Easy Berry Cake (Red White and Blue Snack Cake)

This easy Berry Cake recipe is a red, white, and blue cake filled with summer blueberries and raspberries, hints of fresh lemon, and a buttery, tender crumb you'll fall in love with. It's perfect for summer gatherings, picnics, Memorial Day, or 4th of July celebrations.

For more quick and festive treats, see our five-minute 4th of July Snack Mix or this simple and fun 4th of July Snack Board.

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What are Anytime Cakes

This easy berry cake recipe is part of our Anytime snack cake collection. What is an Anytime cake? You've probably already guessed the answer, but anytime cakes are easy to make. They are usually one-layer cakes that require little fuss, are utterly delicious, and are perfect anytime.

Our most popular cake in this series is the Anytime Almond Cake.

Berry Cake Ingredients

This easy berry cake is made with simple pantry ingredients, fresh berries, and a little lemon to brighten the flavor. Ingredient measurements are in the recipe card below, but here's a quick look at what you'll need and why each one matters:

• Butter: This recipe works with both salted and unsalted butter. For the best texture, be sure the butter is softened to room temperature so it creams easily with the sugar.
• Granulated sugar: Sweetens the cake and helps create a tender crumb when beaten with the softened butter.
• Large eggs: Eggs give the cake structure and richness. Room-temperature eggs will blend most evenly into the batter.
• All-purpose flour: The base of the cake. A gluten-free 1:1 baking flour should also work well in this berry cake.
• Baking powder and salt: Baking powder helps the cake rise, while a little salt balances the sweetness and enhances the flavor.
• Lemon: Both lemon zest and lemon juice are used to brighten the berries and give the cake a fresh, summery flavor.
• Milk: Dairy or nondairy milk will work. It helps create a soft, spoonable batter and keeps the cake tender.
• Vanilla extract: Adds warmth and rounds out the flavor of the berries and lemon.
• Fresh berries: I like using equal amounts of raspberries and blueberries for a pretty color and sweet-tart flavor. Choose firm, fresh berries and gently fold them into the batter.
• For serving: A dollop of whipped cream is delicious on top and reminds me a bit of my favorite easy Strawberry Shortcake recipe.

For another easy summer berry dessert, you might also love this Simple Berry Trifle made with pound cake, Chantilly cream, and fresh berries.

How to Make Fresh Berry Cake

Full recipe instructions are in the recipe card below, but here is a brief overview.

Begin by preheating the oven to 350℉ and coating a 9-inch round cake pan or springform pan with cooking spray.

• Cream the butter and sugar: Beat the softened butter, 1 cup sugar, and lemon zest until light and pale in color. Add the eggs, one at a time, then mix in the vanilla, milk, and lemon juice.
• Make the batter: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture and stir just until combined.
• Fold in the berries: Gently fold the fresh raspberries and blueberries into the batter, being careful not to overmix.

• Bake the cake: Spread the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until lightly browned and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean.
• Cool and serve: Let the cake cool in the pan before slicing. Serve as is, dusted with powdered sugar, or topped with whipped cream.

Chantilly Cream Garnish

One of my favorite ways to garnish this berry cake is with Chantilly cream, which is simply a French-style whipped cream lightly sweetened with powdered sugar and flavored with a hint of vanilla. It's easy to make with just three ingredients:

• Heavy whipping cream
• Powdered sugar
• Vanilla extract

To make it, add the cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla to a mixing bowl. Using an electric mixer, beat on medium-high speed for about 1 ½ minutes, or until soft peaks form. For stiffer peaks, beat closer to 2 minutes.

Spoon the Chantilly cream over the cooled cake or individual servings. You can also use your favorite ready-made whipped topping, such as Cool Whip, if you prefer.

For a pretty finish, top with extra fresh berries and any unsprayed edible flowers you may have on hand.

Anytime Snack Cakes You May Also Love

Quick and easy snack cake recipes are perfect to have on hand when you're craving a sweet, tender cake, have unexpected guests, need to bring dessert, or want something for afternoon teatime. Here are some ideas you may want to try:

• Anytime Honey Cake: A naturally sweetened cake that's ultra-tender and perfect throughout the year.
• Anytime Fudgy Picnic Chocolate Cake: This cake is perfect for chocolate lovers! It's easy to bring to picnics, outdoor gatherings, or anytime you're in the mood for a fudgy, rich chocolate cake that's easy to make.
• Anytime Maple Banana Snack Cake: I love making this cake when I'm craving banana bread or when the only fruit left in the house is bananas. It's warmly spiced, comforting, and delicious.
• In-Season Anytime Cakes: If you love to bake with in-season berries, like this Lemon Blueberry Cake, here are a couple of options. Anytime Rhubarb Cake is delicious in the spring with fresh rhubarb, Apricot and Plum Cake is delicious during the summer stone fruit season, and Anytime Apple Cake is wonderful during late summer and early fall when the apples are ripening on the trees.

If you're planning a summer gathering or holiday menu, you'll find even more festive ideas in my collection of easy 4th of July desserts.

More Berry Recipes to Try This Season

• 32 Anytime Snack Cakes You'll Love to Bake
• Simple Berry Trifle Recipe with Pound Cake
• 10 Minute No Bake Cheesecake
• Easy Pound Cake Recipe
• White Chocolate Raspberry Bundt Cake