Easy Layer Cream Cake With Fresh Berries & Custard

Name: Easy Layer Cream Cake With Fresh Berries & Custard
Prep time: 1 h
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 95 min
Yield: 12
Ingredients: Ingredients:; 1 1/2 cups blueberries; 1/2 cup sliced strawberries; 1/4 cup sugar; 5 eggs; 3/4 cup sugar; 1 1/4 cups all purpose flour; 1 teaspoon baking powder; 1 teaspoon ground cardamom; Custard Ingredients; 2 egg yolks; 1/4 cup sugar; 2 tablespoons cornstarch; 2 cups milk + 4 tablespoons; 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract; 3 cups heavy cream; 2 1/2 tablespoons powdered sugar

by Chef Mireille - Global Kitchen Travels

12 servings

1 hr 35 min

Last Updated on April 7, 2021 by

This easy Cream Cake recipe is used to celebrate many of our national holidays like Memorial Day or July 4th.

However, so many countries of the world have the flag colors of red, white and blue and that’s why there are versions of thie easy Cream Cake in many European countries, as well as the United States.

I went a little Scandinavian in this version with the use of ground cardamom – one of my all time favorite spices.

Do you love cardamom as much as I do?

easy layer cream cake with fresh berries custard for national holida

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Delicious layers of cake, custard, fresh berries and covered with light and airy whipped cream make this a delicious summer cake.

Ok so if you didn’t already know I am a HUGE fan of the TV show Vikings so since the show is on hiatus right now, I’m instead getting my Viking fix by whipping up some traditional Scandinavian food!

This is a very traditional Norwegian cake that usually makes an appearance at any special occasion in Norway, but especially on May 17, the national day of Norway. This cake is especially made on that day as the red, white and blue colors represent the colors of the Norwegian flag, where it is known as Blotkake.

Since the same flags are on the color of our flag, this cake can just as easily be made to celebrate the US Independence Day, so when July 4th rolls around this year, let’s celebrate it….Norwegian style!

In fact, there is a version of this Cream Cake here in the United States also. It is believed to have originated in Texas, so I’m not sure how it got the name Italian Cream Cake. However, it is pretty much the same cake.

Whether you call this simple Cream Cake Italian Cream Cake or Blotkake like the Norwegians call it, it is just as delicious.

There are many variations and you can customize the cake as you like. With or without custard – it’s up to you. Use any varieties of berries you like, but if it’s being served on National Day you must have both red and blue colored berries – the same as for any of our American holiday cakes like Memorial Day Cakes, Independence Day or Veterans Day.

Cream Cake Variations

I made a few changes to this traditional cake to up the flavor a bit, however you can keep it traditional if you prefer. To keep it traditional, use jam instead of the mascerated berries and omit the cardamom. Cardamom is the most common spice used in Scandinavian sweets and it is one of my favorite spices, which is why I added it here.

I also used white wheat flour instead of all purpose flour.

However, before we get to today’s recipe, let’s take a look at some of my other Norwegian recipes…

Norwegian Recipes

Fjelbrod – Whole Grain Yeast Quickbread
Lefse – Potato Flatbread

How to Make Cream Cake

Make the Cake

Then we make the custard

Now we assemble the cake with layers of cake, custard, fresh berries and whipped cream.

The frosting is not meant to be smooth. This is a great cake that is often brought as a summer picnic cake here in the United States.

This cake is light and creamy and perfect to celebrate Independence Day in the USA with the same red, white and blue colors as the Norwegian flag!

Serve it with extra custard on the side to make it even more luscious and memorable!

NOT READY TO MAKE IT YET? PIN IT FOR LATER!

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Easy Layer Cream Cake With Fresh Berries & Custard

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Recipe details

Yield 12 servings
Time spent: Prep time: 1 Hours Cook time: 35 Minutes Total time: 1 hr 35 min

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% Daily value

Ingredients

Mascerated Berries Ingredients

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups blueberries
1/2 cup sliced strawberries
1/4 cup sugar

Cake Ingredients

5 eggs
3/4 cup sugar
1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cardamom
Custard Ingredients
2 egg yolks
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 cups milk + 4 tablespoons
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Whipped Cream Ingredients

3 cups heavy cream
2 1/2 tablespoons powdered sugar

Instructions

To mascerate the berries, combine berries and sugar in a bowl. Leave for at least 1 hour, until berries soften.
Preheat oven to 350 F. Spray a 9” cake pan with non stick spray.
To make the cake, beat eggs in an electric mixer until well combined.
Add sugar and beat on high speed for 10 minutes, until batter is a pale yellow and has increased 2-3 times in volume.
In a small bowl, combine flour, baking powder and cardamom.
Add flour mixture to mixer and beat for 2 minutes on high speed.
Transfer to prepared pan and bake for 35 minutes, until tester comes out clean.
To make the custard, heat the 2 cups milk but do not boil.
In a bowl, beat egg yolks and sugar until light and creamy. Add cornstarch and whisk until thoroughly combined.
Slowly add heated milk while beating continuously to slowly temper the eggs. (if you add the hot milk to the eggs all at one time, you will get scrambled eggs)
Add vanilla and return to the stove.
Simmer for about 10 minutes while stirring constantly, until custard is thickened. Chill.
To make whipped cream, beat cream and sugar with an electric mixer until whipped cream consistency.
To assemble cake, split cake in half horizontally. Pierce both halves of the cake with a toothpick. Pour 2 tablespoons of the remaining milk over each half of the cake. (the cake is quite dry so you need to feed the cake with the milk to soften the texture)
On the bottom base, add a thick layer of custard, then a layer of the mascerated berries of jam (if using) and then some of the whipped cream. Add the top layer of the cake on top and cover the entire cake with the remaining whipped cram.
To make a feathered rustic decoration, use a silicone pastry brush to create the effect.
Decorate with fresh berries.
To serve, serve with the extra custard!

Comments

Naomie Moore aka baileyanddaisey, Castaic CA on Jul 23, 2022

First, love your story and the history lesson. Always a fun way to grab readers attention. I have enjoyed as well as baked a number of versions of this myself. Like that the recipe doesn't have excessive sugar. Will give this one a whirl. I have two groups that I cook for and bake treats at least a couple times a week for them. Cakes, pies, cookies, you name it. Thanks for sharing.

1 Reply
CLAUDETTE MCCLELLAN on Jul 23, 2022

Do you use green cardamom or black? Isn’t there a big difference in taste?

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