Sunshine Seasons

 sure is putting the emphasis on seasons these days.

We took major notice two years ago when the Warm Peanut Butter Brownie came straight from nowhere to completely wow us. In the time it took us to fall smack dab in love, we also found out it was a “seasonal” item, which may or may not be there on the next visit.

Of course, we’ve seen plenty of seasonally rotating options in the practically famous Sunshine Seasons bakery case. Now, here’s why you need to keep an eye out: some seasonal items are labeled as such. Take, for instance, the Warm Apple Crisp, which was simply labeled “Seasonal Dessert” in the case. Others, though, just seem to appear with the change of… well, the seasons!

And the Lemon Berry Mousse Cake, which we’re sharing with you today, heralds the fruity flavors of spring and summer in a somewhat unexpected fashion.

Even tucked in among longtime crowd favorites like the Carrot Cake Cupcake, Key Lime Tart, and the Mickey Whoopie Pie, the Lemon Berry Mousse Cake still manages to stand out thanks to its unique appearance comprised of deep purple mousse and yellow cake with a whipped cream garnish.

Sold. Because how could we not at least try a layer cake that looks as unique as this?

Those distinct layers consist of lemon-flavored cake and berry-flavored mousse, topped with a thin layer of evenly spread glaze and a dollop of whipped cream.

The precision of the layers is pretty impressive, since the colors are high-contrast. The lighter lemon cake has a consistency similar to pound cake, but the lemon flavor is delightfully pronounced.

The berry mousse is comprised of raspberry and strawberry according to our taste buds (although the dark color indicates a little  blueberry action as well). The mousse is dense enough to stand up to the cake layers, but still smooth and light enough to provide an interesting texture contrast.

The gelatin-like glaze on top is very thin. But it adds some shine, so you can feel a little fancy! And for just a hint of creaminess, a swirl of vanilla bean whipped cream accents the top. The final touch is a tiny bit of lemon peel.

One thing is clear: the chefs at Sunshine Seasons are having some fun with these seasonal selections! And in the case of the Lemon Berry Mousse Cake, we think they’ve got a win on their hands. In fact, while we were browsing the selections, a manager mentioned that this is his current favorite dessert at Sunshine Seasons. And we agree that it’s a solid choice!

Do you have a favorite Sunshine Seasons dessert? Let us know!