Dreamy Dark Chocolate Blackberry Cake Recipe – Perfect Every Time

Dark chocolate blackberry cake represents a sublime fusion of intense cocoa and vibrant berry notes.

Sophisticated bakers adore this elegant dessert that marries deep, complex flavors with surprising textural contrasts.

Delicate fruit undertones dance alongside rich, velvety chocolate in every carefully crafted bite.

chocolate lovers find themselves captivated by the harmonious blend of sweet and tangy elements.

Sophisticated yet approachable, this cake refines ordinary ingredients into an extraordinary culinary experience.

Sophisticated palates will appreciate the nuanced interplay of robust and bright flavor profiles.

Anyone seeking a memorable dessert that balances indulgence with refinement should try this spectacular creation.

Dark Chocolate Blackberry Cake: A Decadent Delight

• Indulge in Berry-Chocolate Bliss: Dark chocolate and blackberries create a luxurious flavor combination that dances on your taste buds, offering a perfect balance of rich, intense chocolate and bright, tangy fruit.
• Surprisingly Simple Showstopper: Despite looking like a professional bakery creation, this cake is surprisingly easy to make, with straightforward mixing techniques that even novice bakers can master confidently.
• Texture Wonderland: Each bite delivers a stunning contrast of moist, tender chocolate cake with smooth, velvety blackberry frosting and decadent ganache, providing a multi-layered sensory experience that feels like pure culinary magic.
• Crowd-Pleasing Celebration Dessert: Perfect for special occasions like birthdays or dinner parties, this cake serves 12 and looks absolutely stunning when presented, guaranteeing impressed guests and delighted taste buds.

Essential Ingredients for Dark Chocolate Blackberry Cake

• All-Purpose Flour: A key structural ingredient for the cakes texture and stability.
• Granulated Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps with cakes moisture and tenderness.
• Dark Cocoa Powder: Delivers rich chocolate flavor and deep color to the cake.
• Baking Powder, Baking Soda: Essential leavening agents for cakes rise and lightness.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances sweetness.
• Espresso Powder: Intensifies chocolate flavor without adding coffee taste.

• Milk: Adds moisture and helps blend dry ingredients smoothly.
• Vegetable Oil: Creates a tender, moist cake texture.
• Eggs: Provides structure, richness, and helps bind ingredients.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds depth and complementary flavor.
• Boiling Water: Helps activate cocoa and creates a smooth batter.
• Fresh Blackberries: Adds natural sweetness and bursts of fruity flavor.

• Unsalted Butter: Creates a creamy, smooth frosting base.
• Powdered Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps stabilize frosting.
• Blackberry Puree: Adds natural fruit flavor and color to frosting.
• Heavy Cream: Creates a smooth, rich ganache texture.
• Dark Chocolate: Provides intense chocolate flavor for ganache.
• Food Coloring: Optional for enhancing frosting color.

How to Make Rich and Decadent Dark Chocolate Blackberry Cake

Step 1: Prepare the Oven and Pans

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease 4 cake pans with butter and line with parchment paper for easy cake removal.

Step 2: Create Cake Batter

• Flour
• Sugar
• Cocoa powder
• Baking powder
• Baking soda
• Salt
• Espresso powder

• Milk
• Vegetable oil
• Eggs
• Vanilla extract

Slowly pour in boiling water and stir until well blended. Gently fold fresh blackberries into the batter.

Step 3: Bake the Cake

Spread batter evenly across prepared pans. Bake for 30-35 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow cakes to cool completely on a wire rack.

Step 4: Prepare Blackberry Frosting

• Powdered sugar
• Blackberry puree
• Vanilla extract
• Food coloring (optional)

Beat until smooth and creamy.

Step 5: Make Chocolate Ganache

Heat heavy cream until just simmering. Pour over finely chopped chocolate. Stir until glossy and completely smooth.

Step 6: Assemble the Cake

Layer cake with blackberry frosting between each layer. Drizzle chocolate ganache over the top. Decorate with fresh whole blackberries for a stunning finish.

Tips for Baking the Perfect Dark Chocolate Blackberry Cake

• Prevent Berry Sinking: Toss fresh blackberries in a light coating of flour before folding into batter to stop them from sinking during baking.
• Ensure Moist Cake: Use boiling water in the batter to create a rich, tender chocolate crumb that stays incredibly soft and moist.
• Perfect Ganache Texture: Let chocolate ganache cool slightly before pouring to achieve a smooth, glossy finish that sets beautifully on the cake.
• Enhance Flavor Depth: Add a pinch of espresso powder to intensify the dark chocolate's rich, complex taste without introducing coffee flavor.
• Smooth Frosting Technique: Chill frosting briefly before spreading to create a silky, easy-to-apply layer that looks professionally finished.

Storing Dark Chocolate Blackberry Cake for Later Enjoyment

• Refrigerate cake layers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Wrap each layer separately in plastic wrap to prevent drying out. Place frosted cake in a cake carrier or cover with a cake dome to maintain moisture and freshness. When ready to enjoy, remove cake from refrigerator 30 minutes before serving to allow it to come to room temperature. For individual slices, microwave gently for 10-15 seconds on 50% power to prevent overheating and preserve the cake's delicate texture. Avoid freezing decorated cake, as the frosting may lose its smooth consistency. If you want to freeze unfrosted cake layers, wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil, storing them for up to 1 month. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before assembling and frosting.

Best Pairings for Dark Chocolate Blackberry Cake

• Elevate with Port Wine: Pair this decadent dark chocolate blackberry cake with a rich, sweet port wine. The deep, fruity notes of the port complement the dark chocolate's intensity and the blackberries' tartness, creating a luxurious dessert experience.
• Match with Espresso Martini: Serve alongside a smooth espresso martini. The cocktail's coffee and vodka base echoes the cake's espresso powder while cutting through the richness, providing a sophisticated and balanced flavor combination.
• Contrast with Crème Fraîche: Accompany the cake with a dollop of cool, tangy crème fraîche. Its creamy, slightly sour profile beautifully balances the cake's deep chocolate and sweet blackberry frosting, adding a refreshing counterpoint to each bite.
• Highlight with Raspberry Sorbet: Add a scoop of light, zesty raspberry sorbet on the side. The sorbet's bright, clean flavor enhances the blackberry notes while providing a palate-cleansing contrast to the cake's dense, rich texture.

Fun Twists on Dark Chocolate Blackberry Cake

• Berry Chocolate Dream: Replace blackberries with raspberries for a tangy, vibrant flavor profile that complements the rich dark chocolate.
• Nutty Chocolate Explosion: Fold chopped almonds or hazelnuts into the batter for added crunch and depth, creating a textural contrast with the soft cake.
• Liqueur-Infused Indulgence: Brush cake layers with raspberry liqueur or chocolate-flavored rum to elevate the dessert's complexity and introduce an adult-friendly dimension.
• Vegan Chocolate Bliss: Swap eggs with mashed bananas, use plant-based milk, and substitute butter with coconut oil to create a dairy-free, animal-product-free version of this decadent cake.

Dark Chocolate Blackberry Cake Recipe

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4.5 from 15 reviews

• Total Time: 55 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

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Description

Rich dark chocolate mingles with ripe blackberries in this elegant dessert celebrating summer’s sweetest flavors. Luxurious layers of moist chocolate cake topped with silky blackberry buttercream promise pure indulgence that will make you swoon with each delectable bite.

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Ingredients

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Dry Ingredients:

• 2 cups (473 milliliters) all-purpose flour
• 2 cups (400 grams) sugar
• 0.75 cup (75 grams) unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1.5 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon espresso powder

Wet Ingredients:

• 1 cup (240 milliliters) milk (buttermilk, almond, or coconut milk)
• 0.5 cup (120 milliliters) vegetable oil (or melted coconut oil)
• 2 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup (240 milliliters) boiling water
• 1 cup (150 grams) fresh blackberries, chopped

Add-ins:

• 1 cup (150 grams) fresh whole blackberries (for decoration)

Blackberry Frosting Ingredients:

• 1 cup (227 grams) unsalted butter, softened
• 4 cups (480 grams) powdered sugar
• 0.5 cup (120 milliliters) blackberry puree
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 pinch salt
• Purple or aubergine food coloring (optional)

Glossy Ganache Ingredients:

• 1 cup (240 milliliters) heavy cream
• 1 cup (170 grams) dark chocolate, finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons light corn syrup (or honey)
• 0.5 te

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Instructions

1. Prepare the oven by heating to 350°F (177°C). Grease four 8-inch (20-centimeter) cake pans with butter and line the bottoms with parchment paper for easy removal.
2. In a large mixing bowl, thoroughly combine the dry ingredients: all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, dark cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and finely ground espresso powder. Create a smooth well in the center of the dry mixture.
3. Pour in the wet ingredients: whole milk, vegetable oil, large eggs, and pure vanilla extract. Whisk the mixture until completely uniform and silky. Carefully stream in boiling water, stirring continuously to create a liquid batter.
4. Gently fold fresh blackberries into the chocolate batter, ensuring they are evenly distributed without breaking the delicate fruits.
5. Divide the batter equally among the prepared cake pans, using a spatula to spread the mixture evenly to the edges.
6. Place the pans in the preheated oven and bake for 30-35 minutes. Check doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center, which should come out clean with a few moist crumbs.
7. Remove cakes from the oven and allow them to cool completely in the pans for about 15 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool entirely.
8. For the blackberry frosting, cream softened unsalted butter until light and fluffy. Gradually incorporate powdered sugar, fresh blackberry puree, vanilla extract, and a touch of food coloring, mixing until smooth and vibrant.
9. Prepare the chocolate ganache by heating heavy cream until it reaches a gentle simmer. Pour the hot cream over finely chopped dark chocolate and let sit for 2-3 minutes before stirring until glossy and completely smooth.
10. Assemble the cake by alternating layers of chocolate cake, blackberry frosting, and drizzling chocolate ganache between each layer. Decorate the top and sides with additional frosting and garnish with whole fresh blackberries.

Notes

• Whip up this decadent cake when you want to impress guests with an elegant dessert that balances rich chocolate and vibrant berry flavors.
• Opt for fresh, ripe blackberries to ensure the most intense and authentic fruit notes throughout the cake.
• Select high-quality dark chocolate with at least 70% cocoa content for a deep, complex ganache that complements the fruity undertones.
• Prepare frosting and ganache in advance to streamline the assembly process and allow flavors to meld together beautifully.
• Store leftover cake covered in the refrigerator for up to three days, allowing the flavors to develop and intensify with time.
• Room temperature ingredients guarantee smoother mixing and a more consistent cake texture, so remove eggs, milk, and butter from the fridge 30 minutes before baking.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 35 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Breakfast
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 550 kcal
• Sugar: 70g
• Sodium: 400mg
• Fat: 30g
• Saturated Fat: 15g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10g
• Trans Fat: 0.5g
• Carbohydrates: 75g
• Fiber: 3g
• Protein: 6g
• Cholesterol: 50mg