Three Layer Strawberry Cake Recipes

TRIPLE-LAYER STRAWBERRY CAKE WITH FRESH STRAWBERRY BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

Steps:

• Combine fresh strawberries and two tablespoons of sugar in a blender. Pulse until strawberries are reduced to a pulp. DO NOT blend until smooth. (You will use ½ cup of the puree for the cake. Reserve the remaining puree to use in the frosting.) Set aside and allow to macerate further while you perform next few steps.
• Preheat oven to 350°F | 175°C. Grease and flour three 9-inch round cake pans.
• Whip eggs whites until they form medium peaks. Set aside.
• Combine sifted flour and baking powder. Set aside.
• Whisk together milk, strawberry puree, lemon zest, and vanilla. Set aside.
• In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter, sugar, dry strawberry Jell-O®, and salt. Beat in eggs yolks one at a time.
• Stir flour mixture into batter alternately with strawberry-milk mixture.
• Gently fold in whipped egg whites.
• Pour batter evenly into the three prepared cake pans. Bake in preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick or skewer comes out clean.
• Allow cakes to cool in their pans over wire rack for at least 10 minutes. Carefully tap out onto wire rack to cool completely.
• Using an electric mixer, beat butter on medium-high until light and fluffy.
• With mixer on low, add powdered sugar to the whipped butter alternately with ⅓ cup pureed strawberries. Combine thoroughly into a soft, creamy mixture that will hold its shape. Cool in the refrigerator for 10 minutes, or until it has firmed up slightly.
• Spread the top of the bottom layer of cake with frosting. Add the middle layer and refrigerate again until the frosting has firmed up a bit. Add the top layer and frost sides and top of cake. For a cleaner frosting, apply a crumb coat first to keep the crumbs out of your final frosting. If you are spreading the frosting on thick, you may want to refrigerate the cake after you apply the frosting between each layer until the frosting has firmed just a bit; about 10-15 minutes for each layer. (If you are frosting it thin, you probably won't need to do this.)
• Decorate with fresh strawberries if desired.

WHITE LAYER CAKE WITH WHIPPED CREAM FROSTING AND STRAWBERRY FILLING

Steps:

• Rough-chop 1½ pounds (about 3 cups) strawberries.
• Halve the remaining 1 pound of strawberries and reserve for the topping.
• In a large saucepan, whisk together the water and cornstarch until smooth.
• Add strawberries, sugar, and salt; stir well.
• Cook the mixture over medium heat, stirring often. After the strawberries cook about 3 minutes, mash about half of them.
• Continue cooking and stirring the mixture until thickened, about 15 minutes.
• Remove from heat.
• Add lemon juice and stir well.
• If desired, add red food coloring; stir well.
• Pour the mixture into a heat-resistant, airtight refrigerator container. Cool to room temperature, stir, cover and refrigerate until ready to use (at least 2 hours and up to 5 days).
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the whipping cream on medium-high speed until thickened. Add ½ cup powdered sugar and whisk until very stiff peaks form. Set aside.
• Place cream cheese, ¼ cup powdered sugar, vanilla, almond, and salt in another mixing bowl. Whisk on medium-high speed for 4 minutes, scraping downs the sides as needed, until creamy and fluffy.
• Add the whipped cream and whisk, on low speed, until fully incorporated.
• Increase the speed to medium-high and whisk until light and fluffy and the mixture has firm peaks.
• Keep refrigerated in an airtight container up to 24 hours
• Adjust the oven rack to lower-middle position and preheat oven to 325°F.
• Line 2 (if making a 4-layer cake) and 3 (if making a 3-layer cake) 8x3-inch aluminum cake pans with parchment and spray with nonstick cooking spray.
• Sift the flour into a large mixing bowl; set aside.
• Add butter, coconut oil, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer. Fit the mixer with the paddle attachment. Set the mixer to low to moisten, then switch to medium speed and cream until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes, scraping as needed.
• With the mixer running, add egg whites, one at a time.
• Add vanilla and almond extracts and mix 30 seconds.
• Scrape down the bowl and paddle.
• Set mixer to low speed and slowly add one-third of the flour, followed by one-third of the buttermilk. Mix just until each addition is roughly incorporated. Add the remaining flour and milk, alternately, one-third of each at a time. Mix just until smooth.
• Turn off the mixer and use a rubber spatula to scrape all dry ingredients from the bottom. Mix on low speed just until dry ingredients are incorporated.
• Divide batter evenly between the prepared cake pans and bake about 40 minutes or until the cakes internal temperature registers 210°F. The cakes should be pale, brown around the edges and firm. A toothpick inserted in the middle of each cake should come out almost clean - with just a few crumbs attached.
• Transfer cakes to a wire rack and cool 15 minutes. Remove cakes from the pans and remove the parchment. Return them to the wire racks to cool completely.
• If not serving the cake within a couple of hours, wrap the cake layers tightly with plastic wrap up to 24 hours ahead. Keep the frosting and filling refrigerated until ready to frost.
• If the Whipped Cream Frosting is too stiff to spread, leave it on the counter for about 15 minutes, stir or beat it for a few seconds and it should be good as new.
• Place one cake layer on a plate or cake stand and spread about 1½ cups Whipped Cream Frosting on top. Spread it evenly while building a ½-inch "barricade" of frosting around the edge to keep the filling from leaking out.
• Add about ½ cup Fresh Strawberry Filling in the middle of the frosting and spread it out evenly to the frosting "barricade".
• Add the next layer of cake and add the filling and frosting as before.
• After adding all the layers, frost the sides of the cake with Whipped Cream Frosting.
• For the top of the cake, arrange halved strawberries as desired.
• Refrigerate until ready to serve and serve within 6 hours.

3 LAYER CHEESY STRAWBERRY CAKE

Steps:

• Layer 1: Make this part 4 to 24 hours ahead: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Mix dry ingredients in a bowl.
• Cut in margarine until texture feels like corn meal.
• Combine wet ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Then add all at once to the dry ingredients. Mix just enough to make a soft dough.
• Using fingers, gently pat dough into the bottom of a 9 X 13 pan.
• Layer 2: Combine all ingredients.
• Beat until creamy with mixer on high.
• Spread over dough in the pan.
• Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until golden brown.
• Cool completely and cover.
• Refrigerate for 2 to 24 hours.
• Layer 3: 3 hours or less before serving:.
• Arrange berries on top of cake.
• Stir jelly to soften, then brush jelly over berries.
• Garnish with blueberries or toasted almond slices. (Toast almond slices in a fry pan over medium heat, stirring constantly until browned a bit.).

THREE LAYER STRAWBERRY CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350° and grease and flour 3 (9") round cake pans.
• Stir together cake mix and jello mix in a large bowl.
• Make a well in the center and pour in 1 cup mashed strawberries, oil, milk and eggs.
• Beat on low speed until blended.
• Scrape bowl and beat for 4 minutes on medium speed.
• Fold in the coconut and pecans.
• Divide the batter among the prepared pans.
• Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
• Let cool in pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely.
• For frosting, mash the 3/4 cup strawberries to make 1/2 cup, then drain well and set aside.
• In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth, then blend in powdered sugar and drained strawberries.
• Beat on medium speed until frosting lightens and is well combined.
• Fold in the coconut.
• Frost between layers and on top and sides.
• Chill uncovered for 30 minutes or until frosting sets, then cover and chill for 4 hours before serving.

TRIPLE-LAYER STRAWBERRY CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray three 9-inch cake pans with nonstick cooking spray.
• Mix cake mix, gelatin, eggs, oil, sugar, strawberries, milk, and flour for cake together in a large bowl with an electric mixer on low speed until just combined. Scrape the sides of the bowl, and increase mixer speed to medium; beat for 3 minutes. Pour cake batter evenly into the prepared pans.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the centers comes out clean, about 23 minutes. Cool cakes in pans on a rack for about 10 minutes. Remove from pans and cool completely in the refrigerator.
• Meanwhile, make frosting. Beat butter in a large bowl at medium speed until it's pale yellow and fluffy. Add confectioners' sugar and strawberries and beat at low speed until well combined and creamy. Set in the refrigerator for 5 to 10 minutes to firm it up slightly (you just don't want it to be runny).
• Spread one of the layers of cake with frosting then refrigerate. Frost the second layer and refrigerate until the frosting on both layers has firmed up a bit. Assemble all the layers and frost the top and sides. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

THE ULTIMATE FRESH STRAWBERRY CAKE

Steps:

• Make the 1 x batch strawberry compote according the recipe instructions. Reserve 1/2 cup (118 g) prepared compote for the cake batter, another 1/2 cup (118 g)for the frosting, and the remaining approximate heaping 1 Tbsp for layering the cake. If you make the compote in advance, keep refrigerated until using.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line 1/4 sheet pan with parchment paper, then spray the bottom (on top of the parchment) and sides of the pan with cooking spray.
• Heat the Salted Butter in the microwave in a microwave safe dish until just melted.
• Make strawberry puree by heating the 3 oz (3/4 cup) Frozen Strawberries until thawed in the microwave. Then puree the thawed strawberries in the food processor until it's a smooth puree. It should make about 1/4 cup puree.
• Combine the Strawberry Puree with the remaining Wet Ingredients in a large bowl and whisk until smooth and well-blended.
• Using a sifter or fine mesh strainer, sift the Dry Ingredients into a separate large bowl. Whisk until well blended.
• Pour Wet Ingredients into Dry Ingredients and whisk until incorporated. Pour Melted Salted Butter over batter and whisk in until incorporated. Add 1/2 cup Prepared Strawberry Compote and whisk until batter looks uniform and shiny.
• Pour batter into the prepared sheet pan and smooth out batter until even (an offset icing spatula works well for this). The batter will be about 1/4 inch from the top of a 1" tall sheet pan. (You can also bake in round pans or sheet-cake pans--see Note #3).
• Allow pan to set for 5-10 minutes before putting it in the oven. This will give time for the instant clearjel (or instant pudding mix) to thicken the cake batter before it bakes, allowing for a better rise.
• Bake in the middle or top rack (avoid bottom rack) of a preheated 325-degree oven for 16 minutes. Without opening the oven, turn the temperature down to 300 degrees and bake for another 8-10 minutes. Check the cake at this point. See if it is done by lightly touching the top of the cake--try to avoid moving the cake pan or baking rack, which could cause an underdone cake to sink. If jiggly at all to your touch, bake for another 1-5 minutes. The cake is done when a toothpick or small paring knife comes out clean when quickly stuck in the cake. A few moist crumbs on your knife are fine, but they shouldn't look wet.
• Allow cake to cool completely. To make a sheet cake, follow the Baker's Shortcut (Note #5), or choose your round cake size using the Cut and Stack method. Leave the cake in the sheet pan, and using a slight sawing motion, cut the cooled cake into your desired cake size with cake rings (You can use a knife and the cake rings as a guide for any halve pieces that you cut.) Brush lightly with simple syrup (optional, Note #4).
• Wrap thoroughly in plastic wrap and freeze cake in the pan for 2 hours or overnight. (You can even bake the cake up to a week ahead of time and freeze). The cake will be much easier to layer if it is cold or frozen. To wrap the cake, place another sheet of parchment on top of the cake (this will prevent the plastic wrap from sticking to the cake), and wrap the whole pan with plastic wrap. (I pull the plastic wrap out and place the pan on top of it. Then I wrap two ways horizontally and one way vertically so that there are two layers of wrap on all sides of the pan including the bottom).
• If using instant clearjel, whisk it thoroughly with the powdered sugar and set aside.
• Using a stand mixer (preferred) or handheld mixer and a large bowl, beat the cream cheese until broken up and softened. Add the room temperature salted butter and continue to beat until there are no lumps, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed.
• Once the cream cheese/butter mixture is very smooth and creamy without lumps, slowly sprinkle in the powdered sugar mixture while the mixer is on low. The mixture will be thick, but continue to slowly blend on low until it is fully incorporated.
• Add the pure vanilla, strawberry extract, and 1/2 reserved strawberry compote. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Then beat the buttercream on high for two-three minutes. This important step will add air into the buttercream and make it light and fluffy. The instant clearjel will cause the buttercream to thicken over the next 10 minutes. If you didn't use instant clearjel, you may wish to add up to an additional 1 cup(s) of powdered sugar to reach a thicker frosting. The frosting can be made a day or two in advance and refrigerated, but remove it from the fridge 1-2 hours before decorating your cake so it can be easily spread.
• The easiest way to layer the cake is to layer the cake from frozen the day before you plan to serve it. If serving the cake the same day you are layering it, use refrigerated cake layers instead of frozen.
• Use your two half-circles of cake to make the bottom cake layer (fill in with scraps if needed to make a level surface). Before topping with buttercream, spread each cake layer with a thin layer of your remaining strawberry compote. This just adds a little moisture and flavor boost. Fill your cake layers with around 1/4 inch strawberry buttercream. An offset icing spatula (I use the small and medium size on all my cakes) helps with this. I recommend frosting a thin crumb coat of buttercream on the outside of the cake which will catch all the crumby edges, then allow it to set up in the freezer for about 10 minutes until the buttercream is firm. Read more in my article: How to Bake and Layer Cakes Like a Pro: 5 Easy Steps. Remaining cake scraps can be used for cake truffles, cake parfaits or trifles.
• Spread a final layer of buttercream over your set-up crumbed cake, and decorate as desired. I used a small offset icing spatula to make a horizontal texture, then topped the cake with strawberry buttercream rosettes using a disposable piping bag and 1M star tip. Decorate the top of your cake with Fresh Strawberries.
• You can let the cake set up in the fridge, but remove it from the fridge 2-3 hours before serving so it can come back to room temperature (avoid warm temperatures). This cake has the best texture at room temperature. Enjoy!