Berry Mascarpone Cake

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter the edges of a 12x17” sheet pan and line it with parchment paper. (Tip: it’s easier to adhere the parchment to the pan if you butter the bottom a bit, too.)
2. In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar with a handheld or stand mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes. Add the sour cream and beat until fully combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. Reduce the speed to low, then add the eggs one at a time, making sure each is fully incorporated before adding the next. Mix in the vanilla and almond extract.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
4. Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan. Smooth the top with a spatula.
5. Bake on the top rack of the oven for about 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and the top and edges are lightly golden brown. Allow the cake to cool to room temperature.
6. To make the mascarpone cream, add the cream cheese and powdered sugar to a large bowl, or the bowl of a stand-mixer with the paddle attachment. Mix slowly to combine the powdered sugar, then mix on medium-high speed until completely smooth, light, and free of any lumps. Scrape the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula and mix again to ensure it is fully incorporated. Add the mascarpone, vanilla and almond extracts and salt, and mix again on medium-high speed until fluffy and incorporated. Finally, add the cream. Mix on medium-high speed, being very careful to not overmix. You should be looking for a soft whipped cream texture - mixing too much past this point can curdle the mixture. Cover the cream and chill in the fridge until ready to use.
7. Once the cake is completely cooled, dollop the mascarpone cream all over the cake and smooth it out with a small offset spatula or butter knife. Decorate it with assorted roughly chopped berries, and serve even more on the side if desired.