FRESH BERRY VANILLA LAYER CAKE

Fresh Berry Vanilla Layer Cake

Our long Fourth of July weekend kicks off with a bang!  I usually try to keep our summer holiday weekend loaded with picnic and barbeque fare - but it's always fun to bring out something that elicites a "WOW" from the gang!  With so many red, white & blue recipes to pick from, this is a family-favorite that I make over and over during the summer months! 

​It's hard to go wrong with the most delicious and moist homemade vanilla cake ever - this is my go-to recipe whenever I need a fabulous vanilla cake or cupcakes...my little ones call this "wedding cake", and for something that tastes and looks so special, it is so simple to bake!  Topped with our favorite Summer Whipped Topping and fresh summer berries, it looks as beautiful as it tastes! 

Summer Berry Vanilla Layer Cake

Fresh Berry & Vanilla Cake

Let's start with this vanilla cake.  So good that you don't need anything on top of it at all!  The perfect texture, and so moist!  I load it up with pure vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste for the perfect flavor.  Wonderful enough for a birthday or wedding cake, yet simple enough that it just make sense with fresh summer fruit.

​Pure, simple and good!

Homemade Vanilla Cake with Summer Berries

Next up, my Summer Whipped Topping - the perfect blend of fresh whipped cream and cream cheese, with just a touch of sweetness from powdered sugar and vanilla.  Don't you just hate how buttercream frostings and whipped cream just seem to melt off your desserts when it's a warm day?  This is the perfect topping that holds the test of time, over and over again.

The addition of whipped cream cheese really helps stabilize this and gives it a nice sheen.  I make our Summer Frosting and let it chill for a couple of hours, which keeps this creamy and fluffy during hot summer months. 

Vanilla Layer Cake with Fresh Summer Berries

During the summer months and especially when entertaining, my refrigerator space always seems to be in short supply.  But you can pull out the chilled Summer Whipped Topping and berries and have this put together in minutes before you want to serve!

​And if you are lucky enough to have room in your refrigerator, you can assemble each layer and refrigerate separately, and then just stack 'em up on your serving platter when you're ready. 

Fresh Berries & Vanilla Bean Layer Cake

And whether you love fresh blueberries, perky raspberries, sweet strawberries or plump blackberries, this is just so fresh and flavorful, and allows you to pick out the berries that are perfectly ripe and in season.  I usually place bowls of additional fresh fruit out with this sweet treat - that way folks can add an extra spoonful of their favorite berries on top of their piece and really make it their own.

​Perfect for birthdays, summer baby or wedding showers, or a fire-cracker filled Fourth of July!  I hope that you, your friends and family love this as much as we do! 

Fresh Berry Vanilla Layer Cake