
Vanilla Cake w/Fruit
Ingredients
Vanilla Cake:
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1 cup unsalted butter, softened
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2 cups granulated sugar
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4 large eggs
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3 cups All-Purpose flour
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1 tablespoon baking powder
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1 teaspoon kosher salt
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1 cup whole milk
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1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Frosting:
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1/4 cup seedless raspberry jam
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1/4 cup warm water
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8 ounce package cream cheese, room temperature
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3 cups powdered sugar
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8 ounces mascarpone cheese
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2 1/4 cups heavy cream
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1/4 teaspoon almond extract
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2 cups mixed berries**, plus more for garnish
** Mixed berries include: blueberries, blackberries and raspberries

Directions
Vanilla Cake:
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour two round 9-inch pans.
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Beat butter and sugar in mixer with paddle on medium speed until light and fluffy (about 4 minutes). Add eggs, one at a time, at low speed just until blended after each addition.
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Whisk together flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Add flour mixture to butter mixture, alternating with milk. Begin and end with the flour mixture. Beat until blended after each addition; stir in vanilla just until combined. Divide batter evenly in each pan.
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Bake for 28-32 minutes, until inserted toothpick comes out clean. Place cake pans on wire rack and let cool for 10 minutes. Invert on wire rack and let cool completely, 45 minutes.
Frosting:
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Stir together jam and water in a small bowl; set aside. Whisk cream cheese and butter in a mixer (using whisk attachment) on medium speed until creamy, about 2 minutes. Make sure to scrape down the sides of mixer.
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Add mascarpone cheese and beat 30 seconds, just until combined. Reduce mixer speed to low, add heavy cream and almond extract. Gradually increase mixer speed to medium-high; beat frosting until fluffy and stiff peaks form, about 1 minute.
Cake Assembly:
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Place one cake, cut side up, on cake plate and brush with jam mixture. Spread cake with 1 cup frosting and 2/3 cups of mixed berries. Repeat this step 2 more times and top with last cake cut side down.
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Set aside 1/2 cup of frosting; Frost the entire cake, sides and top. Pour remaining frosting in a piping bag to decorate the top of the cake.
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Garnish with remaining berries and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before cutting.