Mixed Berry Cake with Mascarpone

August 21, 2023

20 minutes

easy

8-10 slices

The perfect fruity dessert – Mixed Berry Cake with Mascarpone. Fruit cakes are super popular around Serbia, especially during the summer when a lot of fruits are in peak season. However, since we are not visiting Serbia this year, I wanted to create a cake that is slightly reminiscent of home, while capturing the cozy feelings of winter here in New Zealand. Made with a mix of frozen berries and combined with the richness of mascarpone cheese, this cake is pure deliciousness. You get the sweet and tangy allure of mixed berries with the creamy decadence of mascarpone cheese. It’s not an overly indulgent cake, it has the perfect amount of sweetness, tartness and overall lightness. Yumm!

About this recipe

Serbian fruit cakes, known locally as “Voćna Torta,” are a delightful part of our cuisine. These cakes are usually made with lots of fresh, seasonal fruits, beautifully arranged within the middle layers or on top of a cake. To complement the fruits, we often fill Serbian fruit cakes with a luscious custard or cream, adding an indulgent layer that balances the tartness of the fruits. Some variations of the cake also include a thin layer of chocolate ganache or a sprinkle of powdered sugar for added sweetness and texture.

While not inspired by a specific Serbian cake, this cake was inspired by the summer season. We had to miss out on our visit this year, so I wanted to create something that reminds me of home. Luckily, we have amazing frozen berries in New Zealand, so this cake is filled with a mix of berries and a rich, creamy mascarpone cheese. This type of cheese is a great addition to desserts, I have previously made a Chocolate & Mascarpone Cake, which turned out divine! This fruity cake is easy to make, with very little fuss. Typically, cakes like this are not made with precise ingredients. Serbian women usually used coffee cups for measurement, and basically eyeballed the entire process (lots of them still do). Eyeballing ingredients is such common practice, but don’t worry this recipe is more precise.

Quick rundown

Making this Mixed Berry Cake with Mascarpone is a one bowl process. Start off by mixing the butter at high speed, gradually adding the sugar until soft and fluffy (this can take a couple of minutes). Next, add the mascarpone cheese and mix until well combined. Add in one egg at a time, and mix into the batter until just combined (be careful not to over mix). To this, add the flour and baking powder, gently mix to combine. Lastly, add the lemon juice and mix it in. Towards the end, use a spatula to pick up any of the batter from the bottom and sides of the bowl.

Pour half of the batter into an already lined round cake tin. Arrange half of the berries over the entire surface. Then, pour the remaining half of the batter and top with the remaining berries. Gently press the berries down into the batter. Bake at 180°C for 40-45 minutes or until the top of the cake has turned golden brown.

A few tips

The butter should be softened at room temperature. Remove the butter from your fridge at least an hour before baking. If you live in a colder climate, you can leave it out for a few hours beforehand.

You can use a stand mixer or hand mixer. However, using a hand mixer helps you avoid over mixing the batter.

Fresh or frozen berries both work. Frozen berries do not need to be defrosted before baking. Seasonal berries can also be great!

The batter may not look like it fills the cake tin, but gently press it down. The cake will rise and expand in the oven.

Baking time may depend on your oven. Check the doneness of the cake with an inserted toothpick at the 45 minutes mark and continue baking if necessary.

Serve the cake with additional powdered sugar or ice-cream for more decadence.

Looking for more?

If you are looking for more ideas, try one of the recipes below:

Vanilice / Vanilla Cookies

Plum Cake / Kolač sa šljivama

Princes Krofne / Cream Puffs

I hope you enjoy this delicious fruity Mixed Berry Cake with Mascarpone. Make it for a special occasion, or just as an afternoon tea treat to enjoy with your favourite coffee. Be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! If you have questions, you can find me over on Instagram or tag me with your photo. You can also find me over on TikTok.

Reviews

Ingredients:

Adjust Servings

	150g unsalted butter (softened at room temperature)
	150g caster sugar
	250g mascarpone cheese
	3 whole eggs
	200g all purpose flour
	1tsp baking powder
	juice of 1 lemon
	300g mixed berries (frozen or fresh)

Directions

1.

The batter

Line a round cake tin with baking paper OR generously grease the cake tin with butter and spread a thin layer of flour over the entire surface. Pre-heat the oven to 180°C. Using a hand mixer, in a large mixing bowl, mix the softened butter at medium speed until it becomes soft and fluffy. Gradually add the caster sugar and mix to combine. Next add the mascarpone cheese and continue mixing until just combined. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing each egg in before adding the next.

To the batter, add the flour and baking powder, gently mix to combine. Lastly add the lemon juice and mix it all in. Towards the end, use a spatula to pick up any batter from the bottom or side of the bowl.

Mark as complete

2.

Assemble

Pour half of the batter into an already lined round cake tin. Arrange half of the berries over the entire surface. Then, pour the remaining half of the batter on top, and arrange the remaining berries over the surface. Using a spatula, gently press the berries down into the batter. Bake at 180°C for 40-45 minutes or until the top of the cake has turned golden brown.

Allow the cake to slightly cool before serving. Dust with powdered sugar or serve with ice-cream. Enjoy!