Old-Fashioned Berry Layer Cake
- Unsalted butter, for pans
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 6 large whole eggs, plus 4 large egg yolks, room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1 quart (4 cups) heavy cream
- 1/2 cup confectioners sugar
- 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise (optional)
- 1 pint small strawberries, hulled
- 1/2 pint blackberries
- 1/2 pint red raspberries
- 1/2 pint golden raspberries
- 1/2 pint blueberries
- Fresh mint leaves, for garnish (optional)
- Preheat the oven to 350F.
- Butter two 9-by-2-inch round cake pans; set aside.
- Into a large bowl, sift together flour and cornstarch; set aside.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, combine the whole eggs, egg yolks, granulated sugar, salt, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
- Beat on high speed until thick and pale (it should hold a ribbon-like trail on the surface when the whisk is raised), about 5 minutes; scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Add flour mixture to egg mixture.
- With mixer on low speed, beat until just combined.
- Add oil in a steady stream, mixing until just combined.
- Remove bowl from mixer.
- Using the whisk, fold mixture several times.
- Divide batter between pans, and smooth with an offset spatula.
- Bake, rotating pans halfway through, until the cakes are springy to the touch and a cake tester inserted in the centers comes out clean, about 30 minutes.
- Immediately invert cakes onto a wire rack.
- Then reinvert cakes, and let them cool completely, top sides up.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, combine cream, confectioners sugar, and remaining teaspoon vanilla extract.
- Scrape in vanilla seeds, if using.
- Starting on low speed and gradually increasing to medium-high, whip until stiff peaks form, about 2 minutes.
- Using a serrated knife, trim the tops of the cakes to make level.
- Slice each cake in half horizontally into two layers.
- Place one of the bottom layers on a serving plate.
- Spread a quarter of the whipped cream over the layer; arrange a quarter of the mixed berries on top.
- Repeat with remaining cake layers, cream, and berries; garnish top with mint leaves, if using.
- Serve immediately; slice with a serrated knife.
butter, flour, cornstarch, eggs, sugar, salt, vanilla, vegetable oil, heavy cream, confectioners sugar, vanilla bean, strawberries, blackberries, red raspberries, golden raspberries, blueberries, mint
Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/old-fashioned-berry-layer-cake-390148 (may not work)