Description
Strawberry cake filling brings summer sweetness right into your kitchen, creating delectable layers of fruity goodness that dance across your taste buds. Mixing fresh strawberries with creamy ingredients makes this simple spread the perfect partner for your favorite cake or pastry.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 2 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and cut into ½-inch wedges
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
Liquid Base:
- 2 tablespoons apple juice
- Apple cider (unfiltered apple juice)
- ¼ cup heavy cream
Supporting Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh sage
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Thoroughly dry 4 chicken thighs with paper towels and season generously with salt and pepper.
- Sear chicken thighs for 4-5 minutes per side until deep golden brown. Transfer browned chicken to a clean plate.
- Add 2 sliced Granny Smith apple wedges to the same pot. Sauté apples for 3-4 minutes until caramelized and golden. Remove apples and set aside.
- Lower heat to medium and add 1 diced yellow onion with 2 tablespoons apple juice. Scrape pan’s browned bits using a wooden spoon.
- Cook onions for 2-3 minutes until softened. Add 1 minced garlic clove and sauté for 45-60 seconds.
- Return chicken thighs to pot and pour unfiltered apple cider until almost covering the meat. Bring liquid to a boil, then reduce heat to low.
- Cover pot and simmer chicken for 6-7 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F. Check doneness with a meat thermometer.
- Reintroduce caramelized apple wedges to the pot. Stir in 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, ¼ cup heavy cream, and 1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage.
- Simmer uncovered for 5-6 minutes, allowing sauce to thicken. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper as needed.
- Transfer chicken and apple mixture to serving plates. Spoon extra sauce over the top and serve immediately.
Notes
- Keep the filling smooth by straining strawberries through a fine-mesh sieve to remove seeds and ensure a velvety texture.
- Enhance flavor depth by adding a splash of vanilla extract or orange liqueur to complement the natural strawberry sweetness.
- Cool the strawberry mixture completely before spreading on cake layers to prevent soggy or sliding cake sections.
- For a lighter version, substitute part of the sugar with honey or use a reduced-sugar strawberry preserve to create a more balanced filling.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
- Category: Cakes
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 248 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 180 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 9 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 19 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg