Your Choice: From Scratch, or Dress Up a Mix

 

Recipes can be great when you follow them exactly as written. However, sometimes they can be a jumping off point. They can give you ideas for embellishment, or simplification if you scale it down.

The following recipe has only been tried in the scaled down form. It is for an absolutely fantastic cake topped with a mixture of whipped cream and berries. Perfect for a spring or summer dessert...it tastes light, but it is still decadent. I've tried it with both raspberries and strawberries. However, it would be fantastic with blackberries too. Plus, I don't know why it would need to be limited to just berries. This would be delicious with peaches, apricots, mangoes, etc.

I made mine with a cake mix. However, I have no doubt that the from scratch recipe for yellow cake would be delicious. I'll have to try it sometime when I have a little more time on my hands! Just try this dessert either way! From scratch or by dressing up a mix!

Above: By the way, this was even prettier when it was cut into slices. Here it is made with a cake mix.

Raspberry-Cream Layer Cake

Ingredients:

Unsalted butter, for cake pans (I used non-stick baking spray)
1 recipe Classic Yellow Cake Batter (recipe below--or, you can use a cake mix, like I did)
2 cups raspberries
3 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
2 cups cold heavy cream

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly butter two 9-inch round cake pans (2 inches deep). Line bottoms with parchment paper; butter parchment. Divide batter between pans, firmly tap on a flat surface to remove air bubbles, and smooth tops.

Bake until cakes are golden and puffed and a toothpick inserted inc enter comes out with a few moist crumbs attached, about 30 minutes, rotating pans halfway through. Let cakes cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes. Run knife around edges, then invert; remove parchment. Invert cakes again and let cool completely on racks.

In a medium bowl, gently mash 1 cup raspberries with a fork. Stir in 1 cup whole raspberries. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat cream, and confectioners' sugar on high until soft peaks form, 1 minute. With a rubber spatula, gently fold raspberries into whipped cream. Place 1 cake on a cake stand or serving plate. Spread raspberry cream on top, leaving a 1/4 inch border. Top with other cake, press gently, and finish with remaining raspberry cream. Serve immediately.

Recipe note: To make parchment rounds for lining cake pans, trace the bottom of the pans onto the paper, then cut out the rounds.

Source: You know me, I love those Everyday Food recipes (I am still mourning the loss of that magazine. Sniff, sniff). You can find the recipe here.

 

Above: Here it is with the cake made from scratch (recipe below).

Classic Yellow Cake Batter

Ingredients:

1 cup (2 sticks butter)
1 3/4 cups sugar
4 large eggs, plus 2 large egg yolks
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
3 cups cake flour (spooned and leveled)
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon fine salt
1 1/2 cups buttermilk

Directions:

Bring cold ingredients to room temperature. Butter should be soft enough to hold a thumbprint but still keep its shape. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar on high until light and fluffy, about 6 minutes.

Beat in 4 eggs plus 2 yolks, one at a time, until combined. Beat in vanilla extract.

In another large bowl, whisk together cake flour, baking powder, and salt. With mixer on low, add 1/3 the flour mixture to butter mixture, beating to combine.

Beat in 3/4 cup buttermilk, another 1/3 the flour mixture, and another 3/4 cup buttermilk, and remaining flour mixture until just combined. Scrape down bowl as needed.

Source: Martha Stewart Everyday Food. You can find the recipe here.

Notes: Who couldn't love berries and cream? One of the best combinations ever. Even Starburst loves Berries and Cream. Check this out for proof, or maybe this version (since it has 10 million views). Oh, and this. Don't forget this one! Seriously, why didn't this commercial run longer? It always made me laugh. Who couldn't love the berries and cream little lad...as well as his little lad dance?