Traditional Strawberry Delight

🕒 Prep: 20 min
🔥 Cook: 30 min
🍽 Serves: 12
★★★★★
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Embark on a delightful journey with this Traditional Strawberry Delight, a cake that captures the essence of sweet, ripe strawberries nestled within a fluffy, buttery cake. Perfect for any occasion, this recipe combines timeless flavors with a touch of modern freshness.

Ingredients for Traditional Strawberry Delight

Unsalted butter provides the rich, creamy foundation for your cake, ensuring a tender crumb. Granulated sugar sweetens the mix just right, balancing the tartness of the fresh strawberries. These berries are the stars, adding bursts of juicy flavor throughout. Eggs give structure and richness, while vanilla extract enhances the overall aroma with its warm, inviting scent.

Our dry mix of all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt creates the perfect base, giving your cake lift and flavor. Whole milk adds moisture and blends everything together seamlessly. Strawberry jam complements the fresh fruit with a concentrated berry flavor. A touch of lemon zest brightens the dish, and the heavy whipping cream with confectioners' sugar forms a luscious, light frosting with a hint of vanilla.

Tips & Tricks

  • Ensure your butter is truly softened for easier, more even mixing.
  • If your strawberries are particularly juicy, pat them dry before folding into the batter.
  • Cool cakes completely to prevent the whipped cream from melting off.
  • Use a serrated knife to level the cake layers if they dome during baking.

Serving Suggestions

For a delightful touch, serve this cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of crème fraîche on the side. A sprinkle of fresh mint leaves can add a refreshing contrast to the sweetness of the cake. Paired with a chilled glass of sparkling rosé, this dessert becomes a celebration unto itself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use frozen strawberries?
Yes, but thaw and drain them to prevent excess moisture from affecting the cake texture.
How do I store leftovers?
Keep the cake refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Can I make this cake gluten-free?
Substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend, ensuring it includes a binding agent like xanthan gum.

Traditional Strawberry Delight Recipe Walkthrough

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). While it's warming up, grab two 9-inch round cake pans and give them a generous greasing. This ensures your cakes release effortlessly after baking. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until the mixture appears light and fluffy. This is when the magic begins.

Add the eggs one by one, beating well after each addition to ensure they're fully incorporated. Stir in the vanilla extract, which will infuse the batter with its sweet, aromatic notes. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. This dry mixture will be added to the wet ingredients, so make sure it's well combined.

Now, it's time to blend the dry and wet ingredients. Do this step gently, alternating between the flour mix and the milk. Start and finish with the flour, mixing until just combined. Overmixing can result in a denser cake, so aim for that perfect balance. Gently fold in the sliced strawberries and lemon zest, distributing them evenly throughout the batter.

Divide the batter between your prepared pans, smoothing the tops with a spatula. Slide them into the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes. The cakes are done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let them cool in the pans for 10 minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.

For the frosting, whip the heavy cream, confectioners' sugar, and vanilla extract until soft peaks form. It's this creamy topping that will tie the whole cake together. Spread a thin layer of strawberry jam over one cake layer, followed by a generous amount of whipped cream. Stack the second cake layer on top, then frost the top and sides with the remaining whipped cream. Garnish with extra sliced strawberries if you're feeling fancy.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

  • Perfect balance between fresh strawberries and creamy whipped topping.
  • Simple steps with impressive results that will wow your guests.
  • Uses everyday ingredients you likely already have in your pantry.
  • Versatile for celebrations or a simple weekday treat.

Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 cups granulated sugar
3 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup whole milk
2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
1/2 cup strawberry jam
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 cup heavy whipping cream
2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Step-by-step Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease two 9-inch round cake pans.
2. In a large bowl, cream the butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
3. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition, then stir in vanilla extract.
4. In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
5. Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture alternately with the milk, beginning and ending with the flour mixture.
6. Fold in the sliced strawberries and lemon zest gently.
7. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans and smooth the tops.
8. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
9. Allow cakes to cool in pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto wire racks to cool completely.
10. For the frosting, whip the heavy cream, confectioners' sugar, and vanilla extract until soft peaks form.
11. Spread a thin layer of strawberry jam on top of one cake layer, then spread some whipped cream over the jam.
12. Place the second cake layer on top and spread remaining whipped cream over the top and sides of the cake.
13. Decorate with additional sliced strawberries if desired.

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