This treat will brighten up anyone’s day. Bursting with natural flavours, this homemade blueberry and almond cake is not to be missed. It has all the comforting flavours of blueberries, almonds and vanilla. This cake is based on a Czech Bublanina Recipe – a fruit dessert cake.

I found this recipe in Anne Shooters Sesame and Spice Cookbook. (It was sent to me by her publisher to review) I first made it at a girly weekend with my friend Sarah and was immediately won over. Since then there have been many versions of this cake, as you can adapt it to different seasons.
What is Bublanina?
Bublanina is a fruit cake that originates on Czech Republic, more precisely from the area of Bohemia. It is based on a simple sponge cake, filled with fresh fruit.
What does Bublanina mean?
The name Bublanina is derived from the Czech word for Bubbles. Translate it means bubble cake. I believe it’s a reference to the sunken fruit in the cake.
About this Blueberry Almond Cake Recipe
I love baking with blueberries, as they tend to add a moistness to the cakes, muffins, cookies or whatever recipe you use them for. Blueberries have a slight sourness that adds an exciting contrast to the rich sweet flavours of the almond and vanilla in this cake.
How to make Blueberry Almond Cake
Ingredients
- 115 g (4 oz) unsalted butter – at room temperature
- 115 g (4 oz) caster sugar
- 125 g (4.4 oz) flour - Germany type 405, UK plain flour, US pastry flour
- 3 medium egg, separated and at room temperature
- 2 tablespoon milk or orange juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (affiliate link)
- ½ teaspoon almond extract (affiliate link)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 400 g (14 oz) blueberries (14 oz -fresh are preferable to frozen but both work)
- 3 tablespoon flaked almonds
Recipe Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 170°C or 338°F. Grease a 20 cm (8 inches) cake form with some butter
- Using a hand or stand mixer, whisk the sugar and butter until you achieve a thick, creamy consistency.
- Add the egg yolks to the butter mixture one by one, while mixing continuously. Now add the milk or orange juice, vanilla extract (affiliate link), almond essence and lemon zest.
- In a separate bowl, add the egg whites with a pinch of salt and whisk at a high speed until you see stiff peaks.
- Now fold this gently into the yolk mixture. Sift the flour and salt into a separate bowl. Now carefully fold in with the mixture.
- Add the blueberries. Try not to mix too vigorously as you do not want the blueberries to be squashed or burst.
- Pour or spread the cake into the prepared tin.
- Scatter the flaked almonds on top.
- Bake the cake for 50 minutes. To check if the cake is done, insert a skewer in the middle. If it comes out clean it's done.
- If you want you can dust the cake with icing sugar before serving.
Can I use frozen blueberries for this cake recipe?
Yes, I made this cake both with fresh and frozen blueberries and it is equally delicious. Using frozen blueberries will make this cake a tick moister.
Bublanina Cake Recipe Variations
You can substitute the blueberries with other seasonal fruits such as peach, pears or raspberries or cherries.
How to serve this moist and fresh berry cake?
You can serve this cake warm or at room temperature. It will go great with a cup of coffee or tea. If you like why not serve this moist blueberry cake with a spoon of freshly whipped cream.
Another option is to serve this blueberry cake warm as a dessert and offer a nice cool scoop of vanilla ice cream with it.
More Baking Recipes that you might like...
- Spiced Persimmon Muffins
- Triple Chocolate Bundt Cake
- German Strawberry Cake
- German Poppy Seed Cake
- Bibinka Filipino Coconut Rice Cake
This post was first published September 2015 and updated January 2021
Recipe
Blueberry Almond Cake (Czech Bublanina)
Equipment
- 20 cm or 8 inch cake form
Ingredients
- 20 g butter for greasing the tin
- 115 g butter 4 oz, unsalted , at room temperature, plus extra for greasing
- 115 g sugar 4 oz
- 3 eggs at room temperature and separated
- 2 tablespoon milk or orange juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond essence
- grated zest of 1 lemon
- 125 g plain flour Germany type 405, US Pastry Flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 400 g blueberries 14 oz
- icing sugar for dusting
- 1 pinch salt
For the almond topping
- 1 tablespoon butter 14 gr
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 3 tablespoon slivered almonds
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 170°C or 338°F. Grease a 20 cm (8 inches) cake form with some butter.20 g butter
- Using a hand or stand mixer, whisk the sugar and butter until you achieve a thick, creamy consistency.115 g butter, 115 g sugar
- Add the egg yolks to the butter mixture one by one, while mixing continuously. Now add the milk or orange juice, vanilla extract, almond essence and lemon zest.3 eggs, 2 tablespoon milk, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, ½ teaspoon almond essence, grated zest of 1 lemon
- In a separate bowl, add the egg whites with a pinch of salt and whisk at a high speed until you see stiff peaks.3 eggs, 1 pinch salt
- Now fold this gently into the yolk mixture. Sift the flour and salt into a separate bowl. Now carefully fold in with the mixture.½ teaspoon salt, 125 g plain flour
- Add the blueberries. Try not to mix too vigorously as you do not want the blueberries to be squashed or burst.400 g blueberries
- Pour or spread the cake into the prepared tin.
- Melt the butter and the sugar gently on the stove until the sugar has dissolved. Add the almonds and remove the heat.1 tablespoon butter, 1 tablespoon sugar, 3 tablespoon slivered almonds
- Bake the cake for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven (the surface should have hardened and spread the almond mixture on top. Place back into the oven.
- Bake for another 35 to 40 minutes. To check if the cake is done, insert a skewer in the middle. If it comes out clean it’s done.
- If you want you can dust the cake with icing sugar before serving.
Lou
Hi I just made this and it is truly exceptional.
I followed your recipe exactly. I had to add an extra 10 mins on cooking time but that was all.
I wish we didn’t have a pandemic so all my friends could taste it but I’m sending pics to everyone.
Thank you for this delicious recipe!
Marita
Hello Lou! Thank you so much for your feedback. It really makes my day when I get messages from readers who enjoyed the recipe. Glad you enjoyed it. x
Rebecca - Glutarama
I love to discover new traditional cakes and bakes across the world and this is totally new to me. Perfect flavours for me too, can’t wait to give this a try
Marita
I hope you will like it x
Cat | Curly's Cooking
Love the look of this! The flavours sound absolutely delicious.
Marita
Thank you
Midge & Millie @ Peachicks' Bakery
This has gone straight to the top of our list of recipes to make a Peachick safe version of! It looks SO GOOD! #CookBlogShare
Leah
This looks and sounds so delicious! I love the colors of this dish. As they say, we eat with our eyes first!
Gregory Halpen
This looks absolutely divine! Seeing cake is very exciting to me. And seeing this blueberry almond cake puts cake on a whole new level of amazing!
Fabiana
This cake looks unbelievably delicious.
I’ll definitely test it, I can’t wait!
Christina
Looks divine. Could I substitute almond flour in this recipe to make it gluten free?
Cindy
Christina, did you try it? I also wondered about this or perhaps a gluten free flour blend?
Choclette
Well your blueberry almond cake has brighten up my day and I haven't even tasted it. Looks so colourful and delicious. Love the thick layer of almonds on top.
Chocoviv
Delicious idea!