Ingredients

The following ingredients have 4 Servings
  • 3 sticks unsalted butter ((1½ cups/340grams), at room temperature, plus more for the pan)
  • 4½ cups all-purpose flour (plus more for the pans)
  • 1½ tablespoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2½ cups white granulated sugar
  • 6 large eggs (room temperature)
  • 2 vanilla beans (seeds only or 1 tablespoon vanilla extract)
  • 1½ cup heavy cream or whole milk*
  • 15 drops purple food gel color or violet (you can use more or less, depending of the color you want to achieve)
  • 2 sticks unsalted butter (room temperature)
  • 4-6 cups confectioners sugar
  • 1 tablespoon lemon zest
  • 4-6 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (depending how lemony you want the buttercream)
  • pint of fresh blackberries

Instruction

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Line a half sheet pan ( 17"x12"x1") with parchment paper, spray with baking spray or grease with butter and dust the pan with a little flour, tapping out the excess.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt, set aside.
  • In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat together butter and sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Reduce the mixer speed to medium and beat in the eggs, one at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Beat in vanilla seeds (or vanilla extract) and gel food coloring.
  • On low speed, start beating in the flour mixture into the butter in 3 batches, alternating with the heavy cream (or milk), beginning and ending with the flour mixture, until just smooth. Add more food gel color if needed for the desired color.
  • Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and bake until the cake is lightly golden on top and the center springs back when pressed, 30 - 35 minutes, depending on the oven, start checking after 25 minutes. A toothpick inserted in the middle of the cake should come out clean. I baked mine for 32 minutes.
  • Remove from the oven and let it cool in the pan for 15 minutes, after that, with the help of the parchment paper, slide the cake from the pan, to the counter to cool completely.
  • Once completely cooled, trim the top of the cake with a long serrated knife or a cake leveler to make it even. Trim the sides of the cake.
  • Using a stainless steel square form, cut the cake into mini cakes and set aside.