The Berry Chantilly Cake from Whole Foods has developed a cult following since it launched 13 years ago, with shoppers lining up in droves through power outages and impending natural disasters to buy it, according to Whole Foods.
Made with layers of vanilla cake soaked in raspberry syrup and filled with a whipped Chantilly cream frosting, it's easy to see why the scrumptious cake has got fans raving. We dove into the cake's origins, what shoppers are saying about it, and how you can make this Whole Foods dessert at home.
@thenotoriousthree The icing was perfect 👌 #fypシ #wholefoods #berrychantillycake #foryou ♬ sonido original - Bad🦇
Generational Delicacies
Inspired by a Whole Foods employee who wanted to recreate her grandmother's recipe, the Berry Chantilly Cake first originated at the grocery store's Arabella Station branch in New Orleans and became a Whole Foods exclusive. The cake, which comes in different sizes (four, six, or eight inches), can be customized for birthdays and special events and costs $54 for a quarter sheet.
Popular during holidays, birthdays, and other celebratory events, #berrychantilly cake (yes, it has its own hashtag) has blown up on social media — with some shoppers praising it for being light, fluffy, and not overly sweet, and some saying you're better off buying cake elsewhere.
"This is the most amazing cake, and the frosting is so light and delicious. Melts in your mouth," one user said on the grocery store's Instagram page.
"My sister ordered the Whole Foods Mixed Berry Chantilly Cake for a celebration," another user raved on Trip Advisor. "That cake is absolutely scrumptious! Three layers. The cake was very moist, with a tender crumb. The Chantilly frosting/filling was tasty, not overly sweet at all, and light."
Others weren't so enamored.
"If you have to have a slice of cake, it works, but if you are looking for a great cake, this ain't it," one Reddit user wrote, describing how the cake is dry and lackluster.
Some offered harsher criticism: "Tastes like medicine to me," another Redditor shared.
Gallery: Easy and Delicious Recipes That Start with Cake Mix
The Whole Foods Chantilly Cake Recipe
While it may seem daunting to make a layered cake at home, you can recreate the famous cake by following this recipe from Sugar Geek Show:
- Start by making the vanilla cake sponge (mix all the dry and wet ingredients) to create a paste and mix in the baking powder. Be sure not to use cornstarch as a substitute because you may end up with a grainy cornbread texture, says the recipe creator.
- Next, start on the mascarpone frosting by blending softened butter and cream cheese together. Slowly whisk in your Mascarpone cheese, heavy cream, and powdered sugar, and combine until smooth.
- Form soft peaks by whipping the heavy cream and incorporate the vanilla extract and pudding mix. Now you can fold your whipped cream mixture into the mascarpone frosting and mix well until combined.
- Assemble your cake by placing the first layer down and covering it with a thin layer of raspberry or berry jam. Next, spread a thick layer of your mascarpone frosting and sprinkle some fresh berries (this recipe calls for blueberries, blackberries, and strawberries, but you can use whichever fruits you'd like).
- Repeat the process until you've built enough layers.
- Finish by frosting the cake with the remaining mascarpone frosting and top with more berries.
- Give yourself a pat on the back, and be sure to enjoy your homemade berry Chantilly cake within 1-2 days. (Since the recipe calls for fresh fruit and whipped cream, it won't sit as well in the fridge and is best enjoyed fresh).