Blueberry Vanilla Sheet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

By , Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · ·

A moist vanilla sheet cake studded with fresh blueberries and topped with a tangy cream cheese frosting. This american-inspired desserts ready in about 70 minutes layers all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt into a dessert worth slowing down for — great for weekend baking, holiday tables, or any time you want a sweet payoff at the end of a meal. Each serving lands at about 380 calories and feeds 12, so it slots into a weekend bake or a special-occasion dessert tray. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 20 min Cook: 50 min Serves 12 American cuisine 380 cal/serving
Plan a meal with the AI → Shop this recipe on Instacart → Shop equipment ↓

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a 9x13-inch sheet pan. In a medium bowl, whisk together 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 2 1/2 tsp baking powder, and 1/2 tsp salt.
  2. Step 2: In a large bowl, beat 1 cup softened unsalted butter and 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar on medium speed until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add 4 large eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in 2 tsp pure vanilla extract.
  3. Step 3: Alternately add the flour mixture and 1 cup whole milk to the butter mixture, beginning and ending with flour, mixing just until combined.
  4. Step 4: Gently fold in 1 1/2 cups fresh blueberries to the batter. Pour batter evenly into the prepared pan.
  5. Step 5: Bake for 45-50 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely on a wire rack.
  6. Step 6: Meanwhile, make frosting by beating 8 oz softened cream cheese with 1/2 cup softened unsalted butter until smooth. Gradually add 3 cups powdered sugar, 1 tsp vanilla extract, and 1 tsp lemon zest, beating until creamy.
  7. Step 7: Spread the cream cheese frosting evenly over the cooled cake and refrigerate until set before slicing.

Equipment for this recipe

Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.

More Bakeware & baking tools → Shop all kitchen tools →

Frequently asked questions

How long does Blueberry Vanilla Sheet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting take to make?

Total time is about 70 minutes (20 min prep + 50 min cook). Most home bakers find this fits a weekend afternoon; chill or store as the recipe directs before serving.

How do I store leftover Blueberry Vanilla Sheet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting?

Cool fully before storing. Most baked desserts keep at room temperature in an airtight container for 2–3 days, or in the fridge for up to 5 days. Cream- or custard-based desserts must go in the fridge within 2 hours; reheat gently or serve cold per the recipe.

Can I substitute ingredients in Blueberry Vanilla Sheet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting?

Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.

How do I scale Blueberry Vanilla Sheet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting for a different number of people?

The recipe is written for 12 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 12). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.

What goes well with Blueberry Vanilla Sheet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting?

American desserts like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.

Related recipes