Description
A rich, fudgy chocolate cake (borderline brownies) made with wine and topped with Italian cream cheese (mascarpone).
Ingredients
Scale
- Cake
- 6 tbsp. unsalted butter, room temperature
- 3/4 c. brown sugar, packed
- 1/4 c. pure cane sugar
- 1 c. all-purpose flour
- 1/2 c. unsweetened cocoa powder (dutch-processed or alkalized)*
- 1/2 tsp. baking powder
- 1/4 tsp. kosher salt
- 1/8 tsp. baking soda
- 1 large egg + yolk, room temperature
- 1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
- 3/4 c. Seven Daughters Rich Red Wine
- Frosting
- 1 c. heavy cream, chilled
- 1/2 c. powdered sugar
- 1/2 tsp. cream of tartar
- 1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
- 4 oz. mascarpone, chilled
Instructions
- Make the cake. Preheat oven to 325°. Line the bottom of a 9″ square pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugars on medium until fluffy and evenly combined. Meanwhile, whisk together flour, cocoa, baking powder, salt, and baking soda. Set aside.
- Once butter and sugars have been creamed, beat in the egg, yolk, and vanilla on medium until combined, being sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl once. Turn the mixer to low speed and alternate the wine and the dry ingredients in three or so increments. Mix until just combined, no longer. Turn off the mixer. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and fold together a couple times to make sure the batter has been evenly incorporated. Pour batter into prepared pan and smooth the top with a spatula. Bake for about 25-27 minutes. The top of the cake will be smooth. The cake is done when a light poke of the finger to the top of the cake bounces back and a bit of chocolate remains on the toothpick. Allow cake to cool in pan for 10 minutes before carefully removing to a cooling rack.
- Make the frosting. In a stand mixer with a completely cleaned bowl, add cream, powdered sugar, cream of tartar, and extract. Beat on high using the whisk attachment until stiff peaks form, as if you were making whipped cream. It should be stiff yet smooth. If you accidentally beat the cream too long to where it starts to curdle towards butter, add a tablespoon or so more of heavy cream to bring it back to the correct consistency. Slowly incorporate. Set aside.
- In a separate bowl using a hand mixer, beat the chilled cream cheese until it’s just spreadable, about 20 seconds. Mascarpone can break and become gritty when overworked. If mascarpone makes you too nervous, try using cream cheese and follow these instructions.
- Add mascarpone into the whipped cream mixture and beat at medium speed until smooth, still using the whisk attachment. Frosting will be light but sturdy.
- Assemble the cakes. Using a 4″ biscuit cutter, cut out four cake rounds. Place one of the rounds on a serving plate. Add frosting to the top and smooth to a level surface. Place another cake round on top. Add the same amount of frosting to the top. Repeat steps for the second cake. With the remaining frosting, add small dabs around the side of the cakes. Using an offset spatula, gently pull the frosting to a smooth finish. For crumbly areas, be sure to add extra frosting over top to lock in the crumbs before smoothing. Clean off the spatula, then pull the frosting on the top of the cake smooth. Top with flowers if desired. Store at room temperature for up to 2 days.
Notes
*I’ve fallen in love with this unsweetened cocoa from Cacao Barry. It’s dark in color with a rich and warm depth of flavor.
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. I baked my mom’s birthday cake last weekend and I was nervous because 1-my dad always makes such delicious cakes for her and 2-I’ve never baked a cake from scratch.
Let me just say, it was an absolute hit! I was so proud to share such a great cake with them and so happy that my first real cake was such a success! I ended up doubling the recipe and using 2 9″ rounds and it turned out perfectly.
These look delicious! And the perfect excuse to drink wine while baking. 😉
Melissa, I made your bittersweet black cookies over the weekend and, oh my goodness, they’re our new favourite. Thanks so much for sharing the recipe, as well as all of your baking tips. That cookie dough scoop is in my Amazon shopping cart. 🙂
beautiful pairing! flavors look wonderful, especially the tanins in the red wine to cut the sweets! Or, just drink the wine while baking the cake? Love it either way, thank you!
Would this recipe work for mini bundt pans?
I haven’t tried it so I can’t say for certain. There are chocolate wine bundt cake recipes out there that might be a safer bet. I don’t want to lead you astray!
What a beautiful and very stylish, clean photo. I love the simplicity. The cake looks very decadent and the perfect dessert for San Valentine!
Ohh I love that you made these a little closer to brownies! One of the issues I usually have with cakes is that they get a bit too dry for me, so this is so perfect 🙂 Also, wine in cake is brilliant, be still my heart. xo
Obsessed with these cakes! I love the idea of using mascarpone. And of course I love all the chocolate and wine, so I’ll be making these very soon 🙂