I always believe that a birthday is never really a birthday without a cake. I’m not one for tradition and I don’t need a huge party or tons of gifts, but I always look forward to that moment when my twin sis and I close our eyes, make a wish, and blow out the candles, as I feel as though there’s something cathartic in doing so; almost like it’s a new start to a new year.
But it’s not just any cake that is given this honor year after year. It has to be a really special, and of course delicious one, and the cake that always has this honor is none other than Cousin John’s Mixed Berry Shortcake. It is the delicious, light, sweet, but not too sweet, cake that has been making its way to our tables and stomachs since before I can remember. The tart fresh berries mixed with the fluffy, moist yellow spongecake is such a wonderful combination and I’m not a fan of any type of frosting, but I could literally lick their whipped cream frosting right out of the bowl!
So as my mother’s birthday approached and I brainstormed which cake we should have, there was no question as to which one it would be, but this time I wanted to try attempt making it myself. It was a slightly daunting thought being that I’ve never made it before, but it was a challenge I was willing to take on, and I’m so happy with the results!
The sponge cake was moist and just dense enough to soak up the wonderful, bright flavors added by the whipped cream and berries without falling apart. And the whipped cream frosting! Oh, the whipped cream frosting. I had to stop myself from eating all of it before frosting the cake! And of course no Cousin John’s cake it complete without sliced almonds generously sprinkled along the sides, so those were the perfect final touch.
Cousin John’s will always have my business, but with this cake I may have just given them a run for their money haha.
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Triple Berry Genoise Cake with Whipped Cream Frosting
Ingredients
Yellow Genoise Sponge Cake
Recipe credit: Best Vanilla Sponge Cake
- 4 large eggs at room temperature
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 cup of milk (preferably whole)
- 1 stick (8 tablespoons) of unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups of all purpose or cake flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Whipped Cream Frosting
Recipe credit: Whipped Cream Frosting
- 2 cup of cold heavy whipping cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1-2 tablespoons sugar (depending on how sweet you’d like it)
Triple Berry Cake
- 1 cup of strawberries, sliced
- 1 cup of raspberries, halved
- 1 cup of blueberries, halved
- 1 cup of sliced almonds (optional)
Preparation
Yellow Genoise Sponge Cake
- Preheat oven to 350Β°F and prepare two 9 inch cake pans by lining with parchment paper and buttering the sides.
- Whip the room temperature eggs in the bowl of a stand mixer or with a handheld mixer until light and foamy.
- Add the vanilla extract.
- Slowly incorporate the sugar as the mixer continues to spin.
- Allow the eggs and sugar to continue mixing on high speed for about another 5 minutes until it reaches a “ribbon stage” or is fluffy and thick.
- In a separate bowl combine all of the dry ingredients.
- With the mixer on low, slowly incorporate the dry ingredients and continue to mix until just combined.
- While the batter is mixing, combine the butter and milk in a microwave safe bowl and microwave until the butter is melted and the combination is hot.
- Take about 2 cups of the batter and add it into the melted butter and milk mixture and whisk together until combined. Add this mixture back into the batter and mix to combine.
- Evenly divide batter into the prepared cake pans.
- Bake for about 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Whipped Cream Frosting
- Place your whisk and bowl into the freezer for about 15-20 minutes.
- Remove from freezer and add all of the ingredients and whip (but don’t overwhip!) until stiff peaks are formed.
Triple Berry Cake
- To the bottom layer of your cake, add an even, but thick layer, of the whipped cream.
- Firmly press about half of the berries into the whipped cream and add more whipped cream on top.
- Add the second layer of the cake and repeat the whipped cream and berries process.
- Pour the rest of the whipped cream over the cake and begin smoothing out with an offset spatula until the top and the sides are evenly covered.
- Press almond slices into the sides of the cake, top with more fresh berries, and enjoy!
And no party is complete without a cake, so I’ll definitely be bringing this over to Fiesta Friday #66 hosted by Angie at The Novice Gardener and Anna at Anna International! Come party with us, will you?
29 Comments
Jhuls
May 1, 2015 at 10:53 amWhat a gorgeous cake, Justine. When is your Mom’s birthday? Happy birthday! π Happy FF as well and enjoy your weekend. xx
Justine @ Born and Bred in Brooklyn
May 4, 2015 at 7:06 pmThank you so much! Her birthday was last week, so we celebrated with this yummy cake π
Arl's World
May 1, 2015 at 12:01 pmYour cake looks beautiful! Happy FF! π
Justine @ Born and Bred in Brooklyn
May 4, 2015 at 7:06 pmThank you! Happy FF to you as well π
Amanda | What's Cooking
May 1, 2015 at 2:24 pmThis looks phenomenal! Happy bday mom!
Justine @ Born and Bred in Brooklyn
May 4, 2015 at 7:07 pmThanks so much, Amanda!! And thank you for the birthday wishes π
sarahgiebens
May 1, 2015 at 2:47 pmWow that looks amazing!
Justine @ Born and Bred in Brooklyn
May 4, 2015 at 7:08 pmThank you so much!
Food For The Soul
May 1, 2015 at 6:35 pmLooks delicious!!
Justine @ Born and Bred in Brooklyn
May 4, 2015 at 7:12 pmThank you!!
Julie is Hostess At Heart
May 1, 2015 at 6:45 pmThis cake is just beautiful and sounds delicious! I love celebrating birthdays and think you are never to old to celebrate. Yes a birthday should have a cake even if you make it yourself!
Justine @ Born and Bred in Brooklyn
May 4, 2015 at 7:10 pmAbsolutely! What’s a birthday without a birthday cake? π Thank you!
lapetitepaniere
May 2, 2015 at 7:57 amLooks really fantastic Justine π
Justine @ Born and Bred in Brooklyn
May 4, 2015 at 7:09 pmThank you, Linda!!
Bake What You Want
May 2, 2015 at 3:51 pmI’m so glad other people brainstorm birthday cakes! Looks stunning π
Justine @ Born and Bred in Brooklyn
May 4, 2015 at 7:14 pmThank you!! One of the most fun parts (aside from the eating, of course) is the brainstorming! I look forward to future birthdays to bake for.
tentimestea
May 3, 2015 at 12:39 pmThis is beautiful! I love the berries that peak out a bit under the layer of whipped cream…not to mention that I also love whipped cream, especially as a frosting. Not too sweet, rich and very nice and light π How lovely, and happy birthday!
Justine @ Born and Bred in Brooklyn
May 4, 2015 at 7:13 pmThanks so much!! The berries poking out was totally unintentional being that I ran out of frosting, but I’m glad it still ended up working out haha π Thanks for stopping by!
Natalie Browne
May 4, 2015 at 2:02 pmThis cake is beautiful π
Justine @ Born and Bred in Brooklyn
May 4, 2015 at 7:08 pmToo sweet! Thanks! π
Sarah 'n Spice
May 5, 2015 at 2:34 pmI too so look froward to my birthday cake π Hope you had a wonderful birthday!
Justine @ Born and Bred in Brooklyn
May 9, 2015 at 4:38 pmThank you! But it was my mom’s birthday. Can’t wait for mine, though haha π
Hari Qhuang
May 5, 2015 at 4:21 pmOh, I can totally imagine eating it!
The cream, the berries, the cake and the crispy almonds!
Oh la la la la!!!!!
Justine @ Born and Bred in Brooklyn
May 9, 2015 at 4:38 pmHaha, Hari, you’re too sweet! It definitely is a yummy cake π
Josette@thebrookcook
May 6, 2015 at 6:27 amGorgeous!! The sliced almonds on the side put it over the top- beautiful presentation.
Justine @ Born and Bred in Brooklyn
May 10, 2015 at 11:00 amThank you so much!
Angie
May 7, 2015 at 6:46 pmAbsolutely gorgeous!! You did such a professional job on that cake. Now you can compete with Cousin John!
Justine @ Born and Bred in Brooklyn
May 10, 2015 at 11:00 amThank you, Angie!! That’s so sweet of you to say π
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