There are lots of layers to love in this Chantilly Cake made with Lifeway Kefir. With its classic flavor and gorgeous, colorful appearance, this sophisticated southern dessert belongs on every party table, any time of the year.
For this Chantilly Cake recipe, we used our Organic Whole Milk Lifeway Kefir for a rich and creamy texture that helps the cake bake up soft and tender. It also boosts the delicious frosting with protein and live probiotics. Inside this decadent cake is several layers laced in juicy berries in classic Chantilly Cake fashion. Bite into a better version of this classic southern dessert, all thanks to Lifeway Kefir.
Find Lifeway Kefir at a store near you or shop online here.
The Benefits of Cultured Dairy for Better Health:
Research continues to show the importance of eating healthy foods, including cultured dairy such as kefir, for optimal digestion and gut health, a strong immune system, and to support the microbiome. Fermented foods like kefir hold important value in this line of research due to the link between the gut-brain axis and overall health. Specifically, kefir has been shown to help diversify the microbiome, improve digestion, reduce inflammation, support healthier blood sugar levels, and improve satiety since the bioavailable protein it contains triggers the release of GLP-1.
Lifeway Kefir is packed with a variety of vital nutrients important for overall health, including bone and muscle health; these include vitamin D3, K, calcium, and vitamin B12. Along with our probiotic-rich kefir, Lifeway also offers artisan-made Farmer Cheese, a creamy, high-protein cheese made with live and active cultures to support healthy muscles and a healthy microbiome. Lifeway Farmer Cheese is easy to spread, free of gums and thickeners, and contains no added salt or sugar for optimal health benefits.
Prep Time: 1 hour Servings: 10-12
Ingredients
For the Cake:
- 3/4 cup Lifeway Kefir Butter*
- 1 ½ cups organic cane sugar
- 3 large eggs, room temp
- 2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
- 2 1/3 cups organic all-purpose baking flour (or gluten-free alternative)
- 2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
- 1/2 tsp. sea salt
- 3/4 cup Organic Whole Milk Plain Kefir
For the Frosting:
- 1 package (16 ounces) Farmer Cheese
- 8 oz. mascarpone cheese
- 8 oz. cream cheese
- 3 cups organic powdered sugar
- 2 cups additional Organic Whole Milk Plain Lifeway Kefir
- 2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup seedless strawberry jam
- 2 cups each of fresh blueberries, sliced strawberries, and fresh raspberries, plus additional for garnish and/or serving if desired.
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line the bottoms of 2 greased 9-inch round cake pans with parchment paper and grease the parchment paper as well.
For the Cake:
In a large mixing bowl, add the kefir butter, sugar, and cream until light and fluffy (about 7 minutes). Add the vanilla and then add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.- In a separate mixing bowl, add the flour, baking soda, and salt and stir together to fully incorporate. Add this to the cream mixture in step 2. Next, add 3/4 cup Lifeway Organic Whole Milk Kefir and beat well (use a hand mixer if needed). Once combined, pour into the prepared pans; make sure the batter is distributed evenly amongst the pans.
- Bake the cakes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 25-30 minutes, or until a fork or flat edge knife comes out clean.
- Remove cakes from the oven, let cool in a dry cool place on the counter for 15 minutes, then carefully lift the parchment out of the pans and dry the cakes for an additional hour on wire racks, or until completely cool to the touch. Move onto the frosting while these cool.
For the Frosting:
In a small bowl, beat the Lifeway Farmer Cheese, mascarpone cheese, and cream cheese until thoroughly blended. Next, add the confectioner’s sugar until smooth and stiff.- In a separate bowl, beat Lifeway Organic Whole Milk Vanilla Kefir and the remaining 2 tsp. vanilla extract until stiff peaks form. Add this to the mascarpone mixture and beat on low speed with a hand mixer until fully combined. It should be fluffy at this point. Refrigerate until ready to use (if still waiting on cakes to cool) which will help them set up further.
For the Assembly:
Cut the cakes horizontally, carefully, with a long, flat serrated knife if you have one (like a bread knife). Spread ⅓ cup of the seedless strawberry jam onto the cut sides. Top with 1 cup of the prepared frosting and spread evenly. Add ½ cup of the fresh berries on top of the frosting. Top with another cake layer, gently pressing down. Repeat this step with the next layer.- Once you have your 4 layers, frost the whole cake (sides and top). Start with frosting the sides of the cake with an icing knife if you have one. Add just enough frosting to cover (about ½ cup), but it should be a thin layer of frosting on the sides of the cake. Some berries on the inside can be slightly slowing.
- To frost the top, smooth the remaining amount of frosting on the top and add the rest of your berries on top however you like. They’re usually arranged in the center of the top of the cake, going outward almost in a spiral, but there are no rules here. Add the rest of them however you want!
- Once the cake is finished, slice and serve, or place in the fridge until serving. Serve with more fresh berries if desired. Refrigerate any leftovers you have, up to 4 days.
