Vanilla Layer Cake With Strawberries Recipes

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.

VANILLA LAYER CAKE WITH STRAWBERRIES

Steps:

• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees, with rack in the center position. Spray and line the bottoms of your cake pans with parchment paper and spray again, generously, with non-stick baking spray.
• Using your stand mixer fitted with the flat beater (or paddle) attachment, beat together the Land O Lakes® Butter with Canola Oil and sugar on medium high speed until pale and fluffy, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed, for about 2 minutes. Reduce the speed to medium-low and add the eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition.
• In a separate bowl, whisk together the sour cream, milk and vanilla extract. Pour this into the bowl with the Land O Lakes® Butter with Canola Oil and sugar mixture. In a separate bowl, whisk together your dry ingredients: the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add your dry ingredients into the mixing bowl and mix on medium speed until smooth and incorporated.
• Evenly divide the cake batter between the two cake pans and bake, rotating halfway through, until the tops spring back when gently touched and a cake tester inserted in the centers comes out clean, for about 30 minutes. Transfer to wire racks and let cool in pans for about 20 minutes.
• Using your stand mixer fitted with the flat beater attachment, beat the Land O Lakes® Unsalted Butter on medium speed until creamy and smooth, for about 2 minutes.
• Add in 4 and 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar, the heavy cream, vanilla extract and the salt. Beat on low speed for about 30 seconds, then increase to high and beat for 3 full minutes. Taste and adjust as needed: Add up to 1/2 cup more confectioners' sugar if buttercream is too thin or another tablespoon of heavy cream if it's too thick.
• Run a knife around the edges of the cakes, and invert onto racks. Remove the parchment paper and discard. *If you want to level your cakes, I highly recommend chilling the cakes in the refrigerator for at least an hour, or you can bake these cakes a day ahead and place into the freezer. This will make leveling the cakes much easier.
• To level your cakes: Place cake on level surface, and then, use a large serrated knife to slowly trim off the tops of the cakes to make them level.
• Place first cake on plate, cake stand, or a rotating cake turntable, (make sure this can fit into your refrigerator if you are going to do a crumb coat) and frost the top of the cake. Add sliced strawberries over the top. Place second cake on top and repeat: frost the top part of the cake.
• At this point you can do one of two things: 1) A crumb coat: using a thin layer of frosting, frost the entire cake and then set in your refrigerator for about 15 to 20 minutes and then frost again. This method helps you to achieve a cleaner frosted cake. 2) Simply frost the entire cake and use your offset spatula to create a fun design around the outside of the cake. Top with strawberries and enjoy! You can also decorate the outside of the cake with thinly sliced strawberries in a design and line them up around the bottom of the cake.

SIMPLE LAYER CAKE WITH VANILLA FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter two 8-inch round cake pans and line bottoms with parchment; butter parchment as well. Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Beat together butter and granulated sugar with a mixer on medium speed until combined, 1 to 2 minutes. Add eggs and beat well, scraping down sides of bowl as necessary. Reduce speed to low and gradually add flour mixture, beating until combined. Add milk and vanilla and beat until just combined.
• Divide batter between pans; smooth tops with an offset spatula. Bake until golden and a toothpick inserted into centers comes out clean, 33 to 35 minutes. Let cakes cool in pans on wire racks 15 minutes. Turn out cakes onto racks to cool completely.
• Beat together butter and cream cheese with a mixer on medium-high speed until pale and creamy, about 1 minute. Reduce speed to medium. Add confectioner's sugar, 1 cup at a time, beating well after each addition. Add salt, milk, and vanilla and beat until fluffy, about 3 minutes. If not using immediately, cover surface of frosting with plastic wrap. Frosting can be refrigerated in an airtight container up to 1 week. Before using, bring to room temperature, then beat on low speed until smooth.
• Place 1 cake layer on a cake plate and spread 1 cup frosting on top. Place remaining cake layer on top. Spread top and sides of cake with remaining frosting, swirling to coat in a decorative fashion. (If frosting becomes too soft, refrigerate to firm up.) Cake can be covered with a cake dome and refrigerated overnight. Bring cake to room temperature before serving.

VANILLA LAYER CAKE WITH STRAWBERRIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease and flour three 8-inch cake pans.
• Beat cake mix, milk, oil, eggs, and vanilla pudding mix together in a large bowl with an electric mixer on low speed until just blended. Scrape the bowl, increase mixer speed to medium, and beat until batter is smooth, about 4 minutes. Pour batter into prepared cake pans.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool in the pans for 10 minutes before transferring cakes to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Beat cream cheese, confectioners' sugar, and white sugar together in a bowl with an electric mixer until smooth; fold in whipped topping until frosting is smooth.
• Place 1 cake on a serving platter. Spread frosting on top of the cake; top frosting with a layer of strawberries. Place 1 cake atop strawberries. Frost cake and top with a layer of strawberries. Place remaining cake atop strawberries, frost the top and sides of the cake, and top with remaining strawberries.

MY BEST VANILLA CAKE - STAYS MOIST 4 DAYS!

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 180°C/350°F (160°C fan) for 20 minutes before starting the batter (Note 8). Place shelf in the middle of the oven.
• Grease 2 x 20cm / 8" cake pans with butter, then line with parchment / baking paper. (Note 9 more pan sizes) Best to use cake pan without loose base, if you can.
• Whisk flour, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Set aside.
• Beat eggs for 30 seconds on speed 6 of a Stand Mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, or hand beater.
• With the beater still going, pour the sugar in over 45 seconds.
• Then beat for 7 minutes on speed 8, or until tripled in volume and white.
• Heat Milk-Butter: While egg is beating, place butter and milk in a heatproof jug and microwave 2 minutes on high to melt butter (or use stove). Do not let milk bubble and boil (foam ok). Don't do this ahead and let the milk cool (this affects rise).
• Gently add flour: When the egg is whipped, scatter 1/3 flour across surface, then beat on Speed 1 for 5 seconds. Add half remaining flour, then mix on Speed 1 for 5 sec. Add remaining flour, then mix on Speed 1 for 5 - 10 sec until the flour is just mixed in. Once you can't see flour, stop straight away.
• Lighten hot milk with some Egg Batter: Pour hot milk, vanilla and oil into the now empty flour bowl. Add about 1 1/2 cups (2 ladles or so) of the Egg Batter into the Milk-Butter (don't need to be 100% accurate with amount). Use a whisk to mix until smooth - you can be vigorous here. Will look foamy.
• Slowly add milk: Turn beater back on Speed 1 then pour the Milk mixture into the Egg Batter over 15 seconds, then turn beater off.
• Scrape and final mix: Scrape down sides and base of bowl. Beat on Speed 1 for 10 seconds - batter should now be smooth and pourable.
• Pour batter into pans.
• Knock out bubbles: Bang each cake pan on the counter 3 times to knock out big bubbles (Note 10 for why)
• Bake 30 minutes or until golden and toothpick inserted into centre comes out clean.
• Remove from oven. Cool in cake pans for 15 minutes, then gently turn out onto cooling racks. If using as layer cakes, cool upside down - slight dome will flatten perfectly. Level cake = neat layers.
• Frost with frosting of choice, or cream and fresh berries or jam. See list of ideas in post!
• Beat butter with paddle attachment in stand mixer for 3 minutes on high until it changes from yellow to almost white, and it becomes fluffy and creamy.
• Add icing sugar / powdered sugar gradually in 3 lots, beating slowly (to avoid a powder storm) then once mostly incorporated, beat on high for a full 3 minutes until fluffy.
• Add vanilla and milk, then beat for a further 30 seconds. Use milk only if needed to make it lovely and soft but still holds it's form (eg for piping). Use immediately. (If you make ahead, refrigerate then beat to re-fluff).