Cake

• 3 cups sifted Swans Down® Cake Flour
• 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 4 egg whites
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• 12 tablespoons (6 ounces) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 1/2 cups sugar

Berry Compote

• 1 1/2 cups mixed berries (fresh or frozen)
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• Zest of one lemon

Frosting

• 1 batch Mousseline Buttercream
• 1/2 cup cream cheese, room temperature
• 1/2 cup mascarpone cheese, room temperature
• 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
• 2 cups fresh berries + more for garnish

1. Preheat oven to 350℉ and line 3 (8-inch) cake pans.
2. Whisk flour together with baking powder and salt until incorporated; set aside.
3. Lightly mix egg whites with buttermilk and almond extract; set aside.
4. Cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula.
5. Add 1/3 of the flour mixture at a time to the creamed butter, alternating with 1/2 of the milk mixture and ending with the flour mixture. Scrape the bowl after each addition.
6. Divide the batter evenly among the prepared pans. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean when inserted. Cool completely.
7. Make Berry Compote: Mix berries with sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice and zest. Place berry mixture in a heavy-bottom saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil and lower heat. Cook until liquid thickens. Remove from heat and cool completely.
8. Make Frosting: Place the Mousseline Buttercream in a bowl and add cream cheese, mascarpone and butter, 2 tablespoons at a time. Mix until smooth. (If the buttercream breaks, place in the refrigerator for 5 minutes and re-whip until smooth.)
9. Assemble Cake: Pipe a thick ring of frosting around the top edge of the first cake layer to create a dam. Spread 1/2 of the cooled berry compote in the center and top with fresh fruit. Top with the second cake layer and repeat the process. Top with the third cake layer, top side down. Frost with remaining frosting and garnish with fresh berries.