This Blueberry Cheesecake Cake is a dessert that combines the best of both worlds: a moist, blueberry-flavored cake and a creamy blueberry cheesecake, all covered in a luscious cream cheese buttercream frosting. The cake layers are made from a doctored-up box cake mix that’s infused with blueberry puree and fresh blueberries, while the cheesecake layer is baked to perfection. It’s a perfect treat for blueberry lovers, and the rich, creamy texture combined with the sweet fruit is sure to impress.
Full Recipe:
Ingredients
For the Blueberry Cake:
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1 (15.25 oz) box vanilla or white cake mix
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3 eggs
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1/3 cup oil
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1 cup thawed blueberries for puree + water
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1 cup fresh blueberries
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Pink food coloring (optional)
For the Blueberry Cheesecake:
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24 oz cream cheese, softened
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3/4 cup sugar
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1 tbsp corn starch
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1 1/2 tsp vanilla
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3 eggs, slightly beaten
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1 1/4 cup fresh blueberries
For the Cream Cheese Buttercream:
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12 oz full-fat brick-style cream cheese, softened
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1 cup unsalted butter, softened
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1/4 tsp salt
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3 1/2–4 1/2 cups powdered sugar
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2 tsp vanilla extract
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1 tbsp lemon zest (optional)
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Fresh blueberries for garnish
Directions
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Make the Blueberry Cake:
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Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease two 8-inch round cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper.
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In a food processor, pulse thawed blueberries and water to make a puree. In a mixing bowl, combine cake mix, eggs, oil, and the blueberry puree. Mix for 2 minutes, then fold in fresh blueberries and optional food coloring. Pour the batter evenly into the prepared pans.
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Bake for about 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool completely.
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Make the Blueberry Cheesecake:
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Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease an 8-inch springform pan and line the bottom with parchment paper.
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Beat cream cheese with sugar, corn starch, and vanilla until smooth. Add eggs and mix to combine. Gently fold in fresh blueberries and pour the mixture into the springform pan.
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Bake for 50-60 minutes until the center is set. Leave the cheesecake in the oven with the door cracked for 30 minutes. Cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
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Make the Frosting:
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Beat softened cream cheese and butter together until smooth. Add vanilla, salt, and optional lemon zest, then gradually add powdered sugar to reach the desired sweetness and thickness. Mix until smooth.
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Assemble the Cake:
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Place one layer of blueberry cake on a serving plate. Spread a thin layer of frosting over the cake, then add the blueberry cheesecake layer. Frost the cheesecake layer with a thin layer of frosting. Top with the second cake layer and frost the entire cake with the remaining frosting.
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Decorate with fresh blueberries and refrigerate for at least 45 minutes before cutting to allow the cake to set.
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Nutrients (per serving)
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Calories: 430 kcal
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Carbohydrates: 50g
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Protein: 6g
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Fat: 25g
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Saturated Fat: 10g
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Cholesterol: 80mg
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Sodium: 200mg
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Potassium: 150mg
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Fiber: 2g
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Sugar: 35g
The Blueberry Cake: Moist and Flavorful
The base of this dessert starts with a doctored-up box cake mix, which serves as a quick and easy way to make a moist, fluffy cake. The cake mix is enhanced with homemade blueberry puree made from thawed blueberries and water, which infuses the cake with a rich blueberry flavor and gives it a beautiful color. If you want to enhance the color even more, you can add a few drops of pink food coloring, although it’s optional.
Fresh blueberries are folded into the batter, creating little bursts of juicy blueberry flavor throughout the cake. Once baked, the cake becomes light, moist, and perfectly complemented by the creamy cheesecake layer on top. This combination of blueberry flavor in the cake and cheesecake layers makes it a truly decadent treat.
The Blueberry Cheesecake: Creamy and Rich
The blueberry cheesecake layer is what truly elevates this dessert. Made with softened cream cheese, sugar, cornstarch, and vanilla, this layer is baked until it’s perfectly smooth and creamy. Fresh blueberries are gently folded into the cheesecake batter, giving it a beautiful burst of flavor and a touch of color.
After baking, the cheesecake is left in the oven with the door cracked for 30 minutes, allowing it to cool slowly and set perfectly without cracking. Once cooled to room temperature, the cheesecake is refrigerated for at least four hours or overnight, ensuring that it firms up and is ready to be assembled with the cake layers.
The rich and creamy cheesecake layer contrasts beautifully with the light, moist cake, creating the perfect balance of textures and flavors in each bite.
Cream Cheese Buttercream: Rich and Smooth
The final touch to this dessert is the cream cheese buttercream frosting, which is made from a blend of softened cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. The cream cheese provides a tangy, rich flavor, while the butter gives the frosting a smooth, creamy texture. For an extra burst of freshness, you can add lemon zest to the frosting, though it’s optional.
The frosting is spread over the cake in generous layers, providing a rich, creamy coating that enhances the overall flavor of the cake. The frosting holds the layers together while giving each bite a sweet and creamy finish. Once decorated with fresh blueberries, this cake becomes a show-stopping dessert that is as beautiful as it is delicious.
Assembling the Cake: Layering and Decorating
Assembling the Blueberry Cheesecake Cake is straightforward but requires some patience. Start by placing one layer of blueberry cake on a serving plate. Spread a thin layer of frosting over the cake to act as a base for the cheesecake layer. Carefully place the chilled blueberry cheesecake on top of the frosted cake, then frost the cheesecake layer with a thin layer of frosting to help it stay in place.
Next, place the second layer of blueberry cake on top and frost the entire cake with the remaining frosting. To finish, decorate the cake with fresh blueberries, adding a pop of color and a touch of freshness to the rich and creamy layers.
After assembling the cake, it’s recommended to refrigerate it for at least 45 minutes before serving to allow the layers to set properly. This also makes slicing the cake easier, as the frosting firms up slightly in the fridge.
Serving Suggestions
Blueberry Cheesecake Cake is an elegant dessert that is perfect for serving at gatherings, parties, or special occasions. The combination of blueberry cake, blueberry cheesecake, and cream cheese buttercream frosting creates a unique and indulgent treat that will impress your guests.
Serve it as a centerpiece for your dessert table, and consider pairing it with a light dessert wine, such as a Riesling or Moscato, which will complement the sweetness and fruitiness of the cake. A cup of freshly brewed coffee or a cold glass of iced tea also pairs well with this rich dessert.
Nutritional Information
Each serving of Blueberry Cheesecake Cake contains approximately 430 calories. The cake is relatively high in fat (25g), including 10g of saturated fat, primarily from the butter, cream cheese, and cake mix. While the fat content is high, it’s balanced by the protein (6g) from the cream cheese and eggs in the cake.
The cake is also high in carbohydrates (50g), with 35g of sugar, which comes from the cake, cheesecake, and frosting. The fiber content is 2g, providing a small amount of dietary fiber from the fresh blueberries.
This dessert is moderately high in sodium (200mg) and provides some essential micronutrients like potassium (150mg) and calcium (150mg) from the cream cheese and fresh blueberries.
Customizing the Recipe
While Blueberry Cheesecake Cake is delicious as written, there are several ways to customize it based on personal preferences or dietary restrictions. If you want to make it gluten-free, you can substitute the regular cake mix with a gluten-free cake mix and ensure that all other ingredients are gluten-free.
For those with a dairy sensitivity, you could try using dairy-free cream cheese and butter alternatives in the cheesecake layer and frosting. You can also adjust the sweetness of the frosting by reducing the amount of powdered sugar if you prefer a less sweet cake.
To add variety, you can experiment with different fruit purees, such as raspberry or strawberry, for the cake or cheesecake layers, creating a new flavor combination while still maintaining the rich, creamy texture.
Conclusion
Blueberry Cheesecake Cake is a stunning dessert that combines the light, moist texture of a blueberry cake with the rich, creamy indulgence of a blueberry cheesecake. Topped with a smooth cream cheese buttercream frosting and garnished with fresh blueberries, this cake is a showstopper for any occasion. Whether you’re serving it at a special celebration or simply treating yourself to a delicious dessert, Blueberry Cheesecake Cake is sure to be a favorite among your guests. Its beautiful layers, fresh fruit flavors, and creamy texture make it an unforgettable treat that’s both elegant and indulgent.