, pour just enough to cover the top of the cake, pushing it over the edge with a small offset cake spatula. Refrigerate for about 10 minutes. Pour and spread more glaze over the top of the cake again and chill for another 10 minutes. Continue to decorate with remaining frosting as desired. Top with fresh raspberries and mint leaves.