Chocolate-Raspberry Torte

Cake:

Instructions

Stir together cocoa and boiling water in a small bowl until smooth; set aside. Cream shortening, sugar, and vanilla in a large mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Add eggs and beat well. Combine flour, baking soda, and salt; add alternately with buttermilk to creamed mixture. Blend in cocoa mixture. Pour into three greased and floured 8-inch layer pans. Bake at 350 degrees F for 25 to 30 minutes, or until cake tester comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes then remove from pans and cool completely on wire rack.

Filling:

Ingredients

1/2 pint cold whipping cream
1/3 cup confectioners’ sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
several drops red food coloring
3/4 cup seedless raspberry jam

Instructions

In small bowl, combine whipping cream, confectioners’ sugar, vanilla, and food coloring, and beat until stiff.

To assemble cake: Spread a thin layer of jam, then a third of the cream filling between each layer, reserving one third of the cream for the top. Spread a thick layer of jam on the very top. Using a pastry bag, decoratively pipe the remaining cream around the top of the cake.