White Chocolate Raspberry Cake

Recipe Instructions To prepare cake: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour two 8- or 9-inch round baking pans. Melt white chocolate with about half of the milk in a small, heavy saucepan over very low heat, stirring constantly until chocolate starts to melt. Remove from heat; stir until smooth. Stir in remaining milk. Let cool. Combine flour, baking powder and salt in a small bowl; set aside. In large mixing bowl, beat butter with electric mixer until soft and smooth. Add sugar and vanilla; beat well. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition until well-combined. Alternately add flour mixture and white chocolate mixture, beating on low speed after each addition just until combined. Spread batter in pans. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until cake tests done. Let cool in pans on wire racks for 10 minutes, then remove from pans and let cool completely. To prepare frosting: Melt chocolate in microwave on medium setting, stirring every 30 seconds. Let cool slightly. Transfer to a large mixing bowl. Add cream cheese, butter and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Add powdered sugar; beat until smooth and stiff enough to spread. To fill and frost cake: Place bottom layer on cake plate. If desired, pipe a thick bead of frosting around edge of layer (this will keep the jam between layers). Spread bottom layer with jam, then with frosting. Add top layer. Frost sides and top of cake. Garnish with fresh raspberries and chocolate curls. Yield: 12 servings. Tester's note: A real special-occasion cake that is not difficult to make. For more raspberry flavor, split each layer horizontally and fill with more raspberry jam.