Please note this post contains affiliate links.
Mixed Berry Vanilla Bean Cake is how I show my patriotic spirit – in dessert form! The red, white and blue cake starts with a flavorful vanilla bean cake and light-as-air lemon mint whipped cream frosting, topped off with all the fresh berries your heart desires.
Memorial Day is this weekend. Anyone else wondering where the hell the year went, or am I the only one?
Ok so yes, I might be silently freaking out about inching closer to my birthday, but I can take solace in the fact that it’s FINALLY looking like summer. I smell charcoal grills going every night in my backyard and I can already hear the reservoir calling my name for boat days…
But I digress. The reason we’re all here is THIS CAKE. This cake… oh boy. This one probably tops off my best cakes of all time. The vanilla bean cake is one thing – it’s so moist and thick, but light and airy at the same time (don’t ask me how this is possible, it’s some sort of baking science). Then you add in whipped cream frosting that has fresh mint and lemon zest beat right in for a surprising pop of freshness.
Finally, you can really take advantage of prime berry season by piling all the fresh raspberries, blueberries and strawberries you want on top.
Red, white, and blue, baby. You can’t go wrong with those colors.
Really though, just imagine topping off your massive Memorial Day feasting with a gorgeous, fruity, patriotic cake like this. Baller chef status. BOOM.
BONUS TIME: I’ve got a ridiculously awesome roundup for you guys below the recipe… Don’t miss it!
Want to give this cake a twist? Try using my strawberry buttercream frosting instead!
This Recipe’s Must-Haves
To start, you will need a bowl from your set of mixing bowls to sift the dry ingredients in together. You can use a sifter, but I like to just grab one of my fine mesh strainers for the job.
The batter comes together in your stand mixer, as does the frosting!
I bake each layer in this cake pan (I have a few of them). Then I use the offset spatula to frost the cake.
Mixed Berry Vanilla Bean Cake
equipment
ingredients
- 3 cups sifted all-purpose flour
- 1 Tbsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 cup 2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
- 2 cups sugar
- 4 eggs
- 1 1/4 cups buttermilk
- 1 tsp vanilla bean paste
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 8 to 10 mint leaves minced
- Zest of 1 lemon
- Raspberries
- Blueberries
- Strawberries tops cut off and quartered
instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour two 9-inch cake pans. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together. Set aside.
- In the bowl of an electric stand mixer, using the paddle attachment, beat butter on medium speed with the sugar until it forms a soft paste, approximately 1 minute. Add the eggs one at a time, beating after each until incorporated, making sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- On low speed, alternate between adding the flour mixture and the buttermilk, working in two batches for each. Once fully incorporated, beat in the vanilla bean paste.
- Divide the batter evenly between the two cake pans. Bake in the oven for 25 to 30 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean. Transfer the pans to wire racks and cool for at least 15 to 20 minutes, before turning out the cakes to cool completely.
- Once the cakes are cool, use a serrated knife to cut off the domes of each cake so the cake tops are flat. Set aside.
- In a clean bowl, using a stand mixer or electric mixer, beat the heavy cream with the sugar until it forms soft peaks. Add the mint leaves and lemon zest, and continue to beat until the cream forms stiff peaks.
- Add one of the cakes to your desired serving platter or cake stand. Spread a thick even layer of the whipped cream on top of the cake. Add the other cake on top and decorate as desired with remaining whipped cream frosting and berries. Garnish the top with fresh mint leaves and serve!
Memorial Day kicks off the unofficial start of summer, so you know what that means… Time to bust out those grills because it’s BBQ season! As a little celebration, I’ve teamed up with some of my fav bloggers to bring you the Great Blogger BBQ. We’ve got 50+ recipes ideas to absolutely kill it at your next summer soiree – check them out below!
Appetizers
Korean BBQ Tofu Sliders with Kimchi Slaw by Hello Little Home
Crab, Bacon & Guacamole Crostinis by That Square Plate
Cocktails and Drinks
Blackberry Gin Slush by The Speckled Palate
Homemade Lemonade by Winstead Wandering
Black Stripe Cold Rum Cocktail by Honey and Birch
Fresh Watermelon Mojito by Twin Stripe
Mint Hibiscus Lemonade by The Little Epicurean
Wine Slushy by Living Well Kitchen
Basil Gin Lemonade by Glisten and Grace
Entrées
Memphis Style Pulled Pork by Two Places at Once
Amazing Basic Spice Rub for Grilling by An Oregon Cottage
Smoked Porchetta Pork Loin by Tasty Ever After
Pressure Cooker Pulled Pork by Appeasing a Food Geek
Peach Barbecue Sauce by The Beach House Kitchen
Tuna Stuffed Sweet Peppers by SugarLoveSpices
Sweet & Sour Chicken Kebabs by Tastefully Frugal
Side Dishes
Caprese Pasta Salad by Club Narwhal
Coconut Milk Mac & Cheese by A Little Gathering
Cheddar, Corn and Bacon Potato Salad by Family Food on the Table
Lemon Rocket Pasta Salad by Lauren Caris Cooks
Zesty Potato Skewers by Pamela Salzman
Quinoa Tabouli by A Fork’s Tale
Desserts
Banana Pudding Ice Cream Cake by Feast + West
Strawberry Beer Floats by bethcakes
Light Berry Angel Food Cake by The Creative Bite
Fresh Strawberry Muffins by Spiced
Lemon Pie Sundae by Flavours & Frosting
Strawberry Lemon Shortcakes by Dash of Herbs
Grasshopper Pie by 2 Cookin’ Mamas
Mixed Berry Vanilla Bean Cake by Cake ‘n Knife
No Churn Cookies and Cream Strawberry Ice Cream by The Secret Ingredient Is
Coconut Blueberry & Vodka Ice Pops by Nik Snacks
Cherry & Rhubarb Tart by Crepes of Wrath
This cake is simply stunning and just screams Summer!
Meghan, this is the epitome of summer desserts! And I can’t believe it is already Memorial Day–where does the time go?
Oooooh girl this looks amazing! I love a good seasonal cake–it gives me a great excuse to eat several pieces 😉 Happy #greatbloggerBBQ!
Great post.