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This Raspberry Almond Layer Cake has three layers of moist, fluffy almond cake filled with fresh raspberry frosting. It’s such a pretty cake and it tastes even better than it looks!
Raspberry Almond Layer Cake
So there was a moment this past weekend where I realized what true love really is. It’s giving your spouse the “best” pillow even when you want it. Let me explain.
We were visiting my parents and therefore not using our usual pillows. The first night, we just grabbed the pillow that had been on our side of the bed and went to sleep. Yes, I noticed that his was softer and fluffier than mine, but I wasn’t going to steal it from him. I want him to be comfortable and I can deal with the less fluffy pillow – no problem.
Well then the next night, all of a sudden – through the dark – the hubs lets out a heavy sigh and says, “Do you like your pillow?”
“I mean, it’s a little flat, but it’s fine,” I said.
“Well mine is too fluffy, it’s hurting my neck. I didn’t want to say anything because I thought you wanted the pillow you have,” he says.
To which I laughed, because I of course I hadn’t said anything figuring he’d wanted the fluffy one. 🙂
So we switched and were both happy. But the point is that we had initially given up the pillow we wanted for the comfort of the other. See? True love. 😉
Speaking of true love, I’m in LOVE with this cake! I feel like it just looks like a cake you’d make for someone you love too. Those flowers!! I can’t even handle it.
The cake starts out with three layers of moist, fluffy almond cake. I feel like almond doesn’t get enough credit for how awesome it is. Vanilla tends to capture hearts, but almond deserves that spot too. It’s one of those flavors that gets me every time I have it. I’ll sometimes forget just how delicious it is and then it reminds me when I bite into it. So good!
How to Make a Raspberry Almond Layer Cake
The first step to a wonderfully fluffy cake is to fully cream the butter and sugar. You don’t want to skimp on this. The butter and sugar will come together and look lighter in color and have a thick and fluffy texture. It’s pretty cool. You’ll know it when you see it. 🙂
Once the cakes are made, you’ll make the two frostings. I’ve got raspberry frosting in between the layers and on top as decorations. Then the almond frosting is on the outside of the cake.
The raspberry frosting gets its pink color entirely from fresh raspberries. How awesome is that?! To ensure an uninterrupted shade of pink, I puree the raspberries in my food processor and then press the puree through a fine mesh sieve to remove the seeds. When added to the frosting, it’s a pure, beautiful shade of pink!
The almond frosting on the outside of the cake is added using the same method as in this tutorial for frosting a smooth cake. I then used the patterned side of my icing smoother to create the pattern in the frosting on the sides.
The roses on top are made with a closed star tip – I used the Ateco 844, but the Wilton 1M or 2D would work as well. I colored some of the remaining almond frosting with some green to add a few leaves as well.
This cake was a BIG hit! Everyone loved it! Not only is it fun to check out the pretty flowers, but the almond and raspberry together are so light and refreshing! It really is the perfect combo!
PrintRaspberry Almond Layer Cake
- Prep Time: 35 minutes
- Cook Time: 22 minutes
- Total Time: 57 minutes
- Yield: 12-14 Slices
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
Description
This Raspberry Almond Layer Cake has three layers of moist, fluffy almond cake filled with fresh raspberry frosting. It’s such a pretty cake and it tastes even better than it looks!
Ingredients
ALMOND CAKE LAYERS
- 3/4 cup (168g) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 1/2 cups (310g) sugar
- 3/4 cup (173g) sour cream, room temperature
- 1 tbsp (10ml) almond extract
- 6 large egg whites, room temperature
- 2 1/2 cups (325g) all purpose flour
- 4 tsp (15g) baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 3/4 cup (180ml) milk, room temperature
- 1/4 cup (60ml) water, room temperature
RASPBERRY FROSTING
- 6 oz (170g) raspberries
- 3/4 cup (168g) salted butter
- 3/4 cup (142g) shortening
- 6 cups (690g) powdered sugar
ALMOND FROSTING
- 3/4 cup (168g) salted butter
- 3/4 cup (142g) shortening
- 6 cups (690g) powdered sugar
- 2 tsp almond extract
- 2–3 tbsp water
Instructions
1. Prepare three 8 inch cake pans with parchment paper circles in the bottom and grease the sides. Preheat oven to 350°F (176°C) .
2. In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar together until light in color and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes. Do not skimp on the creaming time.
3. Add sour cream and almond extract and mix until well combined.
4. Add egg whites in two batches, mixing until well combined after each. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to be sure all ingredients are well incorporated.
5. Combine dry ingredients in a separate bowl, then combine the milk and water in a small measuring cup.
6. Add half of the dry ingredients to the batter and mix until well combined. Add the milk mixture and mix until well combined. Add remaining dry ingredients and mix until well combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to be sure all ingredients are well incorporated.
7. Divide the batter evenly between the cakes pans and bake for about 21-23 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with a few crumbs.
8. Remove the cakes from the oven and allow to cool for about 2-3 minutes, then remove to cooling racks to cool completely.
TO MAKE THE FROSTINGS:
9. To make the raspberry frosting, first puree the raspberries in a food processor. Strain the puree through a fine mesh sieve to remove the seeds.
10. In a large mixer bowl, beat the butter and shortening together until smooth.
11. Slowly add half of the powdered sugar and mix until smooth.
12. Add 5 tablespoons of raspberry puree and mix until smooth.
13. Slowly add remaining powdered sugar and mix until smooth. Add additional raspberry puree, as needed. Set aside.
9. To make the almond frosting, beat the butter and shortening together until smooth.
11. Slowly add half of the powdered sugar and mix until smooth.
12. Add the almond extract and 2 tablespoons of water and mix until smooth.
13. Slowly add remaining powdered sugar and mix until smooth.
14. Add remaining tablespoon of water, if needed.
TO ASSEMBLE THE CAKE:
15. To put the cake together, use a large serrated knife to remove the domes from the top of the cakes so that they’re flat. Place the first cake on a serving plate or a cardboard cake round.
16. Spread about 1 cup of raspberry frosting evenly on top of the cake.
17. Add the second layer of cake and another cup of raspberry frosting.
18. Top the cake with the remaining layer and frost the cake with the almond frosting. Refer to my tutorial for frosting a smooth cake, if needed. Once frosted, use the patterned side of an icing smoother/comb and create the patterned lines on the sides.
19. Use the remaining raspberry frosting to pipe rosettes around the edge of the cake. I used Ateco tip 844, but Wilton 1M or 2D would work as well.
20. Color some of the remaining almond frosting green and use it to add some leaves. Sprinkle the cake with some gold sprinkles, if desired.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Slice
- Calories: 1011
- Sugar: 106.8 g
- Sodium: 284.3 mg
- Fat: 54.4 g
- Carbohydrates: 128.5 g
- Protein: 6.5 g
- Cholesterol: 84.7 mg
Filed Under:
Enjoy!
I just made this cake, but it came out rather dense than fluffy as you described it. 🙁 You have any idea why it could have turned out that way? Would it have been more fluffy if the whole egg was used as opposed to just the egg whites?
Are you sure that you fully creamed the butter and sugar? I’ve seen friends make that mistake and it always results in a denser cake. You want to beat the butter and sugar together on medium speed until it becomes lighter in color and fluffy.
Lovely recipe!
I’m trying it tomorrow for the first time. Do you think I can substitute Greek yogurt for the sour cream? Thanks.
I think it’d bake fine, but it does change up the texture and flavor a bit, in my opinion.
You have outdone yourself, Lindsay!
Thanks so much! 🙂
looks so good cant wait to make it
Another suggestion is using freeze-dried raspberries for the frosting. Put them in a food processor, turn them into a powder. Shake powder through mesh sieve to remove the seeds. Add powder to frosting until you get the amount of raspberry flavor you want. I like this better than using fresh raspberries because it does not affect the consistency of the frosting.
Yum! This cake looks super-duper good. I really want to try this!!
Thanks Lexi! 🙂
Such a beautiful cake! I love the almond flavor, too!
Thank you Joanne!
I love almond extract! It is so yummy! This cake is so pretty! I have been on a hunt for a almond amaretto cupcake recipe. The cake is almond flavor with a amaretto filling. Not sure if it a mousse filling or not? The buttercream is a almond flavored buttercream with slice almonds sprinkled on top! It is AMAZING! Maybe you have some ideas or suggestions on how to recreate this cupcake. It is so yummy and so, so moist!
That does sound delicious!
My husband and I are the same way with pillows! I love the fluffy ones, and he loves the flat ones!
This cake looks absolutely amazing, and I agree–almond flavoring is SO yummy!
How beautiful! Does this cake need to be stored in the fridge?
You could probably go either way. I try not to refrigerate cakes if I don’t have to but with the fruit in the frosting, it’s probably good to refrigerate it if it’ll sit out for more than about a day.
What a beautiful cake!
Lindsay that cake looks too pretty to eat but having said that I wouldn’t say no to a slice. Do you have a tutorial on making those roses?
Thanks Jodie! I do have a tutorial in my new cookbook, but I haven’t put one on the blog yet.
Beautiful! Sounds delicious too.
Thanks so much Annette!
Two of my favorite flavors! May have to make this for my birthday cake next month.
Hard to decide between cheesecake or this, such a dilemma.
Such a pretty cake!!!
The cake sounds delicious, and I am very happy that it contains almond extract and not almond flour! Almond flour is way too expensive where I live for me to buy, so I usually have to skip over almond recipes. I tend to add almond extract to the most randomest of recipes, so I can’t wait to make this almond-focused cake!