Lemon Blueberry Buttermilk Cake Recipe

Step 1

Heat your oven to 335º F/168º C. Prepare three 6"x 2" round cake pans (or two 8"x2" pans) with cake goop or another pan release that you prefer.

Step 2

Divide your buttermilk into two separate containers. I use a measuring cup.

Step 3

To the first measurement, add your oil and set it aside.

Step 4

To the remaining buttermilk, add your eggs, lemon extract, lemon juice and lemon zest and gently whisk to combine. Set it aside.

Step 5

Place the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into the bowl of your stand mixer with the paddle attachment.

Step 6

Turn the mixer onto the slowest speed (setting 1 on Kitchen Aid mixers). Slowly add chunks of your softened butter until it is all added then let everything mix until it looks like coarse sand.

Step 7

Add your milk/oil mixture all at once to the dry ingredients and mix on medium (speed 4 on kitchenaid) for 2 full minutes to develop the structure. Don't worry, this will not over-mix the cake.

Step 8

Scrape the bowl. This is an important step. If you skip it, you will have hard lumps of flour and unmixed ingredients in your batter. If you do it later, they will not mix in fully.

Step 9

Slowly add in the rest of your liquid ingredients in 3 parts, stopping to scrape the bowl one more time halfway through. Your batter should be thick and not too runny.

Step 10

Fill your pans 1/2 full with cake batter. Give the pan a little tap on each side to level out the batter and get rid of any air bubbles.

Step 11

Wash your berries (if they are fresh) and toss in flour. If berries are frozen skip washing and just toss in flour. Sprinkle the blueberries on top of your cake batter. Do not stir them in.

Step 12

Remove cakes from the oven and give them a tap on the countertop to release air and prevent too much shrinking. Let them cool on a cooling rack until they are barely warm.

Step 13

After cooling, place the cooling rack on top of the cake, placing one hand on top of the cooling rack and one hand under the pan and flip the pan and the cooling rack over so the pan is now upside down on the cooling rack. Remove the pan carefully. Repeat with the other pan.

Step 14

After the cakes are barely warm, carefully wrap them in plastic wrap and place them into the freezer or fridge for about 60 minutes to firm up the cakes and make them easier to handle for stacking.

Step 15

Place softened butter in the bowl of your stand mixer with the whisk attachment and cream on low until smooth and lump-free.

Step 16

Place softened cream cheese in the bowl with butter in small chunks and cream on low until smooth and combined.

Step 17

Add in the sifted powdered sugar one cup at a time while mixing on low until combined.

Step 18

Add your extract and salt and combine until smooth. Don't over-mix or your frosting could separate.

Step 19

After your cakes are chilled, trim the domes off them to make them level and fill them with your cream cheese frosting and frost the outside. I finished my cake with some more fresh blueberries and organic pansies (edible). If you're not familiar with decorating cakes, check out my how to make your first cake blog post!