Blackberry Basil Limeade Cake

This Blackberry Basil Limeade Cake was this close to being muffins (pretend you can see my fingers). I developed it as muffins, had muffins on the brain, and then at the very last second I poured the batter into a cake pan instead. It’s nearly Labor Day!! We need a show-stopper of a cake! The thick batter, jammy blackberries, crunchy lime sugar on top – it was clearly having cake aspirations the whole time.

The flavor is basically summer in cake form. The basil doesn’t feel herby – it just makes the blackberries taste more like themselves, and the lime ties the whole thing together. It’s bright without being too citrusy, buttery and moist without feeling heavy. Then, right when it comes out of the oven, you give it a tiny squeeze of fresh lime juice. I know how it sounds but just trust me.