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Healthy Raspberry Cake

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This healthier raspberry cake recipe is absolutely bursting with fresh raspberries! You'll use 2 pints of raspberries to top the cake - making for a beautiful and fruit-forward dessert.

While this cake is still a dessert, it's lightened up with a lower amount of sugar and butter than similar cakes.

I think you are going to love the fresh flavor of this delicious cake.

A raspberry cake on a white plate with a piece cut out on a cake scooper.

Why You'll Love This Cake Recipe

This cake is the perfect snacking cake - it's a single layer and pairs well with a warm cup of tea or coffee. Serve it for brunch, an afternoon tea, or for a lighter after-dinner dessert.

This recipe is easy to pull together and doesn't require too many ingredients. Just make sure you get the best raspberries possible (they're in season in summer and fall).

Raspberries, milk, flour, sugar, butter, egg, baking powder, vanilla extract, and salt on a marble background.

Ingredients You'll Need

  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter (at room temperature)
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar (plus 2 teaspoons for topping)
  • 1 large egg
  • ½ cup skim milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 pints raspberries 
Four photos showing the stages of making the cake batter.

All About Raspberries

Raspberries are sweet and tart and really good for you! They're low in calories, high in fiber, and a serving has about half the vitamin C you need in a day (source).

Raspberries are at their peak from June to October, although you can usually find them in the grocery store year-round.

When you're buying (or picking) raspberries look for bright red berries with no mold or obvious bruising. If they're wet and feel mushy they are past their prime. When buying berries in a plastic pack, flip them over and make sure there are no moldy or rotted berries on the bottom.

The cake batter in a 9-inch metal cake pan.
Cake batter and fresh raspberries in a cake pan.

More Delicious Cake Recipes to Try

If you love baking, try some of our other favorite cake recipes. Be sure to check out all our healthy cake recipes as well!

Raspberry cake on a baking rack.
A closeup shot of a healthy raspberry cake on a white plate.

Tips for Making this Recipe

Links on some posts are affiliate links and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Baking Tips - Make sure to check your cake with a wooden skewer before removing it from the oven. The middle of the cake must be fully cooked through or the cake will tear as you take it out of the pan. A wooden skewer, toothpick, or cake tester should be stuck in the center of the cake and come out fully clean (with no crumbs on it).

Recommended Tools - You'll need a 9-inch cake pan for this recipe. It won't work if you use a smaller pan or pie plate (I've tested both and they don't work). I have these 9-inch Nordic Ware pans and highly recommend them.

Storing Tips - You can save this cake in an airtight container or wrapped in plastic wrap at room temperature for up to 4 days.

If you try this recipe, let us know! Connect with us on Instagram and share your photos or leave us a rating.

Yield: 8 servings

Healthy Raspberry Cake

A healthy raspberry cake on a white plate.

This wonderful, healthier cake recipe is absolutely studded with fresh raspberries. Pair it with a warm drink for a delicious treat.

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 55 minutes
Additional Time 20 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter (at room temperature)
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar (plus 2 teaspoons for topping)
  • 1 large egg
  • ½ cup skim milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 pints raspberries

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9-inch cake pan.
  2. Beat the butter and sugar together in a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed for 3 minutes or until pale and fluffy. 
  3. Add the egg, milk, and vanilla to the bowl and mix till combined. 
  4. Stir together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl till combined. Then add half the dry mixture into the wet mixture. Stir till flour is incorporated. Add the remaining dry mixture and stir to combine. Beat for 1 minute until the batter is fluffy. 
  5. Pour the batter into the cake pan and spread till you have an even layer. 
  6. Place the raspberries on top in a single layer. Sprinkle additional 2 teaspoons of sugar on top. 
  7. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes. Test the cake with a wooden skewer or cake tester to see if the center is fully baked before removing it from the oven. 
  8. Let the pan cool on a wire rack for at least 20 minutes before removing the cake and cutting. 

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 291Total Fat: 10gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 46mgSodium: 188mgCarbohydrates: 47gFiber: 6gSugar: 23gProtein: 5g

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