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Strawberry Layer Cake

Strawberry Layer Cake Recipe

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Prep Time 40 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 10 servings
Calories: 562
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 ½ cups (320 g) all-purpose flour
  • 2 ½ tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp fine salt
  • ¾ cup (170 g) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 ¾ cups (350 g) granulated sugar
  • 3 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup (240 ml) buttermilk, room temperature
  • ½ cup (120 ml) reduced strawberry puree, cooled
  • 8 oz (226 g) full-fat cream cheese, softened
  • ½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 4 cups (480 g) powdered sugar
  • 3 to 4 tbsp reduced strawberry puree, cooled
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • Pinch of fine salt
  • 1 lb (450 g) fresh strawberries
  • 6 to 8 additional fresh strawberries for topping

Method
 

  1. Blend 1 lb of hulled strawberries until smooth, then simmer in a saucepan until reduced by half, about 10 to 12 minutes. Cool completely.
  2. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease two 8-inch round cake pans. Whisk dry ingredients; cream butter and sugar for 3 to 4 minutes, then add eggs and vanilla. Alternate adding dry mix and buttermilk, then fold in ½ cup of the cooled puree.
  3. Divide batter between pans and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes, then turn out onto a rack to cool completely.
  4. Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth, then gradually mix in powdered sugar. Add 3 to 4 tablespoons of reduced puree, vanilla, and a pinch of salt, and whip until light and spreadable.
  5. Place one cake layer on a plate, spread with frosting, top with the second layer, and frost the top and sides. Decorate with fresh strawberry slices and serve.

Notes

Cool the cake layers completely before assembling, or the frosting will melt and slide. The puree must be cooled too, otherwise it warms the batter and softens the frosting. If you want to bake the layers a day ahead, wrap them tightly at room temperature and frost the next day.