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Fresh Strawberry Lemonade Cake

Fresh Strawberry Lemonade Cake Recipe - A moist tender layer cake with fresh summer strawberries hiding in the middle, topped with lemon cream cheese frosting!

Prep Time
25 mins
Cook Time
25 mins
Total Time
50 mins
Servings: 16 slices
Calories: 159 kcal
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

For the Fresh Strawberry Lemonade Cake:
  • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter softened
  • 2 3/4 cups cake flour or 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour + 1/4 cup cornstarch
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/4 cup whole milk
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tablespoon strawberry extract
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • zest of two lemons
  • 3-9 drops Red food coloring, optional
  • 40 small fresh ripe strawberries, trimmed
For the Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting:
  • 16 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 5-7 cups powdered sugar

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line two 9-inch cake pans with parchment paper circles then spray with nonstick cooking spray.
For the Cake:
    Cup of Yum
  1. In the bowl of an electric stand mixer, cream the sugar and butter on high until light and fluffy, 3-5 minutes. Scrape the bowl with a spatula. Turn the mixer on low and add in the baking powder, salt, eggs, strawberry and vanilla extracts, and lemon zest. Scrape the bowl again and slowly beat in the flour and milk. Mix in food coloring if desired.
  2. Once smooth, pour the batter into the two cake pans. Bake for approximately 25 minutes, until toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes in the pans. Then flip the cakes out onto a cooling rack, remove the parchment paper, and cool completely.
For the Frosting:
  1. In a clean mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese until light and fluffy. Scrape the bowl and beat in the butter. (Do this separately to avoid clumps.) Turn the mixer on low and slowly add the lemon juice. One cup at a time, beat in the powdered sugar, until you reach your desired consistency. Scrape the bowl and beat again until very smooth.
To Assemble:
  1. Place one cake layer on a cake stand. Spread frosting over the cake in a thin layer. Press the strawberries, trimmed side down, over the surface of the cake Then slather more frosting over the berries, filling the spaces in between. Set the top cake layer over the strawberries and press to level. Dollop frosting over the top and spread in out and down over the sides.
For the Ombré Frosting Effect:
  1. Leave 1/2+ cup frosting in the mixing bowl. Add 1-3 drop red food coloring into the frosting and beat until the color is consistent. Starting at the bottom, spread the frosting around the edges. Then move upward in sweeping motions. Spread a little pink over the top if desired.

Notes

  • Bakers Tip: The easiest way to level and frost a cake is to take the time to freeze the cake layers first. Wrap each layer in plastic and freeze fore at least 2 hours. Then stack, level, and frost the cake as directed. Set the cake out on the counter for another 2-3 hours to thaw and soften. This helps ward off broken cake layers, slanted cakes, and crumbs in the frosting. This cake can sit out at room temperature, covered, for up to 3 days.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1slice Calories 159kcal (8%) Carbohydrates 19g (6%) Protein 1g (2%) Fat 8g (12%) Saturated Fat 5g (25%) Cholesterol 28mg (9%) Sodium 57mg (2%) Potassium 64mg (2%) Fiber 0g (0%) Sugar 14g (28%) Vitamin A 275IU (6%) Vitamin C 4.8mg (5%) Calcium 29mg (3%) Iron 0.1mg (1%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 16slices

Amount Per Serving

Calories 159

% Daily Value*

Serving 1slice
Calories 159kcal 8%
Carbohydrates 19g 6%
Protein 1g 2%
Fat 8g 12%
Saturated Fat 5g 25%
Cholesterol 28mg 9%
Sodium 57mg 2%
Potassium 64mg 1%
Fiber 0g 0%
Sugar 14g 28%
Vitamin A 275IU 6%
Vitamin C 4.8mg 5%
Calcium 29mg 3%
Iron 0.1mg 1%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.