Red Velvet Cake with Raspberries and Blueberries


Ah, I love spending time with family...


My sister came down to visit from up North.  Even though she doesn't live across the country or even in a different state, it's still hard for us to find time to visit.  Family, work and life usually seems to create some sort of barrier.  When the time is found it's so relaxing to eat great food, drink wonderful wine and catch-up on over-due chit chat.


I have never been wine tasting in Sonoma or Napa (which I would love to do) but I do adore our quaint Santa Ynez Valley Wine Country (wine tasting post to come.)  We spent a day visiting a few wineries, enjoying the scenery and chatting with all the friendly people.


I just love neighborly people!!  It's so refreshing and invigorating to meet genuine, sweet individuals.  Unfortunately, it seems this has been lost over the years.


While in the Santa Ynez Valley we, of course, stopped by the wonderful Mattei's Tavern (see my last post) and indulged in delicious breads and foods.  We, unfortunately, over-stuffed ourselves to revel in dessert glory and I've had dessert on the mind ever since.

I do like rich desserts but am more of a light dessert indulger.


Fresh fruit makes desserts so much more delectable, at least to me.  I love fresh made whipped cream with fruit, fruit tarts, fruit tulips, fruit compote, fruit fruit fruit!!

This light red velvet cake was a perfect dessert to pair with fresh raspberries and blueberries.  Cake...light??? It really is!  It's extremely moist, fluffy with a light cream cheese frosting.  I did make a few changes to the recipe i.e. more buttermilk, 1 more tablespoon cocoa powder, added yogurt and added another stick butter and I thought it came out perfect!

After only a mere 6 hours, after baking, there's only 1/3 cake left!


I hope you enjoy this as much as we did!


Raspberry and Blueberry Red Velvet Cake
Recipe Adapted from Bon Appetit
Servings 12


Ingredients


For Cake:
2 1/4 cups sifted cake flour (sifted then measured)
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 3/4 cup buttermilk
1 tablespoon red food coloring
1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
2 large eggs
3 tablespoons fage yogurt (thick greek yogurt)

For Frosting:
2-8 ounce packages cream cheese, room temperature
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted

1 1/2 pints fresh raspberries
1 1/2 pints fresh blueberries

For Cake:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Butter and flour two 9-inch cake pans with 1 1/2 inch high sides.  Sift sifted flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cocoa powder into a medium bowl.  Whisk buttermilk, food coloring, vinegar and, vanilla in a small bowl to blend.  Using an electric mixer, beat sugar, fage yogurt and butter in a large bowl until well blended.  Add eggs 1 at a time, beating until well blended after each addition.  Beat in dry ingredients in 4 additions alternately with buttermilk mixture in 3 additions.

Divide batter between prepared pans.  Bake cakes until tester inserted in the middle comes out clean, about 25-30 minutes.  Cool in pans for 10 minutes.  Turn cakes out onto racks, cool completely.

For Frosting:
Beat cream cheese and butter in a large bowl until smooth.  Beat in vanilla.  Add powdered sugar, slowly, and beat until smooth.

Place 1 layer, flat side up, on platter.  Spread 1 cup frosting over the top of the cake.  Arrange 1 basket raspberries and 1/2 basket blueberries atop frosting, pressing lightly to adhere.  Top with second cake layer, flat side down.  Spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake ( i prefer the messy cake look or smooth the frosting out.)  Arrange blueberries and raspberries decoratively over the top.

22 comments:

  1. Don't mind me... I'm just staring and drooling... ;)

    You are lucky to have your sister nearby. My sister lives overseas :( I can't wait to see her...I am going there next week! :)

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  2. Oh my goodness! YUM!! I just went Raspberry picking the other day and this looks like such a good use of fresh berries. :)

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  3. This is such a beautiful cake! My mouth is watering.

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  4. This cake looks so stunning-the perfect texture and lovely presentation with the berries. I will take the 1/3 that was left please!

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  5. Such a beautiful cake. :-) Want, want, wannnnnnttttttt :-D

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  6. Gorgeous cake! The raspberries and blueberries are perfect for with the red velvet cake! Glad you got to spend time with your sister!

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  7. red velvet cake is so tasty and pretty..nice job!

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  8. Love it!!! Beautiful picture. I adapted the recipe too and made a 4 tiered cake that was a complete hit!!! <3

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  9. I love the idea of the fresh fruit on this decadent dessert too. Beautiful!

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  10. I Love your blog and I love the pictures that scroll through at the top! Amazing!

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  11. Yes, my 2nd time stopping at this stunning cake!
    Please join me to bake & remember lives lost in 9/11. I am hosting a link up called *Remembrance Cakes* Would love to have you. We are baking cakes, muffins, cupcakes. Anything is great! You can also share posts you have all ready published like this one. Just add the badge to show your support.
    http://su.pr/2j5eSB

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  12. Aw, thanks so much for all the kind words!! :)

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  13. What a beautiful cake. Looks fit for a special occasion. Glad you enjoyed spending time with family.

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  14. Oh myyyy! This looks like the perfect cake.

    Will be making this for my son and his new fiancée this weekend. Thank you for sharing.

    Regards, Eve

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  15. gorgeous cake! I have everything assembled to make it for a friend's birthday tonight- but as I'm reading the recipe, I'm not seeing where the yogurt goes in...I'm going to make a guess and I'm sure it will be fine. But if you could post when you add it in, that would be great. Thanks!

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  16. Thanks for catching it Kelly!! I've adjust the recipe! :)
    xx

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  17. thank you! I made it and it was delicious!! a friend said it was the best cake I've made - and I make a lot of cakes! my nephew took one bite and said, "you'll be making this again, right?" :-) awesome recipe!!

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  18. I love your blog! The design is so classy. You always take amazing photos too, such as this it looks amazing!

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  19. Your cupcakes are cute! Have you tried the red velvet recipe in “Baked”? It’s soo yum!

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