Raspberry Buttermilk Cake

August 6th, 2012

Raspberry Buttermilk Cake

When I was a kid, my mom would often make cakes for dessert. Only, she didn’t frost them. WHATTT!??? As kids this would just crush us. We wanted everything slathered in mounds of sugary buttercream frosting, and millions of calories. But as an adult, I am appreciative of just a lovely little dusting of powdered sugar. You can actually taste the cake and the fresh baked fruit, with just a touch of extra sweetness.

Raspberry Buttermilk Cake

These kind of cakes always seem like they should be “weeknight” dessert to me. You know what I mean? Like not a special occasion big old layer cake (not that those aren’t fantastic too!), but something you could serve on a Monday night, without having to go to much extra trouble.

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And I am telling you right now, that this is the best cake of this nature that I have had in a really long time. Maybe ever. I went back and tweaked this old recipe of my Grandma Graces and voila, GLORIOUS Raspberry Buttermilk Cake!

The texture of the cake is so fine and moist, and almost a little spongy. The buttermilk gives it a just a hint of tanginess and it is studded with sweet and tart raspberries.

Raspberry Buttermilk Cake

I am not sure how it could even get better than this for a summer dessert. Oh wait, I was eating it for breakfast too. And by the way, unlike most cakes (especially those with fresh fruit), this did not get stale right away, in fact, in continued to stay very moist for the 2 days before it was devoured. I highly recommend this recipe!!

Raspberry Buttermilk Cake

Also- I have to note that I made this cake with fresh eggs from Athena’s organic chicken farm on Whidbey Island. These were the most gorgeous eggs I have ever seen. If you are ever up there- please do yourself a favor and pick some up- you can taste the difference!

Raspberry Buttermilk Cake

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a 9” round cake pan with a round of parchment paper in the bottom and some cooking spray.

Raspberry Buttermilk Cake

In the bowl of a standing mixer, cream together the stick of butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

Raspberry Buttermilk Cake

Add the eggs one at a time, and combine well. Add the milk, and mix until combined.

Raspberry Buttermilk Cake

In a separate bowl, whisk together all of the dry ingredients.

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Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet, and mix until it is a smooth batter.

Raspberry Buttermilk Cake

Raspberry Buttermilk Cake

Gently fold in the fresh raspberries.

Raspberry Buttermilk Cake

Raspberry Buttermilk Cake

Pour the batter in the prepared cake pan and bake the cake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees, or until just done.

Raspberry Buttermilk Cake

Raspberry Buttermilk Cake

Let cool before turning out onto a platter, and removing the parchment paper.

Raspberry Buttermilk Cake

Raspberry Buttermilk Cake

Dust with powdered sugar.

Raspberry Buttermilk Cake

Slice and serve warm or at room temperature.

Recipe: Raspberry Buttermilk Cake

Ingredients

  • -1/2 cup butter, room temperature
  • -1 cup sugar
  • -2 eggs
  • -1 1/3 cup Cake flour
  • -1 1/2 tsp Baking Powder
  • -1/2 tsp salt
  • -1/2 cup buttermilk
  • -1 cup raspberries

Instructions

  1. 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a 9” round cake pan with a round of parchment paper in the bottom and some cooking spray.
  2. 2. In the bowl of a standing mixer, cream together the stick of butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
  3. 3. Add the eggs one at a time, and combine well. Add the milk, and mix until combined.
  4. 4. In a separate bowl, whisk together all of the dry ingredients. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet, and mix until it is a smooth batter.
  5. 5. Gently fold in the fresh raspberries.
  6. 6. Pour the batter in the prepared cake pan and bake the cake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees, or until just done.
  7. 7. Let cool before turning out onto a platter and dusting with powdered sugar. Slice and serve warm or at room temperature.

Preparation time: 15 minute(s)

Cooking time: 30 minute(s)

Number of servings (yield): 8


  1. j3nn says:

    The cake is gorgeous! Would make a lovely Christmas dessert.

    I love getting green/blue eggs! That usually means the chickens ate a healthy, natural diet. :)

    2:06 am on August 6th, 2012
  2. Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar says:

    This cake is so pretty! Love this idea!

    4:00 am on August 6th, 2012
  3. Heather Christo says:

    I did not know that about the eggs! That is really great info- thanks!

    7:23 am on August 6th, 2012
  4. Heather Christo says:

    thanks Katrina!

    7:24 am on August 6th, 2012
  5. Deliciously Organic says:

    I love the simplicity of this cake. So beautiful!

    7:30 am on August 6th, 2012
  6. susan says:

    Heather, this cake makes my heart stop. I love raspberries in cakes and oh how I miss baking with cake flour! This would be a very dangerous cake for me to have around!

    7:43 am on August 6th, 2012
  7. Heather Christo says:

    thanks Carrie!

    7:52 am on August 6th, 2012
  8. Heather Christo says:

    Oh thanks Susan. Yes, It was on the majorly addictive side for me!

    7:52 am on August 6th, 2012
  9. Vicki B says:

    Really pretty cake! Would this batter work for all berries?

    8:04 am on August 6th, 2012
  10. Heather Christo says:

    Vicki- absolutely! Plums, peaches and nectarines would work too!

    9:18 am on August 6th, 2012
  11. Amanda says:

    What a gorgeous cake! Your photos are just beautiful!! :)

    9:22 am on August 6th, 2012
  12. Heather Christo says:

    Thanks Amanda- coming from you that means a lot!

    9:28 am on August 6th, 2012
  13. TidyMom says:

    you had me at raspberry!! this looks gorgeous!! So sorry we missed each other at BlogHer :( we need to plan better next time lol

    10:04 am on August 6th, 2012
  14. Eileen says:

    You know, I was always the opposite–I scraped the frosting off my cake for years on end. :) This simple cake is right up my alley, clearly!

    12:06 pm on August 6th, 2012
  15. Kelley Taylor says:

    What a pretty and delicate cake, Heather. I actually love these types of cakes without heavy frosting. Just the thing for a lazy summer afternoon with a glass of lemonade.

    12:12 pm on August 6th, 2012
  16. Heather Christo says:

    I know!! Shoot! I just didn’t expect it to be so mammoth!

    1:40 pm on August 6th, 2012
  17. Heather Christo says:

    Perfect Eileen! I’m glad that this is your style!

    1:41 pm on August 6th, 2012
  18. Heather Christo says:

    Ooooh! with lemonade! perfect :)

    1:41 pm on August 6th, 2012
  19. megan @ whatmegansmaking says:

    This cake is so pretty. And I know what you mean – I love fancy layer cakes and frosting, but sometimes a simple every day cake with powdered sugar is perfect :)

    2:27 pm on August 6th, 2012
  20. Soni says:

    First time here through Foodgawker and I have to tell you, this cake looks marvellous!!I just love the soft moist texture !i’m so going to be trying this soon :)

    4:23 pm on August 6th, 2012
  21. Susie Fritzky says:

    Heather this looks delicious! I can’t wait to try it. I also have to say that your photographs are extra beautiful for this post!

    5:14 pm on August 6th, 2012
  22. peachtopie says:

    I love how simple the recipe is. The cake looks gorgeous with the raspberries and the powdered sugar on top!

    5:18 pm on August 6th, 2012
  23. Soupista says:

    I wish I would have had this recipe last week when we had family in town! I look forward to making this light and pretty dessert!

    5:24 pm on August 6th, 2012
  24. Allison [Girl's Guide to Social Media] says:

    I’ll take a dusting of powdered sugar with my cake any day!

    8:18 pm on August 6th, 2012
  25. Heather Christo says:

    thank so much Susie :)

    9:15 pm on August 6th, 2012
  26. Heather Christo says:

    Thank you peach!

    9:15 pm on August 6th, 2012
  27. Heather Christo says:

    Oh good Soupista! You will love this one- its a keeper!

    9:16 pm on August 6th, 2012
  28. Kelly @ Inspired Edibles says:

    Simply beautiful. We made similar cakes using different ingredients. How fun to come across your site.

    10:53 am on August 7th, 2012
  29. Nancy@acommunaltable says:

    I adore cakes like this – everybody needs to have a recipe like this in their repertoire! I love serving a cake like this or a tart for dessert in the summer – frosted cakes in the summer, for me, are just too heavy! Gorgeous photo Heather!!

    11:10 am on August 7th, 2012
  30. Heather Christo says:

    Thanks Nancy!! I love this simple cake too, in fact I am making it for tonight’s dessert!

    11:43 am on August 7th, 2012
  31. Kari@Loaves and Dishes says:

    I rarely get fresh eggs, but when I do there is a great excitment in my home! This cake looks beautiful. I’m going to try it tonight with the saskatoon berries that are growing out the back door. I’ll let you know how it goes.

    11:56 am on August 7th, 2012
  32. Heather Christo says:

    amazing! WHAT are saskatoon berries!?

    12:02 pm on August 7th, 2012
  33. Jessica the baker says:

    This cake looks delicious and beautiful! I definitely want to try it! Thanks for posting it!

    8:38 pm on August 7th, 2012
  34. Heather Christo says:

    Thank you Jessica! I hope you do!

    9:22 pm on August 7th, 2012
  35. Kari@Loaves and Dishes says:

    Okay, I made the cake last night with the Saskatoon Berries that I picked. Saskatoon berries (also called Service berries) are similar to blue berries or huckle berries. They grow here in North West MT, where I am vacationing at my in-laws. I’ve been wanting to bake something with these berries and a buttermilk cake sounded perfect. It was yummy! The cake is just the right amount of sweetness, so tender and moist. I think you could put anything into this cake and it would be amazing!

    10:06 am on August 8th, 2012
  36. Heather Christo says:

    I am so glad Kari!! I will have to look these berries up!

    12:58 pm on August 8th, 2012
  37. Russell at Chasing Delicious says:

    What a lovely cake and such a scrumptious recipe! Yum!

    4:49 pm on August 8th, 2012
  38. Heather Christo says:

    Thank You Russell!

    5:14 pm on August 8th, 2012
  39. Patricia Juarez-Dappe says:

    I have just made this cake and it is fantastic, easy and very quick to make. Next time I will add a little lemon zest and see how it goes with the raspberries. Thanks for sharing the recipe.

    4:46 pm on August 10th, 2012
  40. Blackberry Buttermilk Cake Recipe says:

    [...] few weeks back, Heather Cristo posted this delectable looking recipe for Raspberry Buttermilk Cake and I was literally drooling as I looked through the pictures. I knew I had to make it for myself [...]

    10:30 pm on August 19th, 2012
  41. Mixed Berries Upside Down Cake | bakingin3612 says:

    [...] fast yet comforting. That’s when this cake comes to mind, bookmarked ages ago! from Heather Christo. This is my second time using her recipe and it did not disappoint. The first being a beetroot [...]

    3:03 am on September 5th, 2012
  42. Patty Carr says:

    Just put this cake in the oven! If it takes as good as the batter did yes, I’m one of those!), it will be delicious!! Let you know in 23 mins!

    7:57 pm on January 12th, 2013
  43. Patty Carr says:

    Oops, tastes as good!

    7:58 pm on January 12th, 2013
  44. Ingrid says:

    What a lovely looking cake! And just an FYI, the green and blue eggs have nothing to do with the hen’s diet, but everything to do with the breed of the chicken. Usually they are Ameracauna or Aracauna – also known as “Easter Eggers!”

    10:56 am on February 27th, 2013
  45. lavi says:

    could you use blueberries and lemon zest instead?

    5:39 pm on May 11th, 2013
  46. Heather Christo says:

    YES!! that would be wonderful!

    10:44 pm on May 11th, 2013

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