Moist and Fluffy Berry Chantilly Cake

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Decorated with fresh fruit, this Berry Chantilly Cake is a flavorful twist on the classic vanilla layer cake. This light and moist vanilla cake is layered with a mixed berry filling and homemade Chantilly cream!

Easy Homemade Chantilly Cake with Berries

This fruity vanilla cake is adapted from my popular Moist Vanilla Layer Cake Recipe. It’s filled with a sweet and delicious berry filling, and the Chantilly cream is made with mascarpone cheese and cream cheese. It’s so creamy and decadent!

This is the perfect cake to make if you want something light and summery! It’s also great if you’re new to decorating sweets. All you have to do is throw on some fresh berries, and boom – you have a beautifully decorated cake for a birthday or special occasion.

A Frosted Berry Chantilly Cake with a Ring of Strawberries, Blueberries and Raspberries on Top

What Is Chantilly Cake?

Chantilly cakes may sound fancy, but they’re actually just regular cakes that are filled or frosted with Chantilly cream.

What is Chantilly cream you ask? Essentially, Chantilly cream is whipped cream that’s been sweetened. In this cake it also uses mascarpone cheese for extra creaminess and flavor. The cream is often layered throughout the cake, which is exactly the case for this version. But this cake takes it a step further by featuring a zesty berry filling as well. Perfection!

Now if you’re like me, you’re thinking, “but that’s how I’ve always made whipped cream.” It’s true. My Whipped Cream Recipe uses powdered sugar and vanilla extract. The powdered sugar keeps the whipped cream from wilting and the vanilla extract gives it flavor. So for me, whipped cream and Chantilly cream are synonymous.

Given that I always make my whipped cream this way, I actually have plenty of cakes that could be considered Chantilly cakes. In fact, if you’d like a lemon flavored Chantilly cake, be sure to check out my Lemon Mascarpone Layer Cake.

A Berry Chantilly Layer Cake on a Wooden Cake Stand Next to a Bowl of Berries and a Stack of Paper Plates

Recipe Ingredients

The cake, the berry filling and the Chantilly cream come together with simple, fresh ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need for each:

For the Vanilla Cake

  • All-Purpose Flour
  • Baking Powder: Not baking soda.
  • Salt: If you only have salted butter on hand, just leave out the salt the recipe calls for.
  • Unsalted Butter: Room temperature.
  • Vegetable Oil
  • Sugar
  • Vanilla Extract: Be sure to use pure vanilla extract.
  • Large Eggs
  • Milk

For the Berry Filling

  • Sugar
  • Cornstarch: To thicken the mixture.
  • Water
  • Lemon Juice: Use fresh lemon juice.
  • Strawberries
  • Blueberries
  • Raspberries

For the Chantilly Cream

  • Mascarpone Cheese: It should be cool, but not cold.
  • Cream Cheese: At room temperature.
  • Heavy Whipping Cream: It should be cold.
  • Powdered Sugar: It both flavors the whipped cream and keeps it from wilting.
  • Vanilla Extract: Chantilly cream is known for its sweet vanilla taste, so pure vanilla extract is a must for this frosting!
  • Fresh Berries: For decorating.

A Slice of Berry Cake on a Decorative White Plate with a Metal Fork

How to Make This Berry Chantilly Cake

This cake is really easy to prepare, especially if you’re used to making layer cakes. There are a few extra steps for putting the layers together, but the result is a perfectly portioned dessert that hits all the right notes when it comes to flavor!

  1. Prep for Baking: Prepare three 8-inch cake pans with parchment paper circles in the bottom and grease the sides. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  2. Combine Dry Ingredients: Combine the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium-sized bowl and set aside.
  3. Cream Butter, Sugar, Oil & Vanilla: Add the butter, oil, sugar and vanilla extract to a large mixer bowl and beat together until light in color and fluffy, about 2 minutes. You should visibly see a change in color and texture.
  4. Add Eggs: Add the eggs one at a time, mixing until mostly combined after each. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to be sure all ingredients are well incorporated.
  5. Combine Wet & Dry Ingredients: Add half of the dry ingredients to the batter and mix until mostly combined. Then, slowly add the milk and mix until well combined. Finally, add the remaining dry ingredients and mix until well combined and smooth. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to be sure all ingredients are well incorporated. Do not overmix the batter.
  6. Bake: Divide the batter evenly between the cakes pans and bake for 22-25 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with a few crumbs. Avoid overbaking this cake.
  7. Let Cool: Remove the cakes from the oven and allow them to cool for about 2-3 minutes, then transfer them to cooling racks to cool completely.
  8. Make Berry Filling Base: Combine the sugar, cornstarch, water and lemon juice in a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat and stir to combine. Heat until the mixture is wet and the sugar begins to melt.
  9. Add Berries: Add the berries and stir to coat with the sugar mixture.
  10. Continue Cooking: Continue to cook until the berries start to soften and let out juice. Use your spatula to mash the berries a bit.
  11. Remove From Heat & Chill: Remove the berry filling from the heat when the juices have begun to thicken, after about 3-4 minutes. Pour the mixture into another bowl and refrigerate until cool.
  12. Whip Cheeses for Chantilly Cream: Add the mascarpone cheese and cream cheese to a large mixer bowl and whip just until smooth. Don’t overmix, or you’ll thin out your mascarpone cheese and make it watery.
  13. Slowly Add Heavy Whipping Cream: Add a small amount of heavy whipping cream at a time (starting with a few tablespoons and slowly adding more at a time) and mix with your whisk attachment on medium speed to incorporate the cream with the cheeses. Continue adding the cream and mixing until all the cream is added. You want to be sure to do this slowly and in small amounts at a time so that your cream mixture doesn’t end up lumpy.
  14. Add Sweeteners: Once all is combined, add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract. Turn the speed to high and whip until it reaches stiff peaks.
  15. Assemble Cake: To put the cake together, each layer must be completely cooled. Place the first cake on a serving plate or a cardboard cake round. Pipe a dam of whipped cream around the outer edge of the cake and fill it with half of the berry filling. Pipe a layer of whipped cream on top of the berry filling and spread evenly. Top with the second layer of cake and another layer of berry filling and whipped cream.
  16. Add Final Layer & Fresh Berries: Add the final layer of cake on top and frost the cake with the remaining whipped cream. Use any remaining whipped cream to pipe swirls on top of the cake. Finish off the cake with some fresh berries.
  17. Serve or Store: Store the cake in the fridge until you’re ready to serve it.

A Decorated Berry Layer Cake with Chantilly Cream Frosting on a Cake Stand

Tips for Success

Even though this cake recipe is super simple, it does take a little time to put everything together. These tips will help the process go smoothly!

  • Level the Cakes for Easy Layering: I recommend using a large serrated knife to remove the domes from the top of the cakes so that they’re flat. These cakes don’t have a large dome, but I like to make sure they’re completely flat for layering purposes. I have a handy tutorial to show you how to do this: How to Level and Torte a Cake.
  • Don’t Skimp on the Creaming Time: Make sure you fully cream the butter, sugar, oil and vanilla for your cake batter. The mixture is ready when the color lightens and texture gets fluffy and light.
  • Add Heavy Whipping Cream Slowly: When you’re making Chantilly cream, you want to be sure you’re adding the whipped cream in small amounts, a little bit at a time. This prevents the mixture from developing lumps and keeps the texture smooth and creamy.

A Piece of Chantilly Layer Cake on a Plate with Fresh Berries

How to Store Chantilly Cake

This Chantilly cake lasts in the fridge for up to 3 days, if stored in an airtight container. If you’d like, you can make the cake layers a day in advance, let them cool and store them in an air tight container or wrap each one in plastic wrap and store them in the fridge overnight. You can also make the filling in advance. When you’re ready to serve, make the cream, assemble and enjoy!

More Cake Recipes to Try

Want some more yummy homemade cakes to try? You have to check out these delicious recipes!
Strawberry Crunchy Layer Cake
Lemon Blueberry Layer Cake
Homemade Strawberry Cake
Raspberry Dream Cake
Strawberry Shortcake Cake
Blueberry Crumble Layer Cake

Print
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A Piece of Chantilly Layer Cake on a Plate with Fresh Berries
Recipe

Berry Chantilly Cake

  • Author: Lindsay
  • Prep Time: 1 hour
  • Cook Time: 35 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
  • Yield: 13
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Oven
  • Cuisine: American

Description

This light and moist vanilla cake is layered with a mixed berry filling and homemade Chantilly cream! Decorated with fresh fruit, this Berry Chantilly Cake is a flavorful twist on the classic vanilla layer cake.


Ingredients

For the Vanilla Cake

  • 2 1/2 cups (325g) all purpose flour
  • 2 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 3/4 cup (168g) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 3 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1 1/2 cups (310g) sugar
  • 1 tbsp vanilla extract
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 1/4 cups (300ml) milk

For the Berry Filling

  • 6 tbsp (78g) sugar
  • 1 1/2 tbsp cornstarch
  • 1 tbsp water
  • 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1 1/4 cup (167g) chopped strawberries
  • 1 cup (148g) blueberries
  • 3/4 cup (84g) raspberries

For the Chantilly Cream

  • 10 oz (283g) mascarpone cheese, cool but not cold
  • 10 oz (283g) cream cheese, room temperature
  • 3 1/4 cups (780ml) heavy whipping cream, cold
  • 1 3/4 cups (201g) powdered sugar
  • 2 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
  • Fresh berries, for decorating

Instructions

  1. Prepare three 8-inch cake pans with parchment paper circles in the bottom and grease the sides. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium-sized bowl and set aside.
  3. Add the butter, oil, sugar and vanilla extract to a large mixer bowl and beat together until light in color and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Do not skimp on the creaming time. You should visibly see a change in color and texture.
  4. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing until mostly combined after each. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to be sure all ingredients are well incorporated.
  5. Add half of the dry ingredients to the batter and mix until mostly combined.
  6. Slowly add the milk and mix until well combined.
  7. Add the remaining dry ingredients and mix until well combined and smooth. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to be sure all ingredients are well incorporated. Do not over mix the batter.
  8. Divide the batter evenly between the cakes pans and bake for 22-25 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with a few crumbs.
  9. Remove the cakes from the oven and allow to cool for about 2-3 minutes, then remove to cooling racks to cool completely.
  10. To make the berry filling, combine the sugar, cornstarch, water and lemon juice in a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat and stir to combine. Heat until the mixture is wet and the sugar begins to melt.
  11. Add the berries and stir to coat with the sugar mixture.
  12. Continue to cook until the berries start to soften and let out juice. Use your spatula to mash the berries a bit.
  13. Remove from heat when juices have begun to thicken, after about 3-4 minutes. Pour the mixture into another bowl and refrigerate until cool.
  14. When your cake layers and filling have cooled, it’s time to build the cake. First, make the whipped cream. Add the mascarpone cheese and cream cheese to a large mixer bowl and whip just until smooth. Don’t over mix or it can thin out your mascarpone cheese and make it watery.
  15. Add a small amount of heavy whipping cream at a time (starting with a few tablespoons and slowly adding more at a time) and mix with your whisk attachment on medium speed to incorporate the cream with the cheeses. Continue adding the cream and mixing until all the cream is added. You want to be sure to do this slowly and in small amounts at a time so that your cream mixture doesn’t end up lumpy.
  16. Once all is combined, add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract. Turn the speed to high and whip until it reaches stiff peaks.
  17. 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. These cakes don’t have a large dome, but I like to make sure they’re completely flat. Place the first cake on a serving plate or a cardboard cake round.
  18. Pipe a dam of whipped cream around the outer edge of the cake and fill it with half of the berry filling.
  19. Pipe a layer of whipped cream on top of the berry filling and spread evenly.
  20. Top with the second layer of cake and another layer of berry filling and whipped cream.
  21. Add the final layer of cake on top and frost the cake with the remaining whipped cream. Use any remaining whipped cream to pipe swirls on top of the cake. Finish off the cake with some fresh berries.
  22. Store the cake in the fridge until ready to serve. Cake is best stored in an airtight container and eaten within 2-3 days.

Notes

Makes 12-14 slices.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size:
  • Calories: 710
  • Sugar: 51.1 g
  • Sodium: 214.5 mg
  • Fat: 43.3 g
  • Carbohydrates: 73.1 g
  • Protein: 8.6 g
  • Cholesterol: 169 mg

Filed Under:

A Collage of Two Images of Berry Chantilly Cake Showing The Whole Cake Plus One Slice

Lindsay
About Lindsay

I'm a wife and a mom to twin boys and a baby girl! And I've got a serious sweets addiction! Bring on the treats!

Scripture I’m Loving

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29