This cake has a very special place in my heart because it was the last birthday cake I made for my mom before she passed away. (I may or may not already be crying as I write this). I made and photographed this cake almost a year ago, but I have not been able to get myself to post it (probably something to do with the previously mentioned crying). But this week marks 4 years since my mom passed away, so I felt like it was time......

For the longest time I avoided recipes with cake flour in them. I didn’t really know what it was, or where I could get it, or why I needed to use it. Regular all-purpose flour seemed fine to me. It turns out...cake flour is very easy to get (it’s at most grocery stores these days) and it makes a HUGE difference when it comes to baking cakes... ...

My brother says the BEST part of a cheesecake is always the BERRY COMPOTE. I know...it’s shocking. But he swears that a good berry compote can turn the most average cheesecake into something divine. Crazy, I know. But I’m not one to argue with someone who feels SO passionately about cheesecake. Enter, my recipe for Berry Compote... ...