Pomegranate & Chocolate Mini Cakes Recipe

Chocolate and raspberry is a classic combination but if you’ve never tried the combination of chocolate with pomegranate, you are in for a treat! The tang of pomegranate combined with the sweet richness of homemade chocolate ganache makes these mini bundt cakes one of the greatest taste treats of autumn and winter.

We gave one of our favorite bakers, Chrysta Wilson, author of the bestselling cookbook Kiss My Bundt, the challenge of coming up with a cake that includes chocolate and pomegranate, (considered two of the world’s greatest aphrodisiacs). The individual pomegranate and chocolate cakes she came up with surpassed all of our expectations.

How to make mini chocolate pomegranate bundt cakes topped with chocolate ganache

The recipe for the mini chocolate bundt cakes is Wilson’s go-to chocolate cake batter, (the one you’ll find in her cookbook), only with the additional tang of her newest invention, pomegranate molasses. The chocolate cakes receive a drizzle of even more seductive pomegranate molasses.

Add a cake filling of pomegranate cream

But that’s not all! The center of each miniature bundt is then filled with a whipped cream that has more of the tart, sweet pomegranate molasses folded into it.

Lastly, she tops these wonderfully moist chocolate mini cakes with a rich robe of chocolate ganache. If you don’t already know how to make a ganache and you’re a chocolate lover, this is one baking essential you need to learn.

What is ganache?

Unlike a buttercream frosting, which uses whipped butter, sugar and cocoa powder to create texture and flavor, a ganache relies on pure melted chocolate mixed with cream. Ganache can also be used to make chocolate truffles as well as cake fillings. (It’s the secret to a molten chocolate cake.)

TRY NEXT: Hand Rolled Dark Chocolate Truffles

The technique is straightforward but you have to be careful, as chocolate can burn. Once you’ve mastered it, you may not ever want another chocolate cake topping again.

Hungry yet?

Pomegranate and Chocolate Mini Bundt Cakes with Pomegranate Molasses, Pomegranate Cream and Dark Chocolate Ganache

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These miniature bundt cakes make the perfect fall or winter dessert. Layers of chocolate and pomegranate flavor come together to make individual cakes of moist chocolate with layers of tangy, sweet/tart pomegranate and whipped cream. 

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Dish Type cake

Cooking Style Baking

Seasonal Christmas, Holiday season, New Year's Eve, Valentine's Day, winter

Ingredient chocolate

Prep Time 25 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Cooling Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 35 minutes mins

Servings 24 mini cakes

Author Chrysta Wilson

Ingredients

For the cakes:

• 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 2 tbsp pomegranate molasses
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup boiling water
• 1/2 cup pomegranate juice

For the pomegranate molasses:

• 2 cups pomegranate Juice
• 1/2 cup granulated white sugar
• 1 tsp lime juice use lemon juice as a substitute

For the pomegranate cream:

• saucepan used to make the pomegranate molasses
• 3 tbsp pomegranate molasses
• 1/2 cup heavy cream

For the ganache:

• 6 oz dark or semi-sweet chocolate
• 6 oz Heavy Cream

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Instructions

Step 1: make the molasses

• Over a medium-high heat, in a heavy bottomed saucepan, combine sugar and juices. Bring to a boil.
• Continue to boil for 3 minutes.
• Reduce heat to medium low. Simmer for 35-40 minutes, until it has reduced to about ½ cup of a thickened pomegranate molasses.
• Pour pomegranate molasses into small jar to cool (do not close the lid). Let cool before use. This will keep for 2 weeks, refrigerated.
• Don’t wash your saucepan just yet. You will mix cream in this pan, using the pomegranate molasses coating its bottom to make a pomegranate cream.

Step 2: make the pomegranate cream

• In the saucepan, combine heavy cream and pomegranate molasses.
• Stir until fully incorporated.
• Set aside.

Step 3: make the chocolate pomegranate cakes

• Make sure oven is set at 350°F.
• Grease and flour your bundt pans
• Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt in large mixing bowl. Set aside.
• In a mixing bowl, combine eggs, oil, vanilla, milk, and cooled pomegranate molasses. Beat on medium speed of mixer 2 minutes.
• Slowly add the dry ingredients into the mixing bowl. Be sure to scrape the sides of the bowl.
• Bring water and pomegranate juice to a boil. Add the mixture into the mixing bowl using a low speed to minimize splattering. Batter will be thin.
• Pour batter into prepared pans.
• Bake until a cake tester inserted into the center of the cakes comes out clean, about 22 minutes.
• Remove cakes from oven and let cakes cool in the pan for at least 10 minutes. Invert on a wire cooling rack.
• Cool cakes completely before glazing, at least 30 minutes..

Step 4: make the ganache

• Over medium heat, warm milk until bubbles start to form around the edges (but not boiling).
• Pour hot cream over the chocolate. Let ingredients sit one minute, then stir until chocolate is completely melted.
• Cool the ganache. Initially, the ganache will be fairly thin because it is hot. The cooler it gets, the thicker it gets. The thicker it gets, the more coverage you’ll have on the cake.

To assemble:

• Place the cake onto a plate.
• Pour the pomegranate cream into the bundt’s hole until full (about 1 tbsp). If it thickened, you can warm to get it back to a liquid consistency.
• Drizzle 1-2 tbsp of pomegranate molasses onto the top and down the sides of the bundt.
• Spoon chocolate ganache onto the top of the bundt cake.
• Serve and enjoy!