I find the older I get, the more a simple, “everyday” cake does the trick. Something about a snack cake, a little lighter, a little smaller, and perfect for any time of day. Please don’t get me wrong, I love buttercream, but a plain (or almost plain) yellow cake is just as delicious to me.
This is my favorite yellow cake recipe cut in half, tossed with raspberries, and dusted with powdered sugar. It’s perfect for the summer months when berries are in season, and something light (or, at least, something without piles of frosting) seems most rewarding.
You can use strawberries or blackberries if you don’t have raspberries!
More Easy Cake Recipes:
- Meyer Lemon Cake with Crème Fraîche Glaze
- Powdered Donut Cake
- Walnut Snack Cake with Raspberry Buttercream
Simple Summer Berry Cake
Servings: 8 servings
Ingredients
- 1 cup + 3 tablespoons [166 g] all-purpose flour
- 1 cup [200 g] granulated sugar plus 2 tablespoons for sprinkling (see note)
- 1/4 cup [25 g] almond flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 + 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 6 tablespoons [85 g] unsalted butter at room temperature
- 2 large eggs plus 1 large yolk at room temperature
- 1/3 cup [80 g] buttermilk at room temperature
- 1/3 cup [80 g] sour cream at room temperature
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 8 oz raspberries, fresh (*see notes below for using other fruit)
Equipment
Instructions
- Adjust an oven rack to the middle position. Preheat the oven to 350F [180C]. Butter and flour a 8 or 9 in [20 or 23 cm] springform pan and line the bottom with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl or liquid measuring cup, whisk the eggs, egg yolk, buttermilk, sour cream, oil, and vanilla.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted wit a paddle, mix the flour, 1 cup [200 g] sugar, almond flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda on low until combined. With the mixer running on low, add the butter one piece at a time, beating until the mixture resembles coarse sand. With the mixer still running on low, slowly add half the wet ingredients. Increase the speed to medium and beat until incorporated, about 30 seconds. With the mixer running on low, add the rest of the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Increase the speed to medium and beat for 20 seconds (the batter may still look a little bumpy). Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl and use a spatula to mix the batter a few more times, making sure everything on the bottom of the bowl is well combined. Add the raspberries and give the batter another turn or two just to incorporate them.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Sprinkle the top with the 2 tablespoons granulated sugar. Tap the pan gently on your work space 2 or 3 times to help get rid of any bubbles. Bake 35-45 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through, until the cake is golden brown and a wooden skewer or toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean (an instant thermometer will read 210F to 212 when done).
- Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let cool for 20 minutes. Run a knife gently around the edge of the cake to help release it from the sides, and then remove the cake from the springform. Sprinkle cake with powdered sugar if desired, or serve as is.
Topping the cake with both granulated sugar and powdered sugar does seem excessive, but it really is delicious. The granulated sugar give the cake a nice little crunch, and the powdered sugar makes for a pretty top. One or both can be omitted if desired.
Notes
- Make sure to butter your springform pan well – the almond flour can make the cake stick a bit more to the pan.
- You can replace the buttermilk and sour cream with a total of 2/3 cup oat milk skyr. I’ve tested and it works very well.
- Other berries can be substituted, but note that they will bake up a little different than the raspberries; the raspberries break down more and disperse differently into the batter. When using strawberries I use 5 oz and cut them into small pieces.
27 Comments
Ally
Thursday, August 1, 2024 at 4:34 pmAbsolutely phenomenal! I added 1/2 teaspoon of cardamom, but otherwise stuck by Sarah’s wonderful recipe! Such a good texture and flavor! Thanks so much for your creations, Sarah!
Lisa
Thursday, July 25, 2024 at 10:39 pmLight, moist, and perfect for summer. Thank you.
Shay Duda
Saturday, July 20, 2024 at 7:20 pmI’ve made this twice this week, once with raspberries and exactly as written and once with 5 oz of chopped cherries and Greek yogurt subbed for the sour cream. Both were excellent! Everyone I’ve shared it with agrees that the light cake and sweet fruit are a winning combination.
Marne
Sunday, July 7, 2024 at 10:19 pmI found it a little bland. Followed the recipe as written except used blueberries instead of raspberries. I think I would add cinnamon or substitute Fiori de Sicilia for the vanilla next time.
Catherine
Sunday, July 7, 2024 at 6:34 pmI made this cake for my sister who went to pastry school. Ballsy move! Beautiful cake, great texture and moist.
One issue with the recipe. 35-45 minutes cooking time? Wide variation. And an internal temp of 210? I’ve never taken an internal temp. It ended up around 45 minutes and I used the toothpick test. At that time I took the internal temp and it said 175 degrees! I’ll stick to my toothpick test. It was a huge hit.
Rick
Wednesday, July 19, 2023 at 1:20 pmSarah, how would peaches be in this?
Roseanne
Wednesday, July 19, 2023 at 12:56 pmI have so many cherries at the moment. Would cherries cut into small pieces work just as well?
Sarah Kieffer
Sunday, August 13, 2023 at 10:07 pmThey should work well! Let me know if you try it.
Elkyn
Wednesday, July 19, 2023 at 9:23 amWith prices sky high, I hate to purchase almond flour just for this one recipe. I trust your advice to see if there is another flour I can substitute
Janet
Friday, September 2, 2022 at 11:39 amI have made this cake twice this week to take to friends. Used raspberries in both. Two cakes in one week and I still haven’t had a taste!!! But I got RAVE reviews and both asked for the recipe. Waiting for company to make one for home. Definitely is now my go to cake recipe to take somewhere.
Sarah Kieffer
Friday, September 2, 2022 at 1:54 pmGreat to hear!
MEL
Friday, August 26, 2022 at 7:11 pmI made this recipe with all-purpose gluten free flour and strawberries. It was a hit! Even my husband loved it! So dense and moist yet didn’t feel heavy and was so flavorful! Perfect with coffee or a glass of cold milk. I will definitely be making this again–next time I’ll try raspberries!
David
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Susan Jensen
Saturday, July 10, 2021 at 11:41 amI had never tried reverse creaming and this seemed like a good time to give it a try. It was perfect. I really didn’t think the technique would make the cake any better but it did. More tender, definitely not dense, delicious. Unfortunately I did not have any confectioners sugar but I did sprinkle on the sugar before baking. love that too!! Thank you for the awesome recipe. Will try with different berries but loved the raspberries.
Kim G
Thursday, July 8, 2021 at 7:29 pmI do not have almond flour- could I substitute regular flour?
Susan
Friday, July 2, 2021 at 3:19 pmMy first thought when I looked at the recipe is why don’t you show the crumb of the cake? Then I saw the first question off the bat was the same as mine. It is most helpful to see how the cake turns out, not only from the top. Although, I’ve tried many of your recipes and haven’t been disappointed yet,.
Claire
Thursday, July 1, 2021 at 8:49 pmI have no doubt this is a lovely cake. But can I say that only seeing the top doesn’t really make me want to bake it. Without seeing the crumb of the cake, it’s hard to be truly convinced. Just some feedback on the photography and only my opinion, but flat-lay alone doesn’t “sell” anything well. We cannot see most of what is being presented.
Lori Southerngirleats
Thursday, July 1, 2021 at 10:34 amCan’t wait to try this Sarah. I’m with you. Simplicity is sometimes exactly what we need and want.
agreso
Friday, December 18, 2020 at 12:58 amcozyurbanhome – I’m so glad you tried it! And I’m glad you love the Coffee Shop NE. Such good coffee. ?
Rebeka Carr
Sunday, September 30, 2018 at 8:58 pmWould frozen strawberries be okay also?
Karen
Monday, August 4, 2014 at 3:31 pmBeautiful, delicious. Perfect for our anniversary dinner for two.
Do you think other seasonal fruit might work as well?
Thank you for your lovely blog.
Karen
Wednesday, August 6, 2014 at 2:59 amThank you for your quick and kind response. My friend is going to try the recipe with peaches. We will let you know how it works out. But I do have a bag of cherries… Hmmmm.
Anonymous
Thursday, May 24, 2012 at 11:32 amThis cake looks great and I want to make it for a reunion I have this weekend thanks [email protected]
Sarah
Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 2:19 amcozyurbanhome – I’m so glad you tried it! And I’m glad you love the Coffee Shop NE. Such good coffee. 😉
cozyurbanhome.blogspot.com
Friday, August 19, 2011 at 8:55 pmI just made this! It just came out of the oven and it is beautiful! I can’t wait for my husband to come home so we can eat a wedge and drink iced coffee. I found you after you posted a comment on the Coffee Shop Northeast blog!
Sally
Monday, July 4, 2011 at 1:11 pmThis cake looks so delicious! That’s why I decided to make it for our celebration today (well, plus, I had all of the ingredients!). I even used some of my vanilla sugar to sprinkle on top 🙂