Summer Party Cake
Celebrate the fruits of summer with a delicious cake! A simple box cake mix is transformed into something wonderful when you add in all of the scrumptious, fresh fruits that summer has to offer. Customize with whatever is currently in season!
The Best Fruits (Right Now) to Try for Summer Party Cake
September is a wonderful month for a white layer cake, especially if you want a fresh, seasonal filling. Great fruits include:
- Peaches – Sweet and juicy; pair beautifully with vanilla buttercream and a peach filling.
- Plums – Slightly tart and colorful, with a beautiful purple or red appearance.
- Figs – Elegant and perfect for an early-fall cake; delicious with honey or mascarpone frosting.
- Raspberries – Their tartness balances a sweet white cake and rich frosting.
- Blackberries – Juicy, dramatic, and delicious with lemon or vanilla.
- Pears – A great transition into fall; try them with vanilla, cinnamon, or caramel.
- Apples – Use lightly cooked apple slices or apple compote between the layers.
- Grapes – Roasted grapes make a unique, sweet-tart filling.
- Late-season strawberries – Still available in some areas and always delicious with white cake.
September combinations
- White cake + peach filling + vanilla buttercream
- White cake + raspberry preserves + lemon buttercream
- White cake + fresh fig filling + honey mascarpone frosting
- White cake + blackberry compote + vanilla buttercream
Tips for Leveling a Round Cake
Here are some tips for leveling a round layer cake so your layers stack neatly and evenly:
Let the cake cool completely
A warm cake is more likely to tear or crumble. For the cleanest cuts, chill the layers for 30–60 minutes before leveling.
Use a long serrated knife
A bread knife works especially well. Use gentle back-and-forth sawing motions rather than pressing straight down.
Mark the cake first
Place toothpicks around the outside of the cake at the height where you want to cut. This creates a guide so your knife stays level.
Rotate the cake—not the knife
Keep your knife as still and level as possible while slowly rotating the cake. Gradually cut toward the center.
Remove the dome
If the cake has a rounded top, carefully slice off just enough to create a flat surface. Save the scraps for cake pops or snacking!
Use a cake leveler
A wire cake leveler is a great option if you make layer cakes often. Set it to the desired height and saw straight through the cake.
Chill before stacking
Once leveled, chilling the layers briefly makes them firmer and easier to frost without crumbs.
Summer Party Cake
Ingredients
- 1 box White cake mix
- 1 cup Water
- 1/3 cup Crisco® Pure Vegetable Oil
- 3 Eggs
- 1 container White frosting
- 4 cup Summer fruit berries, sliced peaches, etc.
Instructions
- Bake 8- or 9-inch round cakes according to package directions using water, oil and eggs.
- Level cakes. Layer with frosting and fruit.
