From the Kitchen: Lemon Blueberry Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

As I mentioned in my last post, this cake is outstanding if you like lemon and blueberries!

Lemon Blueberry Cake

Ingredients:

3 c. flour

2 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. baking soda

3/4 tsp. salt

2 c. sugar

1 c. butter, softened

1 Tbl. lemon zest

4 large eggs

2 tsp. lemon extract

1/2 tsp. vanilla

3/4 c. + 2 Tbl. milk

1/4 c. + 2 Tbl. light sour cream

2 Tbl. lemon juice

2 1/2 c. fresh blueberries, at room temperature, rinsed and drained well

Cream Cheese Frosting:

12 oz. cream cheese, softened (1 1/2 packages)

3/4 c. butter, softened 

1 tsp. vanilla

1/4 tsp. lemon extract

3 c. powdered sugar

Blueberries and lemon slices for garnish (opt.)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter three 9-inch round baking pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper.  Butter parchment paper and light dust pan with flour, shaking off the excess.

Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt and whisk for 30 seconds; set aside.  In the bowl of an electric mixer, whip together butter, sugar, and lemon zest until mixture is pale and fluffy.  In a 2-cup liquid measuring cup, measure milk and then stir in sour cream and lemon juice; let rest 3 minutes.

Meanwhile, mix eggs into butter mixture one at a time, then stir in lemon and vanilla extracts.  Toss blueberries with 3 Tbl. of the flour mixture.  Working in three separate batches, (beginning and ending with flour mixture), add 1/3 of the flour mixture alternating with 1/2 of the milk mixture.  Mix just until combined after each addition.  Gently fold in blueberries.

Divid mixture evenly into three pans.  Bake about 30-40 minutes.  Cook in pans for 20-30 minutes before inverting onto wire racks.  Once cool, frost with cream cheese frosting and decorate with blueberries and lemon slices, if desired.

For cream cheese frosting - 

In a large bowl, whip butter until pale and fluffy.  Add cream cheese and mix until smooth and fluffy. Add extracts and powdered sugar and blend several minutes.  If frosting seems slightly runny, add more sugar and/or chill a bit before frosting the cake.