Basil Berry Cake (Printable Version)
A moist, fragrant cake blending fresh basil with sweet mixed berries, topped with creamy basil-berry frosting.
# Ingredient List:
→ Cake Batter
01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1½ teaspoons baking powder
03 - ½ teaspoon baking soda
04 - ¼ teaspoon salt
05 - ½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
06 - 1 cup granulated sugar
07 - 2 large eggs
08 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
09 - ½ cup buttermilk
10 - ¼ cup whole milk
11 - ¼ cup fresh basil leaves, finely chopped
12 - 1 cup mixed berries (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries), fresh or frozen
→ Basil Berry Frosting
13 - ½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
14 - 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
15 - 2 tablespoons whole milk (plus more as needed)
16 - 1 tablespoon fresh basil, finely chopped
17 - ½ cup mixed berries, mashed
→ Decoration
18 - A handful of fresh berries
19 - Small basil leaves
# Directions:
01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease and line a 9-inch round cake pan with parchment paper.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
03 - In a large bowl, beat the unsalted butter and granulated sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 3 to 4 minutes.
04 - Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in the vanilla extract until fully incorporated.
05 - In a small pitcher or measuring cup, combine the buttermilk and whole milk.
06 - Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, alternating with the milk mixture. Begin and end with the dry ingredients. Mix just until combined.
07 - Gently fold the chopped basil and mixed berries into the batter. Be careful not to overmix to keep the berries intact.
08 - Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and level the top with a spatula. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
09 - Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.
10 - Beat the butter until smooth and creamy. Gradually add the sifted powdered sugar and milk, beating until light and fluffy. Stir in the chopped basil and mashed berries until evenly distributed.
11 - Once the cake has cooled completely, spread the basil berry frosting evenly over the top and sides. Garnish with fresh berries and small basil leaves.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The basil does something magical with berries that makes people close their eyes when they take a bite.
- It looks stunning with minimal effort, which makes you feel like a genius at any gathering.
02 -
- Folding berries with too heavy a hand turns the batter grey and muddy, so treat them like they are fragile.
- Infusing the milk with basil overnight in the fridge deepens the herb flavor without adding extra chopped leaves.
03 -
- Room temperature ingredients emulsify properly, so pull everything out an hour before starting.
- Let the cake cool completely before frosting or the butter will melt into a sad puddle.