Carol Burnett's raspberry riches cake recipe is simple perfection.
I Tried Carol Burnett’s ‘Raspberry Riches’ Cake, and It’s a Delight
Published on Apr. 16, 2025
I have been a Carol Burnett fan since her turn as the villainous Miss Hannigan in Annie. (Yes, I’m a child of the 1980s). And I absolutely loved her role as Norma Dellacorte in 2024’s Palm Royale. She is perhaps most well-known for The Carol Burnett Show, a popular variety show that aired during the 1960s and ’70s. With a stage, television and film career that has spanned over 60 years, she is truly an American icon.
While she may be more known for her comedic timing than cooking, two of her recipes have made it into celebrity cookbooks: a meat loaf recipe and this “raspberry riches” cake. In an introduction to Celebrity Cookbook, author Sandra Battelstein explains that she wrote to celebrities asking them for recipes. Carol Burnett’s submission was a recipe for raspberry riches cake.
What is a raspberry riches cake?
Raspberry riches cake is Burnett’s version of a raspberry buttermilk cake. While most recipes for this type of cake only add a simple topping of granulated sugar before baking, her twist adds finely grated chocolate to the sugar, resulting in little puddles of chocolate that add a rich contrast to the sweet and tart raspberries.
How to Make Carol Burnett’s Raspberry Riches Cake
Ingredients
For the cake:
- 1 cup sifted all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 egg
- 1/3 cup buttermilk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled to room temperature
- 1-1/4 cup fresh red raspberries
For the sugar-crumb topping:
- 1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
- 1/2 ounce semi-sweet chocolate, finely grated
Directions
Step 1: Make the sugar-crumb topping
Add the brown sugar, flour, unsalted butter and grated semi-sweet chocolate to the bowl of a food processor with the metal blade attached. Pulse until fine crumbs form. Transfer the topping to a bowl and set aside.
Editor’s Tip: You can easily make this topping without a food processor. Add the brown sugar, flour and grated chocolate to a bowl and stir to combine. Use a pastry blender or two forks to cut the butter into the sugar mixture until it resembles coarse sand.
Step 2: Make the cake batter
Preheat the oven to 375°F. Butter a 9-inch round or 8-inch square baking pan. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg, buttermilk and vanilla until smooth. Stir in the melted butter. Pour the liquid mixture into the flour mixture and stir until just combined.
Step 3: Pour the batter into the pan
Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan. Top with raspberries.
Sprinkle everything with an even layer of the sugar-crumb topping.
Step 4: Bake the cake
Bake until browned, about 30 to 40 minutes. Allow the cake to cool on a rack. Serve warm.
What does raspberry riches cake taste like?
Raspberry riches cake has a moist texture and slightly tangy flavor from the buttermilk. The raspberries impart a sweet and tart jammy flavor, while the sugar topping, enhanced with semi-sweet chocolate, adds the perfect amount of sweetness to make a balanced bite.
Long story short, this cake is incredible, and the cake pan was empty in no time—a sign that my family loved it!
Raspberry Riches Cake Tips
When should you serve raspberry riches cake?
Serve this versatile cake alongside brunch recipes, as a mid-morning snack cake with a cup of coffee or for dessert with a dollop of fresh whipped cream.
Can you use frozen raspberries in raspberry riches cake?
You can use fresh or frozen raspberries. You could also try this cake with blackberries, blueberries or chopped strawberries in place of the raspberries, or use a mix of your favorite berries.
