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High Altitude Red Wine Chocolate Cake

March 12, 2023 by Heather Smoke Leave a Comment

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High altitude red wine chocolate cake, topped with rich, creamy dark chocolate ganache. This dense and fudgy chocolate cake has a distinct red wine flavor that’s perfect for special occasions.

You might also love these high altitude recipes for chocolate sheet cake, chocolate loaf cake, and baked chocolate espresso cake donuts.

Red wine chocolate cake with ganache dripping over the top.

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

No Mixer Needed. The cake batter and the ganache for this red wine chocolate cake is quick and easy to make with just a bowl, whisk and spatula.

Special Occasion Approved. For the wine lover in your life, treat them to this rich chocolate cake for Valentine’s Day, Father’s Day, birthdays or anniversaries.

High Altitude Tested. I develop all the recipes on my site for Denver’s altitude of 5,280 feet. If you’re at a lower or higher elevation, please see my FAQs for guidance on adjusting recipes for your altitude.

Slice of red wine chocolate cake.

See the recipe card at the end of the post for the full ingredients list and instructions.

Ingredients

Cake

  • Flour. All purpose flour adds structure and strength to the cake batter.
  • Granulated Sugar. Adds sweetness and moisture.
  • Cocoa Powder. Use a good-quality, unsweetened Dutch processed cocoa powder for the best flavor and a rich, dark color.
  • Baking Powder. Leavening agent, so the cake rises.
  • Salt. Balances the sweetness and enhances the flavor of the chocolate.
  • Eggs. Add moisture, structure and strength.
  • Red Wine. For the best flavor, use a decent quality red wine that you enjoy drinking.
  • Whole Milk + Vegetable Oil. Moisture.
  • Vanilla Extract. Flavor.

Ganache

  • Chocolate. While you can make chocolate ganache with chocolate chips, they don’t melt quite as smoothly. I prefer to use a bar of chocolate, around 55% cacao.
  • Heavy Whipping Cream. The high fat content of heavy whipping cream makes a thick, rich, creamy ganache.
Ganache dripping on top of a red wine chocolate cake.

Instructions

Cake

  • Preheat the oven to 350 F, and position a rack in the center of the oven. Spray the bottoms of two 6-inch cake pans with non stick baking spray.
  • In a bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt.
Step 1 for making red wine chocolate cake.
Step 2 for making red wine chocolate cake.
  • Add the beaten eggs, red wine, oil, milk and vanilla, and whisk just until combined, taking care not to over-mix.
  • Divide the cake batter between the pans, and bake for about 27-30 minutes, until the tops spring back when lightly touched and a cake tester or toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with moist crumbs clinging to it.
  • Set the pans on a cooling rack, covered loosely with a clean kitchen towel, and cool completely. Before assembling the cake, use a sharp knife to level off the domed tops on the cakes.
Step 3 for making red wine chocolate cake.
Step 4 for making red wine chocolate cake.
Step 5 for making red wine chocolate cake.
Chocolate cake cooling on a cooling rack.

Ganache

  • Finely chop the chocolate and place it in a bowl.
  • Pour the cream into a saucepan, and warm the cream on the stove over medium heat, just until hot, and beginning to simmer around the edges.
  • Pour the hot cream over the chocolate, let stand for 3 minutes, then stir until smooth and creamy.
Step 1 for making chocolate ganache.
Step 2 for making chocolate ganache.
Step 3 for making chocolate ganache.
Step 4 for making chocolate ganache.
  • To assemble the cake, place one of the cake layers on a plate or cake pedestal. Pour half the ganache on top of the cake, gently spreading it towards the edges of the cake with a small offset spatula, letting it drip over the edges.
  • Place the second layer of cake on top and repeat with the rest of the ganache.
Red wine chocolate cake with ganache dripping over the top.
Red wine chocolate cake with ganache dripping over the top.

Recipe Variations

One Layer Cake. Instead of a two layer cake, simply bake the cake batter in a greased 8-inch square baking pan. Start checking for doneness after about 35 minutes. With a one layer cake, you don’t even have to cool the cake completely, if you don’t want to wait long to eat dessert. While the cake is still warm, pour the ganache on top of the cake, and serve warm squares of cake from the pan.

8-Inch Layer Cake. For a larger cake that feeds up to 16 people, double the recipe, and bake the cake batter in two 8-inch cake pans. The bake time will be about the same or a few minutes longer. Be sure to check the cake for doneness.

Serve with Whipped Cream. A rich, fudgy chocolate cake like this red wine chocolate cake is fantastic with lightly sweetened fresh whipped cream or cold vanilla bean ice cream.

Red wine chocolate cake with a slice cut.

Frequently Asked Questions

What cocoa powder did you use?

I used Cacao Barry Extra Brute Dutch Processed Cocoa Powder.

How should I store the leftover cake?

Keep your cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Can this cake be frozen?

If you want to bake the cake in advance, cool the cake layers completely, wrap them in several layers of plastic wrap, and freeze for up to 3-6 months. Thaw completely before assembling with the ganache.

Slice of red wine chocolate cake.

You Might Also Like

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Chocolate sheet cake with ganache and chocolate chips.
Chocolate Sheet Cake

Favorite Products

Did you love today’s recipe? Please rate the recipe and let me know in the comments what you thought! Also, be sure to follow Curly Girl Kitchen on Instagram, and tag me when you try one of my recipes so I can see all your delicious creations!

Red wine chocolate cake with ganache dripping over the top.

High Altitude Red Wine Chocolate Cake

Heather Smoke
Dense and fudgy red wine chocolate cake, topped with rich, creamy dark chocolate ganache.

All recipes on Curly Girl Kitchen are developed for high altitude at 5,280 feet. See FAQs for adjusting to higher or lower elevations.

5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 30 mins
Total Time 45 mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings8

Equipment

  • 6-inch Round Cake Pans (x2)

Ingredients
 

Cake

  • 1 cup + 2 tbsp all-purpose flour, fluffed, spooned and leveled
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • 6 tbsp unsweetened Dutch-processed cocoa powder
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp coarse Kosher salt (if using table salt, use half the amount)
  • 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
  • ¾ cup red wine
  • ¼ cup vegetable oil
  • ½ cup whole milk
  • 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract

Ganache

  • 3 oz good quality dark chocolate, chopped
  • 3 oz heavy whipping cream

Instructions
 

Cake

  • Preheat the oven to 350 F, and position a rack in the center of the oven. Spray the bottoms of two 6-inch cake pans with non stick baking spray.
  • In a bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt.
  • Add the beaten eggs, red wine, oil, milk and vanilla, and whisk just until combined, taking care not to over-mix.
  • Divide the cake batter between the pans, and bake for about 27-30 minutes, until the tops spring back when lightly touched and a cake tester or toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with moist crumbs clinging to it.
  • Set the pans on a cooling rack, covered loosely with a clean kitchen towel, and cool completely. Before assembling the cake, use a sharp knife to level off the domed tops on the cakes.

Ganache

  • Finely chop the chocolate and place it in a bowl.
  • Pour the cream into a saucepan, and warm the cream on the stove over medium heat, just until hot, and beginning to simmer around the edges.
  • Pour the hot cream over the chocolate, let stand for 3 minutes, then stir until smooth and creamy.
  • To assemble the cake, place one of the cake layers on a plate or cake pedestal. Pour half the ganache on top of the cake, gently spreading it towards the edges of the cake with a small offset spatula, letting it drip over the edges.
  • Place the second layer of cake on top and repeat with the rest of the ganache.
Keyword Chocolate Cake, High Altitude, Red Wine
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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I'm Heather, and welcome to my Colorado kitchen, where you will find high-altitude tested recipes for beautifully photographed cakes, baked goods and sweets. I believe that the kitchen is the heart of a home, and everyone is welcome in mine. So stay a while, sip a cup of coffee, and bake something delicious with me!

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