Here’s a comprehensive, detailed recipe for Raspberry Cream Cheese Layer Cake with everything you requested: introduction, full ingredients, step-by-step instructions, methods, a touch of history, formation details, and a flavorful conclusion.
🍓 Raspberry Cream Cheese Layer Cake Recipe 🍓
✅ Introduction
Raspberry Cream Cheese Layer Cake is an elegant dessert that combines the tang of cream cheese with the natural sweetness of fresh raspberries, nestled between soft, moist layers of vanilla cake. This cake is perfect for weddings, birthdays, and afternoon teas. The rich cream cheese frosting balances the tart berries, while the soft cake layers soak in all the flavors for a heavenly bite.
This recipe takes inspiration from Victorian-era fruit desserts, where berries and cream were a sign of luxury. Today, we elevate that concept by turning it into a layered masterpiece!
Ingredients
For the Cake Layers
- 2 cups (240g) all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs (room temperature)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup (120ml) milk
- ¼ cup (60ml) buttermilk (adds tenderness)
For the Cream Cheese Filling & Frosting
- 8 oz (226g) cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter, softened
- 3 cups (360g) powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream (for smoothness)
For the Raspberry Layer
- 1½ cups (180g) fresh raspberries (or frozen, thawed)
- ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch (optional, for thickening)
Optional Garnish
- Extra raspberries
- Mint leaves
- White chocolate shavings
History & Formation
The combination of raspberries and cream dates back to 18th and 19th-century European desserts, particularly in England and France, where summer berries were paired with rich creams. The modern layer cake format became popular in the U.S. during the 1920s, as baking powder allowed cakes to rise evenly. Adding cream cheese frosting later became an American trend, making this recipe a delightful blend of traditions.
Instructions & Methods
Step 1: Prepare the Raspberry Filling
- In a small saucepan, combine raspberries, sugar, and lemon juice.