Home · Recipes Mixed Berry Layer Cake Author: Maryanne CabreraPublished: Jun 5, 2018Updated: Apr 13, 2022 View Recipe4 ReviewsThis post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy. Fresh blackberries, blueberries, and strawberries are stars of this mixed berry layer cake. The cake is filled with raspberry jam and iced with cream cheese frosting. Summer brings an abundance of fresh produce. It’s my favorite time of year to experiment adding fruits to cakes and other baked goods. Soft fruits like strawberries and bananas are often folded into muffins batters (examples: chocolate strawberry muffins and banana raspberry buttermilk muffins). Fresh Berry Layer Cake This recipe translates that into a layer cake! From the outside, this mixed berry layer cake looks like your standard cake. But once you slice into it, you’ll be surprised to find the cake studded with chunks of strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries. This cake utilizes fresh fruits three ways: assorted fruits adorn the top of assembled cakestrawberries, blueberries, and blackberries are folded into cake battermixed berries are pureed and mixed into batter to provide moisture and flavor The mixed berry puree gives the baked cake that bluish-purple tint. The resulting cake layers are soft and moist. It is much easier to assemble this cake used chilled cake layers. Finely grated lemon zest and a touch of lemon juice help to balance out the sweetness of this cake. The lemon also brightens and enhances the flavors of the fruits. Tips on assembling layer cake: Bake the cake layers ahead of time. Wrap cooled cake layers tightly in plastic wrap and keep chilled in the fridge for a few hours, or overnight. The chilled cake layers are studier and easier to assemble.Use a serrated knife to level cake layers. Serrated blade ensures cake layer will not crumble and fall apart. It is easier to slice chilled cake. Cake is easier to stack (and more stable!) when the layers are even and level.The piped frosting border helps to ensure that the jam filling does not spill out during assembling. Use a piping bag fitted with a small round tip, or use a plastic zip-top bag with a corner snipped off.A cake turntable (or revolving cake stand) is super helpful when coating and frosting the cake.This recipe makes three 6-inch cake rounds, or two 8-inch cake rounds. Baking times will have to be adjusted for 8-inch cake. Cake storage This cake keeps well in the fridge for up to two days before serving. Store any leftover cake slices in an airtight container in the fridge. It should be eaten within three days. Allow cake to come to room temperature to soften before eating. Mixed Berry Layer Cake Fresh blackberries, blueberries, and strawberries are stars of this mixed berry layer cake. The cake is filled with raspberry jam and iced with cream cheese frosting. Yield: three layer 6-inch cake Prep Time: 25 minutes minutesCook Time: 40 minutes minutesAssembly Time: 15 minutes minutesTotal Time: 1 hour hour 20 minutes minutes Servings: 10 Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe IngredientsBerry Cake:3 cups fresh mixed berries2 ½ cups all-purpose flour½ teaspoon baking soda2 teaspoons baking powder½ teaspoon fine sea salt1 cup unsalted butter, room temp1 ½ cup granulated sugar½ teaspoon finely grated lemon zest3 large eggs½ cup sour cream1 ½ teaspoon lemon juiceCream Cheese Frosting:4 oz cream cheese, softened1 cup unsalted butter, room temp3 cups powdered sugar¼ teaspoon fine sea salt2 teaspoon pure vanilla extractOther components:¼ cup raspberry jam, or jam of choicefresh mixed berries, to garnish Instructions Berry Cake:Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter three 6-inch cake pans and line with parchment paper. Set aside.Puree half of mixed berry mixture. Set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment (or using an electric hand mixer), beat butter until smooth. Add sugar and lemon zest and beat until light and fluffy. Scrape down bowl as needed to ensure thorough mixing.With the mixer running on low speed, add eggs one at a time. Add sour cream, mixed berry puree, and lemon juice. Mix until incorporated. Add flour mixture and mix on low speed until combined. Fold in remaining mixed berries. Evenly distribute batter among prepared cake pans. Level batter and bake for 40-45 minutes until cakes are golden brown and toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean. Let cool in pan for 8 minutes before unmolding. Run offset spatula or butter knife along the perimeter of cake to help loosen. Allow cakes to cool to room temperature on wire rack. Cream Cheese Frosting:In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or using an electric hand mixer), beat together cream cheese and butter until smooth. Scrape down bowl as needed. Add powdered sugar, salt, and vanilla. Mix on low speed until frosting is smooth.Assembly:Fit a decorating bag (piping bag) with a small round tip. Fill the bag with about ½ cup of frosting. Set aside.If necessary, level the tops of cooled cakes. Place one cake layer on a cake stand or cake plate. Spread a thin layer of cream cheese frosting over cake using a small offset spatula. Using the filled piping bag, pipe two concentric circles along the perimeter of the cake round. This will serve as a barrier.Spread two tablespoons of raspberry jam to fill the frosting boundaries. Place second cake layer on top. Repeat filling cake layer with frosting and jam. Place the final third cake layer on top. This layer will not have jam.Spread frosting around the cake to create a “crumb coat” layer to seal in any crumbs. Chill cake in the fridge for 15-20 minuets to set frosting. If desired, add additional frosting to coat cake. Keep cake chilled until ready to serve.Decorate top of the cake with fresh berries. Let chilled cake sit at room temperature for at least 20 minutes before serving to allow cake and frosting to soften. Notes I used 1 cup of chopped strawberries, 1 cup blueberries, and 1 cup blackberries. Berry cake can be baked ahead of time. Allow to cool to room temperature before covering with plastic wrap. Cake can be stored in the fridge for up to two days. Chilled cake will be easier to assemble and frost. Author: Maryanne Cabrera Course: DessertCuisine: AmericanKeyword: berry cake, fresh berry cake, cream cheese frosting, berry layer cake Did you make this recipe?Show us on Instagram! Tag @littleepicurean and hashtag #littleepicurean.
Sydney says: April 22, 2019 I made this cake for my birthday and it turned out AMAZING! Everyone loved it! I absolutely loved how the fruit turned out. I was afraid of the cake being to sweet but it was JUST right. This cake cooked great, easy recipe to follow, I had no problems. And the homemade frosting is soo delicious! Thank you for sharing this recipe! I loved it and will definitely be making it again!! Reply
Jocelyn Collins says: May 9, 2019 Hi! I really love to try this recipe just wondering if I can use 2pcs if 6 inch pan instead of using 3 pcs of 6 inch pan. Reply
Majed Jazairi says: July 30, 2019 Good morning ? This cake looks fantastic and l would love to try and make it – could you please give me the ingredient measurements in weight rather than cups – it’s less confusing and avoids making silly errors … we don’t use cup measurements in the UK unfortunately. Thank you very much for a lovely website and all your hard work x Reply