Peaches and Cream Cake

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This dreamy summer peaches and cream cake has layers of vanilla sponge cake, brown butter whipped cream and peaches caramelized with brown sugar and cinnamon.

Why you’ll love this cake

Hot milk sponge is my FAVORITE type of sponge. It’s fluffy but so flavorful and less eggy then other sponge cakes. The hot milk really gives it a good flavor.
The cake and the creams both serve well chilled so the texture is spot on!
The whipped cream is quite literally the easiest cream on the planet to make (and to troubleshoot).
The combination of the light sponge cake, fluffy whipped cream, with the sweet spiced peaches complement each other making for a great refreshing summer treat.

If you’re into light and fluffy types of cakes I have several for you! I think you’ll love my Banana Pudding Cake, Chantilly Cake and my beloved Tiramisu Cake!

If it’s peach season and you got some extra peaches lying around try my Peach Cobbler Pound Cake or my Peach Mango Pie. Either of these will use up those ripe peaches and give you an amazing classic dessert with a fresh twist.

Ingredients

Flour: I use all-purpose flour for this cake and it’s quite delicate so I don’t recommend changing it but I do sift it before adding it to the eggs (it doesn’t matter whether you sift it before or after measuring if you use a digital scale).
- I HIGHLY recommend using a digital scale, as flour is so often over measured.
Sugar: I use granulated sugar in the sponge cake and brown sugar in the peach filling and whipped cream.
Eggs: I always use large eggs for all my baking and make sure they’re at room temperature for the best results.
- If they’re cold, just place them in hot water for 5-10 minutes.
Milk: I like to use whole milk for the cake. 2% or dairy free also works well though.
Butter: I use salted butter in the cake and browned some for the filling and cream, but unsalted butter also works fine. I would add a little extra pinch of sea salt though.
Heavy Cream: You’ll need cold heavy whipping cream (or double cream) to make the whipped cream. The cream here is just my chantilly cream except I swapped the powdered sugar for brown sugar and added brown butter bits.
- Make sure to use something between 35%-45% fat. I haven’t tried a dairy free cream but if you have a dairy free heavy cream or whipped topping you like, feel free to use that instead.
- This can be replaced with a tub of Cool Whip if you want, just gently mix in the brown butter bits and skip the brown sugar.
Vanilla: I used a combination of vanilla extract in the sponge cake and vanilla bean paste in the whipped cream to really bring out the subtle taste of vanilla.
Baking Powder: just baking powder, no baking soda.
Peaches: 3 small or 2 large peaches, peeled and thinly sliced. Peeling is optional but most people don’t prefer the skin.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Start making the cake by heating the milk and butter until it’s hot but not simmering. Set aside.

Step 2: Whisk the flour, baking powder and sea salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.

Step 3: Beat eggs with a stand mixer until they begin to froth, then stream in the sugar then the vanilla extract. Beat until the mixture is pale, thicker and ribbons.

Step 4: Sift the dry ingredients over the egg mixture. Now turn the mixer up to low speed while streaming in the warm milk and butter.

Step 5: Pour out the batter into the prepared pans, 15-16 oz in each and bake for 20-25 minutes, then set aside to cool.

Step 6: Brown the butter, by gently heating butter until it’s fully melted. Then once it’s bubbly and foamy, stir continuously until the milk solids are browned. Remove the pan from the heat and then remove 1-2 tablespoons of the butter, trying to get most of the bits out. Reserve those bits for the whipped cream. See my blog on how to brown butter if you’re unfamiliar with that.

Step 7: Return the pan to the stove, add the sugar, cinnamon and peaches. Cook until the peaches are tender but not mushy, 10-15 minutes on medium-low heat. Remove and allow to cool completely. Can refrigerate as well.

Step 8: Make the whipped cream – start by adding the brown sugar, salt and reserved brown butter bits into the bowl of the stand mixer

Step 9: Pour the heavy whipping cream and vanilla and whip until it holds stiff peaks.

Step 10: Place the first layer of cake onto a flat surface. Top with a generous layer of whipped cream, then layer on some of the peaches.

first layer of cake with whipped cream and peaches

Step 11: Freeze the cake for 15-30 minutes before stacking the next layer. Layering a cake with whipped cream can make it unstable and difficult to assemble so I recommend freezing the cake for a little before stacking on a new layer so that the whipped cream doesn’t all squish out.

I also like to leave a little room on the edge of the cake because when you do place the next layer of cake on top, it will press the whipped cream down, causing it to spread out a little.

Step 12: Place the second layer of cake on top and repeat the above steps. Repeat again with the last layer. Swirl the rest of the whipped cream on the top layer and top with more peaches. Refrigerate the cake for at least a few hours to set and slice easier.

How to Frost/Decorate this Peaches and Cream Cake

If you want to cover the outside with the whipped cream too, it may be a little difficult since the cake is so light and the cream is so soft. You can lightly cover it after refrigerating (or freezing) it for a little until it’s more sturdy.

If you want to actually frost it nicely and decorate the outside of this cake you’ll have to pipe a border of buttercream around the edge of the first layer of cake and use the whipped cream and peaches as the filling between the layers. Then repeat for each layer. You can see how I did that for my cranberry orange cake. I recommend a Swiss Meringue buttercream for decorating but American buttercream also works fine.

The cake can also be made with a buttercream frosting if you prefer. I actually made a similar cake in my book Frosted but I used ermine frosting.

Make sure to check out my cookbook for a million frosting options and how to use them!

peaches and cream cake slice laying on it's side

What can I make ahead of time?

The whipped cream must be made fresh when using it.

The peaches can be sliced a few hours before assembling and the brown butter can be made days ahead of time but allow it to cool with the bits settling on the bottom so you can easily separate them.

The cakes can be made in advance. If it’s 1 day, wrap them in plastic wrap as soon as they’ve cooled and leave them at room temperature. If it’s longer, freeze the cakes for up to a few weeks. Remove them from the freezer 1-2 hours before assembling.

Expert tips on getting the perfect cake

Don’t swap ingredients unless I mentioned them in the ingredient section above.
Don’t over-mix the cake or the creams at any stage.
Don’t reduce the sugar in the cake or the creams (I promise it’s not overly sweet).
Weigh the ingredients with a digital scale.
Don’t skip sifting flour.
Weigh the batter for each cake to make them even (15-16 ounces each).

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know when it’s done baking?

Just like all the rest of my cakes, I test if it’s done baking by pressing gently on the tallest part of the cake. The cake will spring back if it’s done baking. If it stays indented, give it a few minutes in the oven, before testing again.

Can I make this gluten-free?

I haven’t tested gluten-free flours with sponge cakes but I really don’t see why it wouldn’t work with a 1:1 substitute. It works for all the rest of my cake recipes.

Can I make this dairy free?

Dairy free butter works in the cake recipe, along with dairy free milk. The whipped cream can be replaced with coconut whipped cream but I haven’t tested any other whipped cream replacements.

What other size pan can I make this cake in?

I baked these cakes in three 8 inch cake pans.
You can also bake the cake:
– four 6 inch cake pans (going to be way too tall though so I don’t recommend).
– three 7 or 9 inch cake pans (+/- 5 minute bake time)

slice of peaches and cream cake on a plate

How to Store a Peaches and Cream Cake

Cover the cake with foil, a cake dome or a cake carrier and refrigerate for up to a week. If it’s any longer, feel free to freeze the cake. Slice it and place the slices in an airtight container and freeze for up to a couple of months.

Thanks so much for reading today’s post, if you have any questions just comment down below.

If you make this peaches and cream cake, I’d love it if you left a star rating for me. If it’s less than five stars, please leave a comment with the rating so I know why! 🙂

As always, have a blessed day and happy baking!

Love, B

Peaches and Cream Cake

This dreamy summer peach cake has layers of vanilla sponge cake, brown butter whipped cream and peaches caramelized with brown sugar and cinnamon.

5 from 6 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 1

Cook Time 35

Total Time 4 35

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings servings

Calories 498 kcal

Equipment

1 stand mixer
1 silicone or rubber spatula
1 medium saucepan
1 offset spatula
1 medium saucepan
3 round 8 inch baking pans

Ingredients

Sponge Cake

2 cups (240g) all-purpose flour spooned and leveled
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp fine sea salt
1 cup (240mL) milk
1/2 cup (113g) salted butter gets melted with milk
4 large eggs room temperature
1 3/4 cups (350g) granulated sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract

Peach Filling

2 Tbsp (28g) salted butter browned (mostly the liquid, reserve the browned bits for the cream)
3 small peaches (or 2 large) peeled and thinly sliced
1/4 cup (50g) light brown sugar lightly packed
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

Whipped Cream/Chantilly Cream

2 cups cups (18oz) heavy whipping cream cold (18 ounces in weight not fluid ounces)
1-2 tsp Reserved browned butter bits room temperature
1/4 cup (50g) light brown sugar lightly packed
2 tsp vanilla bean paste or extract
tiny pinch fine sea salt

Instructions

Sponge Cake

Preheat the oven to 350F/177C convection (325F/163C conventional) and grease and line three 8 inch cake pans with baking spray and parchment paper.
Place the flour, baking powder and sea salt in a medium bowl and whisk them together until they’re evenly distributed.
2 cups (240g) all-purpose flour, 2 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp fine sea salt
Place the milk with the butter in a small pot and heat it gently over medium-low heat, for 2-3 minutes, just until the butter is fully melted and the mixture is hot but not yet simmering. Remove from the heat and set aside.
1 cup (240mL) milk, 1/2 cup (113g) salted butter
Place the eggs in the bowl of a stand mixer, fit with the whisk attachment, and begin beating at medium-high speed, until the eggs begin to froth , just a few seconds. Reduce the speed and stream in the sugar.
4 large eggs, 1 3/4 cups (350g) granulated sugar
Add the vanilla extract and turn the mixer up to full speed, allowing it to beat for a few minutes, until the sugar and egg mixture is fluffy and pale.
2 tsp vanilla extract
Sift the dry ingredients over the egg mixture, and now turn the mixer up to low speed while streaming in the milk and butter. Scrape the edge of the bowl and give it one more mix, just until the last streak of flour is combined.
Divide the batter into the prepared pans, about 15-16 ounces each, and bake for 20 minutes, until they're golden brown and spring back when you gently press on the tops.

Peaches

Place the butter into a medium sauce pan over medium heat and allow it to cook, stirring occasionally.
2 Tbsp (28g) salted butter
When the butter begins to foam and bubble, stir continuously, until there are bits of brown butter throughout.
Tilt the pan to the side and use a spoon to remove 1-2 tablespoons of the butter, trying to get mostly the bits out. Reserve those bits of brown butter for the whipped cream.
Return the pan to the stove, over medium-low heat, and add the sugar, cinnamon and peaches.
1/4 cup (50g) light brown sugar, 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon, 3 small peaches (or 2 large)
Allow the peaches to cook just until the peaches are tender but not mushy, about 10-15 minutes but could be less or more depending on ripeness.

Whipped Cream

Once the cake and peaches have cooled, proceed to the whipped cream. Place the brown sugar, salt and brown butter bits into the bowl of the stand mixer, fit with a whisk attachment (or a large bowl with a handheld mixer).
1/4 cup (50g) light brown sugar, tiny pinch fine sea salt, 1-2 tsp Reserved browned butter bits
Pour the heavy whipping cream on top, along with the vanilla and turn the mixer up to medium speed for a few seconds until it starts to thicken (if you go full speed it will splash everywhere).
2 cups cups (18oz) heavy whipping cream , 2 tsp vanilla bean paste
Turn the mixer up to medium-high and whip just until it holds stiff peaks.
If you over-mix and it’s no longer smooth, add a little more cream and fold it in until it’s smooth again.

Assemble

Place the first layer of cake onto a flat surface and spread a good layer of whipped cream.
Then layer on some of the peaches and freeze the cake for 15-30 minutes before stacking the next layer of cake.
Repeat and then top with the last layer of cake.
Spread the rest of the whipped cream on top and decorate with some more peaches.
Refrigerate the cake for at least a few hours to set and slice easier. Serve cold or slightly chilled. Store refrigerated.

Notes

Layering a cake with whipped cream can make it unstable and difficult to assemble so I recommend freezing the cake for a little before stacking on a new layer so that the whipped cream doesn’t all squish out.

The cake can also be made with a buttercream frosting if you prefer or buttercream could be used to make a dam and use the whipped cream and peaches as a filling.

Nutrition

Serving: 1sliceCalories: 498kcalCarbohydrates: 60gProtein: 6gFat: 27gSaturated Fat: 16gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0.4gCholesterol: 135mgSodium: 293mgPotassium: 170mgFiber: 1gSugar: 44gVitamin A: 1107IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 116mgIron: 2mg

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Peaches and Cream Cake

Why you’ll love this cake

Ingredients

Step-by-Step Instructions

How to Frost/Decorate this Peaches and Cream Cake

What can I make ahead of time?

Expert tips on getting the perfect cake

Frequently Asked Questions

How to Store a Peaches and Cream Cake