Description
Enjoy a slice of pure nostalgia with this scratch-made strawberry layer cake that features a tender buttery crumb and real fruit flavor. Ditch the artificial mixes for this vibrant dessert topped with a naturally flavored freeze-dried strawberry buttercream.
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 large egg white, room temperature
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 1/2 cups fresh strawberries, finely chopped and blotted
- 1/2 cup freeze-dried strawberries
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream or milk
- 1 pinch salt
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350ºF (177ºC) and grease and flour two 8-inch or 9-inch round cake pans.
- Whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl and set aside.
- Cream the softened butter and granulated sugar in a stand mixer for 2 to 3 minutes until pale and fluffy, then blend in the vanilla extract.
- Add the eggs and the extra egg white one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated before adding the next.
- With the mixer on low, add half of the flour mixture, then the milk, and finally the remaining flour mixture until just combined.
- Gently fold the blotted, chopped strawberries into the batter by hand using a rubber spatula.
- Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans and bake for 30-35 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool the cakes in the pans for 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Grind freeze-dried strawberries into a fine powder and beat with butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, salt, and milk to create the frosting, then frost the cooled cake layers.
Notes
To ensure the best texture, make sure your butter, eggs, and milk are all at true room temperature before you begin mixing. If your fresh strawberries are particularly large, chop them into very small pieces so they don’t weigh down the delicate cake batter during the baking process.
- Prep Time: 25 mins
- Cook Time: 35 mins
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American