Blackberry-Lemon Buttermilk Cake

in Blackberries, Cakes & Cupcakes, Cherries & Berries, Citrus, Fruit, Lemon, Lighter & Healthier

Blackberry-Lemon Buttermilk Cake

About a year ago, I flipped passed a recipe for Raspberry Buttermilk Cake in Gourmet. It wasn’t really my kind of cake. 1 layer? No frosting? No thanks.

And then I found myself with a mountain of blackberries and few new ideas so I gave the cake a chance. I love the simplicity of this cake, so much so that I’ve now baked some adaptation of it more than a dozen times. My favorite flavor is Blackberry-Lemon. The lemon and buttermilk make for a tangy, tender cake and the big, fat juicy blackberries? They’re big, fat, and juicy.

It’s the perfect recipe for spring and summer fire-sale berries and isn’t so over-the-top that you can’t have a piece after dinner all week.

Blackberry-Lemon Buttermilk Cake

A simple, tender cake that's perfect to highlight your favorite in-season berries.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 stick unsalted butter, softened
  • 2/3 cup plus 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar, divided
  • 1/4 tsp almond extract
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 Tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tsp lemon zest
  • 1/2 cup well-shaken buttermilk
  • 5 oz fresh blackberries

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F with rack in the middle. Butter/flour or spray an 8-inch round cake pan.
  2. Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside. Beat butter and 2/3 cup sugar on medium-high until pale and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Add almond extract, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Add egg and beat well.
  3. At low speed, mix in flour mixture in three batches, alternating with the buttermilk in two batches, mixing until just combined. Pour batter into cake pan, spreading evenly and smoothing top. Scatter berries evenly over the top and sprinkle with remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar.
  4. Bake until cake is golden and a wooden pick inserted into center comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool in pan 10 minutes, then turn out onto a rack and cool to warm, 10 to 15 minutes more. Invert onto a plate and cut into 8 wedges. Store covered for up to three days.

Notes

Yields: 8 Servings

Adapted from Gourmet

Estimated time: 45 minutes

Nutritional Information
Calories: 199.6 | Fat: 6.6 | Fiber 1.4
WW Points: 4

7 comments… add one
  • This looks like a great breakfast cake – how does it keep?

    • It’s good through three days. After that, it gets a little mushy and loses it’s tanginess.

  • I just made a similar cake using strawberries. It is so good! Love the new look!

  • Such a coincidence! I made this cake last night with blueberries instead of blackberries and some strawberry whipped cream to go on top. My roommate said it was one of the best things I’ve ever made! I love your version.

  • This looks delicious! I can’t wait to try it!

  • Amy

    Just waiting for mine to cool! The batter was delicious 🙂

  • Amanda

    I love big fat blackberries, and this cake looks awesome!!

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