Raspberry Almond Cake with Brown Butter Glaze and Almonds

Published: February 22, 2026
Jimmy JohnsonJimmy Johnson
Categories: Fruits, Nut Desserts, Cakes
Tags: Dessert, Cake, Entertaining, Almond, Berries, Tea Cake

Raspberry Cake

This Raspberry Almond Cake is one of those recipes I make when I want something pretty enough for guests but simple enough for a weeknight treat. The crumb is tender from almond flour, and bright raspberries dot every bite; the toasted sliced almonds add a lovely crunch that balances the softness.

The brown butter glaze brings a nutty, caramel note that ties everything together—it's quick to make and worth the tiny extra step. Serve it slightly warm with a cup of tea or chilled for dessert; either way, it disappears fast.

Ingredients

  • 1 3/4 cups All-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cups Almond flour
  • 2 tsp Baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp Baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp Salt
  • 8 tbsp Unsalted butter, softened (for batter)
  • 1 cups Granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cups Brown sugar
  • 2 pieces Eggs
  • 1 tsp Vanilla extract
  • 1/2 tsp Almond extract
  • 1/2 cups Sour cream
  • 1/4 cups Milk
  • 12 oz Fresh raspberries
  • 3/4 cups Sliced almonds, divided
  • 4 tbsp Unsalted butter (for brown butter glaze)
  • 1 1/2 cups Powdered sugar (for glaze)
  • 2 tbsp Almond milk (or regular milk) for glaze
  • 1 tsp Lemon zest (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9-inch round cake pan and line the bottom with parchment paper.

  2. In a medium bowl whisk together the all-purpose flour, almond flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

  3. In a large bowl, cream the softened butter with granulated sugar and brown sugar until light and fluffy, about 2–3 minutes.

  4. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract, almond extract, and lemon zest if using.

  5. Alternately add the dry ingredients and the sour cream (and milk) to the butter mixture, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined; do not overmix.

  6. Fold 1/2 cup of the sliced almonds into the batter, then gently fold in most of the raspberries, saving a handful to scatter on top.

  7. Spoon the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing the top. Scatter the remaining raspberries and remaining sliced almonds evenly over the surface.

  8. Bake until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out with a few moist crumbs, 40–45 minutes. If the top browns too quickly, tent with foil for the last 10 minutes.

  9. Let the cake cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then invert onto a wire rack to cool completely before glazing.

  10. For the brown butter glaze: melt the 4 tbsp butter in a small saucepan over medium heat, swirling until the milk solids turn golden brown and smell nutty (2–4 minutes). Remove from heat and let cool 1 minute.

  11. Whisk the powdered sugar into the browned butter, adding almond milk 1 tsp at a time until you reach a pourable glaze consistency. Drizzle over the cooled cake and let set.

  12. Slice and serve. Leftovers keep covered at room temperature for 1 day or refrigerated for up to 3 days—bring to room temp before serving for best texture.

Tips & Notes

  • To keep raspberries from sinking, toss them lightly in 1 tsp flour before folding into the batter.
  • Watch the brown butter closely—the aroma changes fast; remove from heat as soon as it smells toasty and you see golden bits.
  • If using frozen raspberries, do not thaw; fold them in frozen to minimize bleeding into the batter.
  • Toast the sliced almonds in a dry skillet until fragrant before using for extra crunch and depth.