Strawberry Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Learn how to make the perfect strawberry cake with fresh strawberries and cream cheese frosting. Moist, fluffy, and packed with real fruit flavor! Perfect for birthdays and special occasions - get the full recipe now!

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Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Cheese Cake, Strawberry Cake

Prep Time: 45

Cook Time: 30

Total Time: 1 15

Servings: 12

Calories: 485kcal

Cost: $25-$30

Equipment

Two 9-inch cake pans
Stand mixer or hand mixer
Blender or food processor
Measuring cups and spoons
Cooling racks
Parchment paper

Ingredients

For the Cake:

3 cups cake flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 cups granulated sugar
4 large eggs, room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 ½ cups fresh strawberry puree (about 4 cups fresh strawberries)
¼ cup whole milk
Pink/red food coloring (optional)

For the Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting:

16 oz cream cheese, softened
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
4-5 cups powdered sugar
½ cup strawberry reduction (from 1 cup fresh strawberries)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of salt

Instructions

Preparing the Strawberries

Hull and chop fresh strawberries for the cake batter. Blend them until smooth to make the puree.
For the frosting, cook 1 cup of pureed strawberries over medium heat until reduced by half, about 15-20 minutes. Let cool completely.

Making the Cake

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch cake pans, lining the bottoms with parchment paper.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl or stand mixer, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in vanilla extract.
Alternate adding the dry ingredients and strawberry puree to the butter mixture, starting and ending with the flour mixture. Mix until just combined.
Add milk and stir until smooth. If desired, add a few drops of food coloring for a deeper pink color.
Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans.
Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Cool in pans for 10 minutes, then remove and cool completely on wire racks.

Making the Frosting

Beat cream cheese and butter together until smooth and creamy.
Gradually add powdered sugar, mixing until well combined.
Add cooled strawberry reduction, vanilla extract, and salt. Beat until smooth and fluffy.

Notes

Room Temperature Ingredients: Make sure all refrigerated ingredients are at room temperature before starting. This ensures even mixing and a smoother batter.
Don't Overmix: Mix the batter just until ingredients are combined to maintain the cake's fluffy texture.
Strawberry Selection: Choose ripe, bright red strawberries for the best flavor. If fresh strawberries aren't in season, you can use frozen (thawed) strawberries.

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