Buttered Jelly Cake is a classic, layered yellow cake with thin layers of sweet, homemade jelly in between. My mother describes it as a simple two or three-layer yellow cake, with just the right amount of jelly spread between each layer. Traditionally, my grandmother used fresh fruit she picked and canned herself, but I’ve updated the recipe to make it easier for today’s bakers.
Recipe for Holiday Baking
My love for sweets is inherited from my grandfather, who would eagerly await a Jelly Cake every Christmas. My mother would describe it as a plain, yellow cake with a thin layer of homemade jelly, usually made from fresh-picked fruits. With a few updates, I’ve made this jelly cake recipe easy for anyone to bake at home.
Buttered Jelly Cake Recipe
Yield: 4 servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Cooling Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
Ingredients
Cake:
- 1½ cups cake flour
- ⅔ cup organic cane sugar
- ¾ cup butter, at room temperature
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp organic vanilla extract
- ½ tsp salt
Jelly:
- 10 ounces frozen organic fruit, thawed (blackberries or any organic berries work great)
- 1½ tbsp butter
- ½ tbsp organic cornstarch
- ½ tbsp organic cane sugar
Butter Glaze:
- 1 tbsp butter
- ¼ cup organic confectioners sugar
- ¼ tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp salt
Instructions
- Make the Cake:
Preheat the oven to 325°F. Cream together the butter and sugar. Add the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract. Add cake flour gradually, ¼ cup at a time, mixing on low speed until the flour is just combined. Avoid over-mixing. Pour the batter into 4 mini bundt pans and tap to remove air bubbles. Bake for 25-30 minutes, then remove from the oven and let cool. - Make the Jelly:
While the cake bakes, add thawed blackberries and any juice to a saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the remaining ingredients and bring to a gentle boil until the sauce thickens. Remove from heat. - Make the Butter Glaze:
In a small saucepan, combine butter, confectioners sugar, vanilla, and salt over medium-low heat until the butter melts. Drizzle the glaze over the cooled cakes, followed by a layer of jelly. Serve with whipped cream or ice cream if desired!
Notes:
Bake time may vary depending on your oven. Enjoy this simple, delicious buttered jelly cake perfect for holiday gatherings!
