Triple Chocolate Truffle Cake

The grand prize winner in Ghirardelli's contest, created by Gigi Burton of New Jersey. I'm sure Ghirardelli's chocolate would make this sublime, but generic works just as well for a fine product.

• Ready In: 1 hr 10 mins
• Serves: 8-12

Ingredients

• 3  cups  semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1  cup unsalted butter, room temperature
• 8  large eggs, chilled
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄2 cup heavy cream
• 1  cup  milk chocolate chips
• 2  ounces white chocolate baking bar, chilled
•  fresh raspberry, optional garnish

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 325°. Arrange a rack in center of oven. Butter the bottom and sides of a 9 by 2 inch round cake pan and line the bottom with parchment paper.
2. In the top of a double boiler or in a heatproof bowl over barely simmering water, melt the semi-sweet chocolate chips and butter, stirring occasionally until smooth. Cool slightly.
3. Meanwhile, in a large bowl with an electric mixer fitted with the whip attachment, whip the eggs and salt on medium speed until doubled in volume, about 5 minutes. Gently fold the whipped eggs, a third at a time, into the melted chocolate. Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan. Prepare a water bath for the cake by placing the cake pan in a larger pan and filling the large pan halfway up the sides of the cake pan with hot, but not boiling water.
4. Bake for about 40 minutes, or until the cake pulls away from the sides of the pan and is set in the center. Remove the pan from the water bath to a cooling rack and cool the cake completely in the pan. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. To remove the cake from the pan, dip the pan in warm water halfway up the sides and run a thin metal spatula around the inside of the pan. Invert onto a plate to unmold and remove the parchment paper.
5. To prepare the ganache, bring the heavy cream to a simmer in a small saucepan over low heat. Pour the heated cream over the milk chocolate chips. Stir gently until smooth and allow to cool slightly. When the ganache is still warm to the touch, pour over the top of cake and spread with an offset spatula to evenly cover. There will be some ganache left over.
6. Chill the cake until the ganache sets, about 30 minutes. To garnish, grate the white chocolate bar on top of cake.