Nonna Rosas Cream Cake With Fresh Strawberries Recipes

STRAWBERRIES & CREAM CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 3 (9-inch) round cake pans.
• In a large bowl, combine cake ingredients. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth.
• Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans. Bake for 17-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pans for 10 minutes before turning onto wire racks to cool completely.
• Meanwhile, make the frosting: in a medium bowl, beat the heavy cream until very stiff peaks form.
• In a separate large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with an electric mixer on high speed until light and fluffy.
• Add the sugar and vanilla to the cream cheese and beat until well combined.
• Gently fold the strawberries into the cream cheese mixture. The frosting will turn slightly pink. Mix until the frosting is a uniform color.
• Fold the whipped cream into the frosting in two batches.
• Spread 1 1/2 to 2 cups frosting over the top of one cake layer (don't be afraid to be generous). Place another cake layer on top and repeat.
• Place the third cake layer on top and frost the top and sides of the cake with the remaining frosting. Garnish with additional fresh strawberries, if desired.
• Refrigerate until serving. Keep leftover cake in the refrigerator.

NONNA ROSA'S CREAM CAKE WITH FRESH STRAWBERRIES

Steps:

• Prepare cake as instructed on box adding one teaspoon of almond extract to the batter. Bake in a 9"x12" cake pan.
• Let cool. Ice with cream cheese icing.
• Just before serving top individual slices with sliced strawberries. (May also add blueberries for a patriotic red, white and blue motif.)

STRAWBERRIES-AND-CREAM STACK CAKE

Steps:

• Combine granulated sugar and 3 tablespoons water in a small saucepan. Cover and bring to a boil over medium-high heat; continue boiling, covered, until sugar dissolves, about 1 minute. Uncover and continue boiling, swirling pan gently as color develops at edges of pan, until sugar turns medium amber and fragrant, 3 to 4 minutes more.
• Remove from heat; carefully add lemon zest and juice and 1/4 cup cold water (add water all at once and pull hand away immediately; mixture will splatter and steam). Stir until smooth; if necessary, return pan to low heat to liquefy completely. Transfer to a heatproof bowl; let cool until slightly warm to the touch, about 30 minutes.
• Whisk mascarpone, cream, confectioners' sugar, and salt on medium-high speed to stiff peaks. Working one at a time, dip 10 ladyfingers in caramel, turning to fully coat and allowing excess to drip back into bowl. Spread a very thin layer of cream mixture on bottom of each dipped ladyfinger (to prevent sliding); arrange on a platter in a snug row.
• Dollop one-third of remaining cream mixture on top; spread to edges in an even layer. Top with one-third of strawberries in a single layer. Repeat dipping and layering twice more (skipping the thin layer of cream mixture on bottom of cookies for remaining layers).
• Cover loosely but fully and refrigerate at least 24 hours and up to 2 days. Top with more halved or whole berries. To serve, slice between each row of ladyfingers.

FRESH STRAWBERRY CREAM CAKE

Steps:

• Beat together cake layer ingredients until well-mixed. Pour into a greased and floured sheet pan and bake at 350* for about 20-25 minutes. (until toothpick comes out clean) Allow cake to cool to room temperature. (I usually do all this the day before.).
• Cream together powdered sugar and cream cheese.
• Fold in whipped cream. (you could use Cool Whip, but I prefer real cream).
• Spread cream mixture over the baked and cooled cake.
• Slice fresh strawberries in half and arrange prettily cut side up over the cream layer.
• Pour glaze over the cut strawberries so that no white cream layer shows though.
• This cake is best served cold, so I always refrigerate for a couple hours before serving. Slice in squares and serve.