Fresh Strawberry Layer Cake Recipes

FRESH STRAWBERRY LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour two 9-inch cake pans.
• Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.
• Combine milk, vinegar, and vanilla extract in another bowl.
• Beat sugar and lard together in a mixing bowl using an electric mixer until creamy. Add eggs and beat to combine. Beat in flour mixture alternately with milk mixture and strawberry puree, making 3 dry and 2 wet additions. Beat for 1 minute. Pour evenly into the prepared pans.
• Drop cake pans 2 to 3 times on the countertop to break any air bubbles.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the centers of the cakes comes out clean, 30 to 40 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool on wire racks for 10 minutes. Turn cakes out onto the rack to cool completely, 15 to 30 minutes more.
• Ice cooled cake using vanilla frosting between the layers and on the top and sides.

OLD-FASHIONED STRAWBERRY LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven and position the oven rack: Preheat the oven to 350°F and position a rack to the center of the oven.
• Combine the wet ingredients: In a large glass measuring cup or medium bowl mix 3/4 cup of the strawberry preserves, plus the buttermilk, vanilla, and food coloring (if using), until smooth.
• Sift and combine the dry ingredients: Into a large bowl sift the flour, baking powder, and salt together. Set aside.
• Cool cakes: Cool the cake in the pans on a rack, for 10 minutes. Then, invert the pans, peel off the paper liners, and cool completely.
• Cut the cake into layers: With a long serrated knife, split each cooled cake into 2 layers, creating 4 layers in total.

STRAWBERRY LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Make the cake: Preheat oven to 350 degrees, with rack in center position. Butter two 9-inch round cake pans (2 inches deep); line with parchment cut to fit. Butter parchment; dust with flour, tapping out excess. Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and 1 teaspoon salt.
• Beat butter and granulated sugar with a mixer on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, scraping down sides of bowl as needed, about 2 minutes. Reduce speed to medium, and add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in flour mixture, alternating with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour. Beat in vanilla.
• Divide batter between pans. Bake, rotating halfway through, until tops spring back when gently touched and a cake tester inserted into centers comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Transfer to wire racks, and let cool in pans for 20 minutes.
• Run a knife around edge of cakes, and invert onto racks; remove parchment, and let cool completely.
• Make the filling: Combine strawberries with granulated sugar, lemon juice, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Let stand, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes. Strain, reserving syrup.
• Whisk cream with confectioners' sugar until medium peaks form.
• Trim cake tops. Slice cakes in half horizontally. Generously brush 1 cake layer with some reserved syrup, and spread on one-third of the jam. Top with one-third of the filling, then one-third of the whipped cream. Repeat with 2 more cake layers. Top with remaining cake layer, bottom side up. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 2 hours. Dust cake with confectioners' sugar just before serving.