Easy Strawberry Cake Recipe


Recipe summary
A moist, tender strawberry cake layered with strawberry-flavored cream cheese frosting, featuring a homemade strawberry reduction for intense flavor and beautiful pink color.
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh strawberries
- 1 teaspoon red food coloring (optional)
- 330g (2 3/4 cups) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 227g (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 400g (2 cups) granulated sugar
- 4 large egg whites, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 226g (8 oz) cream cheese
- 226g (8 oz) unsalted butter, room temperature
Method
- 1
Hull and halve the strawberries, then blend into a puree.
- 2
Simmer the strawberry puree over medium heat for about 25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until water evaporates and flavor concentrates.
- 3
Strain the reduction to remove excess water and let it cool to near room temperature.
- 4
Add a drop of red food coloring to the reduction if desired for a pink hue.
- 5
Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Butter and flour two 9-inch cake pans or three 6-inch pans.
- 6
Mix dry ingredients: flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder.
- 7
Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.
- 8
Separate egg whites and add them one at a time to the creamed mixture, mixing well after each addition.
- 9
Add vanilla extract.
- 10
Alternately add dry ingredients, milk, and strawberry reduction to the creamed mixture in three batches, starting and ending with dry ingredients.
- 11
Divide batter evenly into prepared pans and smooth the tops.
- 12
Bake for about 30 minutes or until the centers are springy to the touch.
- 13
While cakes bake, beat together softened butter and cream cheese until smooth.
- 14
Add vanilla and a pinch of salt, then mix until combined.
- 15
Once cakes are cooled, spread strawberry frosting between layers and over the top.






