Homemade Strawberry Cake Recipe
User Reviews
4.6
Homemade Strawberry Cake Recipe
Description
This recipe begins with preparing strawberry puree by pureeing fresh strawberries and reducing it over low heat to concentrate flavor and thickness. The cooled puree is mixed into a cake batter made from cake flour, baking agents, soft butter, sugar, milk, canola oil, eggs, and vanilla plus strawberry extracts. Folding the puree with egg whites enhances the lightness and fluffiness of the final cake.
Baked at a moderate temperature, the cake produces a tender crumb with a fresh strawberry flavor throughout. The strawberry buttercream uses butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, salt, and additional reduced strawberry puree to maintain consistent strawberry notes and a creamy frosting texture.
This strawberry cake is suited for celebrations or as a fresh-flavored dessert, showcasing the natural fruit and balancing sweetness with the creamy frosting. It can also be prepared in different pan sizes, with adjusted baking times and frosting quantities.
Notes from feedback suggest this updated method improves rise and fluffiness. For a less sweet frosting, decreasing the butter and sugar while adjusting puree amounts is an option.
Ingredients
For the Strawberry Puree:
- 3 cups strawberries pureed*
For the Cake:
- 2 1/2 cups cake flour 300 grams
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup butter softened
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar 320 grams
- 1/2 cup milk 2%
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
- 1 teaspoon strawberry extract
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup Strawberry Puree reduced
- 5 large egg white
For the Buttercream:
- 1 1/2 cups butter at room temperature
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 5 1/4 cups powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1 cup Strawberry Puree reduced
Instructions
- *For the strawberry puree, clean and remove the stems on about 1 quart of strawberries. Cut them in half and place them in a food processor to blend them into a puree. You should end up with about 3 cups of strawberry puree.
- Place the strawberry puree in a small saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring often to prevent burning, until the strawberries have reduced to 1 1/2 cups of puree. I've found this to take about 30-45 minutes.
- Allow the reduced strawberry puree to cool completely. (I often make this a day in advance so it has plenty of time to cool.)
For the Cake:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Sift together the cake flour, baking powder, soda and salt into a medium size bowl. Set aside.
- In the bowl of stand mixer, cream together the softened butter and sugar.
- Add the milk, oil and extracts. Beat on medium speed for 2minutes.
- Add the reduced strawberry puree and egg whites. Beat for an additional 2 minutes.
- Add the flour mixture and stir until well combined, but be careful not to overmix. Scrape the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Grease and flour two 9" round cake pans. Divide the batter between the cake pans.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes, or until the cake springs back when you touch the center of it. Allow the cakes to sit for 5 minutes, then remove them from the pans to a wire rack to cool completely.
For the Buttercream:
- In a stand mixer bowl, with the mixer on medium speed, whip the butter for 2-3 minutes until it is almost white in color. Add in the salt, powdered sugar, vanilla extract. Mix on low speed until blended. Add in the reduced strawberry puree, 1/4 a cup until the frosting is the consistency you'd like. Add a drop or two of red food coloring if you'd like the cake to be a little pinker. Beat on low speed again for 1-2 minutes.
Assemble the Cake:
- Frost the top of one of the round cakes, then place the second cake on top of that.
- Frost the entire outside of the cake with the strawberry frosting, making it as smooth as possible.
- Decorate the top with cut or whole strawberries, if desired.
- Cover and refrigerate until serving.
Notes
- The reduced strawberry puree can be made ahead and should cool completely before use.
- You can bake this cake in a 9x13 pan, adjusting baking time until a skewer comes out clean.
- For less frosting, reduce butter and powdered sugar quantities and add strawberry puree slowly to reach desired consistency.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 15servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 554 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 554kcal | 28% |
| Carbohydrates | 80g | 27% |
| Protein | 4g | 8% |
| Fat | 25g | 38% |
| Saturated Fat | 15g | 75% |
| Cholesterol | 65mg | 22% |
| Sodium | 391mg | 16% |
| Potassium | 162mg | 3% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 63g | 126% |
| Vitamin A | 775IU | 16% |
| Vitamin C | 16.9mg | 19% |
| Calcium | 53mg | 5% |
| Iron | 0.4mg | 2% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.