This easy Raspberry Buttermilk Cake is a light and moist one-layer cake that's perfect for casual entertaining. Fresh raspberries add tart, juicy flavor and buttermilk gives the cake a soft and tender crumb.
This moist and light raspberry cake is perfect for summer when fresh raspberries are readily available and at their most flavorful. For another easy cake featuring seasonal fruit, try this Peach and Blueberry Cake.
Jump to:
How to Make Raspberry Buttermilk Cake
This homemade buttermilk cake bakes into a soft, tender one-layer raspberry cake, perfect for any occasion. It can be made in a 9-inch square or round cake pan.
This versatile recipe also works beautifully with blueberries or blackberries, making it a great way to enjoy seasonal fruit.
Below is a quick overview of the ingredients and steps for this simple summer cake. The full details and ingredient measurements can be found in the recipe card at the end of the post.
Ingredients Overview
- All-purpose flour
- Baking powder, baking soda and salt
- Unsalted butter
- Sugar
- Lemon zest: Adding a bit of lemon zest to the cake batter adds a subtle citrus flavor that complements the raspberries. This ingredient is optional.
- Pure vanilla extract: Adds flavor to the cake.
- One egg
- Buttermilk: Ready made or homemade buttermilk will work in this recipe.
- Fresh raspberries: You could also make this recipe with other fresh berries!
Tip: Since raspberries are delicate and can be a bit difficult to pat dry, it's better to rinse the berries ahead of time and let them dry on their own. Once the berries are dry, dust them with a bit of flour to help prevent them from sinking to the bottom of your baked cake.
Steps Overview
- Place a rack in the centre of your oven and preheat it. Grease and flour the bottom and sides of a 9-inch square or circular pan.
- Combine the dry ingredients and set aside.
- Beat the butter and sugar at medium speed, then add the egg, vanilla extract and lemon zest. Beat to combine.
- With the mixer on low-speed, add the flour mixture alternately with the buttermilk, starting and ending with the flour.
- Spread the batter in the pan, scatter raspberries over the top, sprinkle with sugar and bake for 18 to 22 minutes until cake is golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out dry.
- Let cake cool in pan on wire rack for 10 minutes and then invert the cake onto the rack to cool completely.
Serving Suggestions
This raspberry buttermilk coffee cake can be enjoyed as an afternoon snack with a cup of coffee or as a light and simple dessert. It can be served on its own, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream.
Storage Instructions
Cover leftover cake and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Enjoy!
More Delicious Summer Cakes to Try
- Plum Upside-Down Cake
- Cherry Almond Cake
- Glazed Lemon Loaf Cake
- Lemon Poppy Seed Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Have you made this recipe? Let us know how it turned out! Leave a star rating and a comment below, we'd love to hear from you.
Raspberry Buttermilk Cake Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour 130 grams
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ cup unsalted butter softened, 56 grams
- ⅔ cup plus 1 Tbs. sugar divided, 146 grams, 12 grams
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup buttermilk 118 ml
- 1 cup fresh raspberries 140 grams
Instructions
- Place a rack in the centre of your oven and preheat oven to 375ºF.
- Grease the bottom and sides of a 9-inch pan, I used a square pan but you can use a circular one.
- Rinse the raspberries and set aside on paper towels to dry.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
- In the bowl of your mixer, combine butter and sugar and beat on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 to 5 minutes.
- Add egg, lemon zest and vanilla, beat until combined. With the mixer on low-speed, add the flour mixture in 3 batches, alternating with buttermilk, starting and ending with the flour, and mixing until just combined.
- Spread the batter evenly into the pan and arrange the raspberries on top of the cake.
- Sprinkle the cake with remaining tablespoon of sugar.
- Bake for approximately 18 to 22 minutes, until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the cake comes out clean.
- Remove the cake from the oven, let it cool in the pan on wire rack for 10 minutes and then invert the cake onto a rack to cool completely.
- Wait 15 minutes more and then invert cake back onto a plate.
Notes
- Both store-bought and homemade buttermilk work well in this recipe, so use whichever you have on hand.
- Cover leftover cake and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 to 5 days.
Tasty Eats Ronit Penso says
Love fruit cakes and this one looks so very tasty! Great photos too. 🙂
Sweet and Savoury Pursuits says
So do I. Thank you so much!
Michelle says
Buttermilk cakes seem to be a hit with everyone. I think they bring back a lot of childhood memories. I've never had one with raspberries--looks good! Supposedly, if you dust berries or chocolate chips with flour they won't sink to the bottom of cakes. I've tried it, but it still didn't work! Maybe I didn't use enough flour? Anyway, I kind of like the layered effect sinking fruit gives!
Thank you for sharing with See Ya in the Gumbo. Your cake was one of the Top-viewed links and will be featured when tonight's party goes live!
Sweet and Savoury Pursuits says
Thank you Michelle, yes I've heard about that trick. Happy to hear that people enjoyed my link and thanks for featuring me on your blog 🙂
Ngan R. says
Looks delightful. I love buttermilk cakes!
Sweet and Savoury Pursuits says
Thanks! So do I 🙂
atasteofmadess says
I love it when raspberries are in season. I just can't get enough. This cake looks amazing!
Sweet and Savoury Pursuits says
I know what you mean! Thanks!
Liz says
The cake looks extremely delicious!
Sweet and Savoury Pursuits says
Thank you, thanks for stopping by 🙂
Butter, Basil and Breadcrumbs says
Oh yum!! I love this! I love your photos.. I love your cake.. I love that pretty little bowl! I've never had buttermilk cake.. But I will certainly be trying this! Awesome post.. <3
Sweet and Savoury Pursuits says
Thank you so much Prudy! Let me know how you like the cake and by the way is just as good if not better with blueberries!
Patty Nguyen says
I love buttermilk cakes. Sometimes I use blueberries and strawberries!
Sweet and Savoury Pursuits says
Yes, any berry will do with this recipe, that's one of the reasons why I love it so much.
saucygander says
What a perfect way to show case perfect summer raspberries!
Sweet and Savoury Pursuits says
Yes, I think so too!