Perfect Small Birthday Cake for Two Recipe with Fresh Berries
A simple, moist, and tender small birthday cake for two topped with fresh berries, perfect for intimate celebrations and quick homemade joy.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (120g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
- 4 tablespoons (57g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- ⅓ cup (80ml) whole milk, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup fresh berries (blueberries, raspberries, or sliced strawberries)
- Powdered sugar for dusting (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease your 6-inch cake pan or line it with parchment paper.
- Whisk together dry ingredients: sift or whisk 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, and ¼ teaspoon salt in a medium bowl.
- Cream butter and sugar: beat 4 tablespoons softened unsalted butter with ½ cup granulated sugar until pale and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add egg and vanilla: beat in 1 large room-temperature egg, then 1 teaspoon vanilla extract until fully combined.
- Alternate adding dry ingredients and milk: add the dry flour mixture in two batches, alternating with ⅓ cup whole milk, beginning and ending with flour. Mix gently without overmixing.
- Pour batter into prepared pan and smooth the top with a spatula.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and the top springs back lightly when touched.
- Cool the cake in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.
- Once cool, arrange 1 cup of fresh berries on top and dust with powdered sugar if desired.
Notes
Use room temperature ingredients for best results. Do not overmix the batter to keep the cake tender. Add fresh berries only after the cake has cooled to avoid sogginess. If cake browns too fast, tent with foil halfway through baking. For dairy-free, substitute butter with coconut oil or vegan butter and milk with almond or oat milk. Gluten-free flour blend can be used as a 1:1 substitute for all-purpose flour.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (half of the
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 30
- Fat: 15
- Carbohydrates: 50
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 5
Keywords: small birthday cake, cake for two, fresh berries cake, easy birthday cake, homemade cake, quick cake recipe, intimate celebration dessert