Raspberry White Chocolate Mousse Cake

White Chocolate Genoise

3 oz. white chocolate, chopped

2 T. unsalted butter, cut into bits

1/ 2 t. vanilla

1/ 2 C. cake flour

1/ 4 t. salt

3 large eggs at room temperature

1/ 3 C. sugar

Line the bottom of a greased 8 1/ 2-inch spring-form pan with wax paper, grease the paper, and dust the pan with flour, knocking out the excess. In a metal bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water melt the white chocolate with the butter, the vanilla, and 3 tablespoons water, stirring until the mixture is smooth. Remove the bowl from the heat and let the mixture cool. Sift together the flour and the salt.

In a large bowl with an electric mixer beat the eggs with the sugar on high speed for 5 minutes, or until the mixture is triple in volume. Fold the flour mixture into the egg mixture until the batter is just combined and gently fold in the white chocolate mixture. Pour the batter into the pan, smoothing the top.

Bake in the middle of a preheated 350°F. oven for 25 minutes, or until a tester comes out clean. Transfer the cake to a rack, run a sharp knife around the edge, and remove the side of the pan. Invert the cake onto another rack and remove the wax paper. Invert the cake onto a rack and let it cool completely. After the cake has cooled completely take a long piece of thread and carefully slice the cake horizontally into three equal layers.

Pastry Cream

4 large egg yolks

1/ 3 C. sugar

3 T. Cornstarch sifted

1 1/ 2 C. milk scalded

2 t. vanilla

3 T. unsalted butter, softened

9 oz. white chocolate, chopped

1 C. heavy cream

1/ 4 C. Framboise liqueur

Prepare the white chocolate mousse: In a bowl whisk together the egg yolks and the sugar, add the sifted cornstarch, and whisk the mixture until it is just combined. Add the scalded milk, transfer the mixture to a heavy saucepan, and boil it, whisking, for 1 minute, or until it is very thick and smooth. Pour into a bowl, stir in vanilla and the butter. Cover the surface with plastic wrap and chill, until it is completely cooled.

In a metal bowl over a ban marie melt the white chocolate, stirring occasionally, and let it cool to lukewarm. In a large bowl whisk together the white chocolate and 1 cup of the pastry cream, reserving the remaining pastry cream for the raspberry mousse, until the mixture is well blended. In a bowl with an electric mixer beat the heavy cream until it holds soft peaks, whisk one fourth of it into the white chocolate mixture, then fold in the remaining whipped cream.

Line the sides of an oiled 9 1/ 2-inch spring-form pan with pieces of plastic wrap (the plastic wrap makes unmolding the cake easier), letting the excess hang over the side. Invert the top layer of the genoise into the bottom of the pan, brush the cake with some of the framboise, and spread it evenly with half the white chocolate mousse (about 2 cups). Invert the middle layer of the genoise onto the mousse, brush it with some of the remaining framboise, and chill the cake and the remaining white chocolate mousse while preparing the raspberry mousse.

Spread the raspberry mousse evenly over the middle layer of genoise in the pan. Invert the third layer of genoise onto the mouse, and brush it with the remaining framboise. Spread the remaining white chocolate mousse over the genoise (the pan will be completely full) and chill the cake, its surface covered with a sheet of wax paper, for at least 6 hours or overnight. Remove the side of the pan, peel the plastic wrap carefully from the side of the cake, and transfer the cake to a serving plate. Garnish the cake the cake with fresh raspberries and white chocolate curls.