Description
This Strawberry Cake is bursting with fresh berry flavor, combining a tender, moist crumb with a rich cream cheese frosting enhanced by freeze-dried strawberries. Perfect for celebrations, it’s both beautiful and delicious.
Ingredients
Scale
- ½ cup freeze-dried strawberries (for flavoring and frosting)
- 1½ cups fresh strawberries (for the cake batter)
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup cornstarch
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1¾ cups granulated sugar (for batter and frosting)
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- 4 large egg whites
- 1 cup milk
- 3 cups confectioners’ sugar (for frosting)
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup heavy cream (for frosting)
Instructions
- Prepare the Strawberry Puree: Blitz freeze-dried strawberries into a fine powder. Set aside. Puree fresh strawberries and reduce in a saucepan over medium heat until halved. Cool completely.
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line two 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: Beat butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy (3–5 minutes). Add oil and egg whites, mixing until combined.
- Combine Batter: Alternately add the dry ingredients and milk to the butter mixture. Fold in the cooled strawberry puree until fully incorporated.
- Bake: Divide batter between prepared pans and bake for 25–30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool in pans for 10 minutes, then on a wire rack completely.
- Make Frosting: Sift together confectioners’ sugar and freeze-dried strawberry powder. In another bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add sugar mixture and heavy cream gradually. Beat until fluffy.
- Assemble: Level cake layers if needed. Place one layer on a platter, spread frosting on top, then add the second layer. Frost top and sides. Decorate with piped frosting or crushed freeze-dried strawberries. Chill until ready to serve.
Notes
- Gluten-Free: Use a gluten-free flour blend.
- Dairy-Free: Use plant-based margarine, dairy-free milk, and vegan cream cheese.
- Vegan: Replace egg whites with aquafaba or flaxseed meal with water.
- Lower Sugar: Substitute with coconut sugar, stevia, or erythritol.
- Flavor Enhancers: Add lemon zest or vanilla extract for added depth.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 460
- Sugar: 45g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 55g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
Keywords: strawberry cake, fresh strawberry dessert, cream cheese frosting, birthday cake, pink cake