Red, White, and Blue Layer Cake

Ingredients

• 2 pounds mixed berries
• 3 baked and cooled layers of Vanilla Buttermilk Cake
• 1 recipe for Swiss meringue frosting

Directions

1. Rinse the berries, then dry them well. Trim the leafy tops from the strawberries. Slice most of the strawberries so they can tuck between the cake layers, and cut a few into halves or quarters for the top.
2. Set one vanilla buttermilk cake layer on a cake plate. With an offset spatula, cover the surface with a third of the Swiss meringue, then scatter about 1 cup of berries and sliced strawberries over it.
3. Add the second cake layer. Smooth another third of the frosting across the top, then add another cup of berries and strawberries.
4. Finish with the remaining cake layer. Spread on the last of the Swiss meringue, then arrange the remaining berries and the halved or quartered strawberries over the frosting.
5. Serve any extra berries alongside the cake. This cake is at its best on the day you put it together.