Description
Strawberry Cake brings pure joy right to your kitchen with fresh, ripe berries dancing through a tender, moist crumb. Slice into this sweet celebration and savor the delightful taste of summer in one perfect bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 cup fresh strawberries
Supporting Ingredients:
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup strawberry puree
- ½ teaspoon pink food coloring
Frosting Ingredients:
- 16 ounces cream cheese
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup fresh strawberries
Instructions
- Prepare your workspace by setting the oven to 350°F and coating two 9-inch round cake pans with butter or cooking spray.
- Combine 2 ½ cups flour, 2 tsp baking powder, and ½ tsp salt in a bowl, sifting to remove any lumps.
- Use an electric mixer to cream 1 cup butter with 2 cups sugar until the mixture becomes light and airy, about 3-4 minutes.
- Incorporate 4 eggs into the butter mixture one at a time, ensuring each is fully blended before adding the next.
- Pour 1 tsp vanilla extract into the mixture and blend thoroughly.
- Alternate adding the dry ingredient mixture and 1 cup milk to the batter, mixing gently until just combined.
- Gently fold 1 cup chopped strawberries and ½ cup strawberry puree into the batter.
- Optional: Add ½ tsp pink food coloring to enhance the strawberry hue.
- Evenly distribute the batter between the prepared cake pans.
- Slide pans into the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Allow cakes to rest in pans for 10 minutes after removing from oven.
- Transfer cakes to wire racks and let them cool completely.
- Whip 16 oz cream cheese with 1 cup butter until completely smooth.
- Gradually mix in 4 cups powdered sugar and 1 tsp vanilla, beating until the frosting becomes creamy.
- Carefully spread frosting between cake layers and across the entire exterior.
- Garnish the top with ½ cup fresh strawberry slices for a beautiful finish.
- Chill the cake in the refrigerator for 1 hour to help the frosting set and enhance the flavors.
Notes
- Fresh strawberries make a big difference, so choose ripe, sweet berries for the most flavor.
- Chop strawberries into small pieces so they distribute evenly throughout the cake batter without sinking.
- For a gluten-free version, swap the all-purpose flour with a cup-for-cup gluten-free flour blend to keep the same texture.
- Let cream cheese and butter come to room temperature before making frosting to ensure a smooth, lump-free consistency.
- Prep Time: 20-25 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Cakes
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 491 kcal
- Sugar: 54 g
- Sodium: 153 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 65 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 92 mg