Say hello to the BEST white chocolate raspberry cake recipe! Layers of white chocolate buttercream + raspberry jam + moist cake + fresh berries = a show stopping dessert everyone will love! You can make this cake a day in advance and store at room temperature until needed. A great birthday cake or small wedding cake.
White Chocolate Raspberry Cake
This stunning cake features two of my all-time favorite flavors: almond and raspberry! And it features them in multiple forms! The cakes themselves get their almond flavor from almond extract. They bake up moist and fluffy, but dense enough to be sliced and layered.
It’s important they’re a little dense, because they’re going to be layered with raspberry jam AND white chocolate buttercream! The two will slightly blend together when you slice into the cake, which create almost a white chocolate raspberry buttercream… that’s been spiked with amaretto!!! It’s heavenly! But definitely on the sweeter side – as is almost anything involving white chocolate!
And the final touch, a mountain of fresh raspberries on top! I just threw them by the handful for an organic look, but you can definitely arrange them neater for a more polished appearance! I also pressed thinly sliced almonds all around the outside of the cake. This adds a delightful crunch and makes the entire cake look so beautiful!
This is one of those cakes people will think you bought from a fancy bakery!!!
Make the Cake Batter
- This is essentially my white cake recipe, but with a few tiny changes, and almond extract!
- You’ll need two 9″ cake pans! Be sure to spray the pans well with nonstick baking spray and then line the bottoms of the pans with parchment paper. Think of this as your insurance policy for when it comes time to remove the cakes from the pans!
- Don’t skip the cake flour, all-purpose flour will not give you the same results. I strongly suggest weighing your flour with a digital kitchen scale so you know you’re using the right amount. Too much flour is another reason cakes come out bone dry!
- Beat room temperature butter and sugar until light and fluffy! You need a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment or an electric hand mixer for this part!
- Be sure to mix just until the flour mixture disappears! Over mixing is going to give you a dry and very dense cake. So mix as slowly and as little as possible to bring the batter together.
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How to Bake White Chocolate Raspberry Cake
- Once your cake batter it assembled, it’s time to bake the cakes. Scrape the batter into the prepared cake pans and smooth the tops.
- The cakes take between 25 and 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle of a cake comes out clean.
- Bake time may vary depending on your oven and the cake pan you use. Especially if you use a thick glass or ceramic type dish. I highly suggest light metal or aluminized steel baking pans.
- You can bake the cake layers a dat in advance and store them at room temperature. Let them cool completely then wrap them tightly in several layers of plastic wrap.
Make the White Chocolate Buttercream
- You’ll need to melt your white chocolate. You can do this in the microwave or in a double boiler.
- But make sure you use real white chocolate and not white chocolate chips!
- Don’t use hot chocolate. Let your melted white chocolate cool until it’s tepid.
- Beat the butter until smooth and creamy. You’ll need an electric mixer for this step.
- Add in the powdered sugar, a little bit at a time, beating until fully incorporated before adding more. If you add too much at once, it’ll fly out of the bowl and make a huge mess.
- MAKE SURE YOU SIFT YOUR POWDERED SUGAR!! Otherwise your frosting will be clumpy. I use a fine-mesh strainer for this!
- Toss in your heavy cream and amaretto. And finally, fold in the white chocolate and salt! This frosting is quite sweet, so don’t skip the salt! It helps balance out the sweetness.
Assemble & Top with Fresh Berries
Assembly this cake might sound scary, but I promise, you can do it!
- You’ll need a long serrated knife to slice the cakes in half. Try to get them as even as possible, but don’t worry if they’re a little wonky. Layers of white chocolate buttercream frosting and raspberry jam will cover any “flaws”.
- You’ll top the bottom layer with buttercream frosting and jam. I like this brand of raspberry jam, but use whatever you prefer!
- Top with the second layer of cake, and repeat this process with the remaining cake layers.
- For the final cake layer, only add frosting! And then use remaining frosting to cover the sides.
- Finally, top with fresh raspberries and press sliced almonds around the sides of the cake. And viola! You have a stunning cake sure to impress!
Ok, so jump to the recipe below and get baking! I’ll see you next week with more bright and sunny Spring recipes!
More Cake Recipes:
- Almond Amaretto Pound Cake
- Lemon Raspberry Cake (If you like lemon juice and raspberries, this is your cake!)
- White Chocolate Cranberry Bundt Cake
- 5-Ingredient Raspberry Cheesecake Thumbprint Cookies
- Chocolate Raspberry Cake
White Chocolate Raspberry Cake with White Chocolate Buttercream
Ingredients
For the Almond Cake:
- 2 and 1/2 cups (300g) cake flour sifted
- 3 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (227g) unsalted butter room temperature
- 1 and 1/2 cups (299g) granulated sugar
- 6 large egg whites at room temperature, lightly beaten until foamy
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoons almond extract
- 3/4 cup (170ml) whole milk room temperature
- 2/3 cup (152g) sour cream, at room temperature room temperature
For the White Chocolate Amaretto Buttercream Frosting:
- 1 and 1/2 cups (340g) unsalted butter room temperature
- 3 and 1/4 cups confectioners’ sugar sifted
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 Tablespoons (28ml) heavy cream room temperature
- 1 and 1/2 Tablespoons (21ml) amaretto liqueur
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 9 ounces (255g) quality white chocolate melted and cooled for 10 minutes
Assembly and Garnish:
- 1 cup raspberry preserves
- 1 cup fresh raspberries
- 1 cup thinly sliced almonds
Instructions
For the Almond Cake:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F). Generously grease the bottom and sides of two 9-inch round cake pans; line with parchment paper rounds and set aside until needed.
- In a large mixing bowl, sift together the cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a large bowl using a handheld electric mixer, beat the butter on medium-high speed until smooth and creamy, about 1 minute.
- Gradually add in the sugar. Once all of the sugar has been added, beat on high speed for 2 minutes.
- Reduce the speed to low and add in the egg whites, a little bit at a time, beating well after each addition, and scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed.
- In a spouted measuring cup, combine the vanilla extract, almond extract, milk, and sour cream. Mix until evenly combined.
- On low speed, add the flour mixture in three additions, alternating it with the liquid milk/sour creamy mixture, beginning and ending with the flour, and mixing until just combined.
- Divide the batter evenly among the prepared pans and smooth the tops.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until lightly brown around the edges and a toothpick inserted in the center of the cakes comes out clean. Cool the cakes in the pans places on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Then invert the cake layers onto cooling racks and cool completely.
For the White Chocolate Amaretto Buttercream Frosting:
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a large bowl using a handheld electric mixer, beat the butter on medium-speed until completely smooth. Reduce the speed to low and gradually add in the confectioners’ sugar, beating until all of the sugar is completely combined.
- Add in the salt, cream, and amaretto, and almond extract and beat smooth.
- Add in the white chocolate and beat smooth. Once all of the ingredients have been incorporated, increase the speed to medium-high and beat for a minute.
Assembly and Garnish:
- Using a long, serrated knife, slice each cake in half horizontally, so that you have 4 even layers.
- Place one cake layer on a large plate or cake stand. Spread 1/2 cup of the frosting on top of the cake, covering it completely, then spread a 1/4 cup of raspberry preserves on top of the frosting.
- Top with another cake layer, and repeat the layering process, ending with the last cake layer on top. Spread all remaining frosting over the top and sides of the cake.
- Using your hands, gently press the sliced almonds all around the sides of the cake. Then top with fresh raspberries!
- Allow the cake to set for 20 minutes before slicing. Then serve, or store, in the refrigerator, for up to 2 days. Bring to room temperature before serving!
Delicious almond cake! I used a different frosting due to taste preferences, but the cake portion of your recipe was perfect. Exactly what I was looking for and your instructions were clear and easy to follow. Thanks for this recipe!
This cake is everything! Say yes to Amaretto. It feels like a combo of your most special and classy birthday and wedding cake all in one There is nothing not to love (especially when you want something that’s not chocolate). Not difficult at all, just take your time with instructions and use the proper ingredients (Ghirdelli White Chocolate Baking Bars). I highly recommend doubling frosting as Ashley recommends in her recipe. I’m at quandary over any negative comments on this recipe. It’s quite perfect.
I just made this for Easter and everybody absolutely loved it. I did make a few tweaks. I made one batch of the white chocolate buttercream and found it a bit too sweet for my taste. I made another batch of a less sweet plain buttercream and mixed the two batches. You definitely need to double the frosting to cover those layers like the picture. I also added freeze dried raspberries, which were grounded and mixed for a slightly pink hue.
I would definitely try this again but will bake 3 layers rather than slicing 2 layers of cake into 4. Also I would want to try adding more fresh raspberries and add them in between layers. I like how the tartness balances the sweetness from the white chocolate and wish there was more throughout rather than on top of the cake..
I made the cake and it was very good, but my cake was dry and crumbly. What did I do wrong?
Hi Michelle. Sorry to hear that! Did you weigh your flour with a digital kitchen scale? If not, too much flour could be the culprit. Other reasons a cake would come out dry are overmixing the batter and over baking the cakes themselves.
I did weigh everything with a digital scale, and I do not think I overbooked. Maybe I over mixed the batter…..I am going to give it another try.
Thanks.
I try brushing the warm cake layers with simple syrup to prevent dryness. I think the four cream will also help.
Absolutely amazing! This went into my “tried and true” file! Delicious!
This looks great! Is there a way to convert this to a 9×13 inch sheet pan recipe? Thanks in advance!
Do you know how to adjust this for high altitude?
It looks absolutely delish…..but can you substitute the amaretto liqueur with anything??? I don’t have any and don’t want to buy any.
Thanks.
Sharon – you can use Almond extract
Am I able to make this recipe in 2 8inch pans, and if does anything in terms if the ingredients or directions need to be adjusted.
Hi, I don’t have any cake flour but read adding some cornstarch to all purpose is a substitute. Has anyone tried it?
Hi! Jessie! I only use the cornstarch/flour mixture in place of cake flour, never had an issue. I also use gluten-free flour – Bob’s Red Mill 1 to 1, in case any gluten intolerant people read this. I know they are other G-F flours, but I only use Bob’s Red Mill.
Also, yogurt in place of sour cream, as I eat more yogurt, rarely have a use for sour cream, and depending on the recipe, I will use vanilla flavored yogurt; just tastes better than plain.
Evaporated milk instead of whole milk, cuz I don’t drink milk. Richer flavor. Sometimes, vanilla flavored almond milk, if the need for fat is not necessary.
Enjoy your day!!