Description
Enjoy a delicious Strawberry Layer Cake with three moist layers of vanilla cake, a sweet strawberry filling, and creamy cream cheese frosting. Perfect for any celebration or a delightful everyday treat!
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2–3 tablespoons heavy cream (optional, for consistency)
- Fresh strawberries, whole or halved
- Mint leaves (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour three 9-inch round cake pans.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar using an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy (about 3-4 minutes).
- Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
- Alternate adding the dry flour mixture and the buttermilk to the butter mixture, starting with a third of the flour mixture, mixing until just combined, then adding half of the buttermilk. Repeat, ending with the flour mixture. Avoid overmixing.
- Divide the batter evenly among the three prepared cake pans and smooth the tops.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cakes cool in the pans for about 10 minutes, then turn them out onto wire racks to cool completely.
- In a medium saucepan, combine the sliced strawberries, granulated sugar, and lemon juice. Stir gently to coat the strawberries.
- In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch with the water until smooth. Add this mixture to the strawberries in the saucepan.
- Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the mixture starts to bubble and thicken (about 5-7 minutes). Remove from heat and let cool completely.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and butter together until smooth and creamy (about 2-3 minutes).
- Gradually add the powdered sugar, mixing on low speed until combined. Increase the speed to medium and beat until fluffy (about 3-4 minutes).
- Stir in the vanilla extract. If the frosting is too thick, add heavy cream, one tablespoon at a time, until desired consistency is reached.
Notes
- Ensure all ingredients are at room temperature for the best results.
- You can adjust the sweetness of the strawberry filling by adding more or less sugar based on your preference.
- For a more vibrant color, you can mash some of the strawberries before adding them to the filling.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes