Step 1

Grease and flour a 9 inch square baking pan and line it with parchment paper if you like. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Step 2

Whisk together the flour and baking powder first, then add all the rest of the cake ingredients.

Step 3

Beat together quickly with an electric mixer. Do not over-mix this batter. It is still a pretty thick batter and if it is mixed too much, the gluten in the flour will begin to develop and toughen the texture of your cake.

Step 4

Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan and bake for 35 - 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean. Be careful no to overtake this cake, check it early, because it can appear quite pale on top and still be fully baked. It does not need to brown on top to be baked fully.

Step 5

Cool the cake in the pan before serving.

Step 6

Bring the berries, water, sugar and vanilla to a slow boil of only a few minutes. You don't really want the berries to break down in the boiling time.

Step 7

Dissolve the cornstarch in a little water and pour into the boiling sauce, stirring constantly.

Step 8

Boil for only a minute longer before removing from the heat and cooling to room temperature.

Step 9

Stir the sauce several times as it cools.

Step 10

Serve with the vanilla cake and whipped cream.