Simple Summer Cake Bars with Berries
These simple summer cake bars with berries are something I'm making on repeat from June to August, and everyone appreciates it when I bring them to picnics. The batter comes together in just a few minutes, then bakes into dessert bars filled with whatever berries you have on hand (raspberries are my favorite!). I especially love how easy this recipe is. They are perfect for summer gatherings, afternoon coffee breaks, or those moments when you want a homemade dessert last minute.
This style of cake is common across many parts of Central and Eastern Europe, where dairy-based cakes with seasonal fruit are everyday desserts in the summer, because it's too hot for overly rich treats.
If you want more refreshing desserts that actually sound good on hotter days, be sure to check out my sourdough lemon balm sheet cake, and make some elderflower champagne to go with it!
Summarize & Save This Recipe On:
Quick Look
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Total Time: About 1 hour 10 minutes
- Servings: 10 bars
- Difficulty: Easy
- Baking Method: Oven bake
- Best For: Simple dessert, snack, coffee break
Jump to:
- Summarize & Save This Recipe On:
- Quick Look
- Important Ingredients
- Substitutions & Variations
- How to Make Cake Bars with Berries
- Baking Schedule
- 💭Crucial Success Tips
- Recipe FAQs
- How To Store Cake Bars with Berries
- Other Delicious Recipes
- Simple Summer Cake Bars with Berries
- Need Help Tweaking This Recipe?
- Other Dessert Recipes You'll Love
- Rich Sourdough Chocolate Cake with with Chocolate Mascarpone Frosting
- Chocolate Coconut Puffed Rice Clusters
- Baked Crepes with Sweet Cheese Filling (Oven-Baked Palatschinken)
Important Ingredients
- Eggs give structure and help the bars set
- Sugar adds sweetness and balance
- Quark keeps the texture soft and slightly creamy
- Sour cream adds moisture and richness
- Vanilla pudding mix helps set the batter
- Baking powder gives a light rise
- Semolina adds structure so it slices cleanly
- Frozen berries bake into soft fruity pockets on top
See recipe card for quantities.
Substitutions & Variations
- Quark can be replaced with Greek yogurt or ricotta (drain if it's watery)
- Sour cream can be swapped with plain yogurt
- Frozen berries can be replaced with fresh berries (use a bit less since they release more juice)
- Sugar can be reduced slightly if you prefer less sweetness
How to Make Cake Bars with Berries
Step 1: Oven to 170°C / 340°F. Grease a baking dish. Whisk eggs and sugar first, just until combined (Image 1).
Step 2: Then add everything else except the berries and mix into a smooth batter (Image 2).
Step 3: Pour the batter into the dish.
Scatter the frozen berries on top (no need to thaw) (Image 3).
Step 4: Bake for 50-60 minutes, until set and lightly golden (Image 4).
Step 5: Let it cool completely before slicing. It firms up as it cools (Image 5).
Hint: do not slice the bars while they are still warm. They continue setting as they cool, and chilling them for even an hour makes the texture much cleaner and creamier.
Baking Schedule
- Prep Time: 10-15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50-60 minutes
- Total Time: About 1 hour 10-1 hour 15 minutes
💭Crucial Success Tips
The biggest key to this recipe is not overbaking it. The center should look set but still slightly soft when you remove it from the oven. The bars continue firming up as they cool.
Another important tip is using frozen berries straight from the freezer. If they thaw first, they release too much liquid into the batter and can make the bars watery.
Recipe FAQs
Yes. Fresh berries work very well here. Since they usually release less moisture, the bars may bake slightly faster.
Greek yogurt or ricotta are the easiest substitutes. If using ricotta, drain excess liquid first so the batter does not become too wet.
That is completely normal while warm. The bars firm up significantly as they cool and chill.
How To Store Cake Bars with Berries
Keep the cake bars in an airtight container in the fridge. They stay good for about 3-4 days. The texture stays soft, and they actually slice even better once fully chilled.
Other Delicious Recipes
- Traditional Ričet (Barley and Bean Stew with Smoked Meat)
- Simple Summer Cake Bars with Berries
- Homemade Elderflower Šabesa (Elderflower Champagne)
- Traditional Red Cabbage Sauerkraut (Rotkraut, Naturally Fermented)
If you tried these simple summer cake bars with berries or any other recipe on my blog please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below! Happy Baking!
Simple Summer Cake Bars with Berries
Ingredients
- 3 eggs
- 4 tablespoon sugar
- 500 g quark or substitute
- 200 g sour cream
- 40 g powder vanilla pudding, packet
- 7 g baking powder
- 6 tablespoons semolina
- 100 g raspberries frozen, Briana, if you can, please use frozen raspberries! or blueberries
Instructions
- Oven to 170°C / 340°F. Grease a baking dish. Whisk eggs and sugar first, just until combined.
- Then add everything else except the berries and mix into a smooth batter.
- Pour the batter into the dish. Scatter the frozen berries on top (no need to thaw).
- Bake for 50-60 minutes, until set and lightly golden.
- Let it cool completely before slicing. It firms up as it cools.
