Raspberry White Chocolate Cake

Rave reviews will come your way when you serve this elegant cake, a classic combination of white chocolate and raspberries.

Makes 16 servings.

1 (6 ounce) package white baking chocolate
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
1 (18.25 ounce) box white cake mix
1 cup milk
3 eggs
1 tablespoon McCormick® Raspberry Extract
White Chocolate and Cream Cheese Frosting (recipe follows)
1/8 teaspoon McCormick® Red Food Color
1 cup raspberries

Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Microwave chocolate and butter in medium microwavable bowl on HIGH 2 minutes or until butter is melted. Stir until chocolate is completely melted. Cool 5 minutes.

Beat cake mix, milk, eggs, extract and cooled chocolate mixture in large bowl with electric mixer on low speed just until moistened, scraping side of bowl frequently. Beat on medium speed 2 minutes or until well blended. Pour evenly into 2 greased and floured (9-inch) round cake pans.

Bake 25 to 28 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool cakes in pans 10 minutes; remove from pans. Cool completely on wire racks.

Prepare White Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting. Stir food color into 2/3 cup of the frosting until well blended. Place 1 cake layer on serving plate. Spread with the tinted frosting. Top with remaining cake layer. Frost top and side of cake with remaining frosting. Top with raspberries just before serving. Store cake in the in refrigerator.

White Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting: Melt 1 package (6 ounces) white baking chocolate as directed on package. Cool 5 minutes. Beat 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened, and 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, softened, in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Add cooled melted white chocolate and 2 teaspoons McCormick® Raspberry Extract; mix well. Gradually beat in 2 cups confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy.

Nutrition Information per 1 serving: Calories: 456 Sodium: 370 mg Fat: 24 g Carbohydrates: 54 g Cholesterol: 82 mg Fiber: 1 g Protein: 6 g

Recipe and photograph provided courtesy of McCormick - used with permission.