Strawberry Dream Cake

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It’s my 4 year blogiversary!   Can you believe that I’m been blogging at Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks for 4 years?  I can’t!   My blog has grown so much in the past 4 years.  I started out with a tiny point and shoot camera and didn’t really know what I was doing.   Since then I’ve gotten a DSLR camera, several lenses, editing software, and a camera with a decent phone.    It’s been a fabulous journey and has really turned me into a much better cook.  I look forward to celebrating four more years and today I’m going to share with you a delicious cake from one of my favorite cooking shows.  

Strawberry Dream Cake | Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks

Every Saturday morning when I wake up I turn on the TV.   This is totally different from my weekday routine where the TV doesn’t come on until I’m home from work.   On Saturdays, the TV goes on and I go right to the MPT (Maryland Public Television) station to see what is on TV.   My absolute favorite shows to watch on Saturday are the cooking shows that are on from 1:30-4:00 on MPT.  They are only on maybe twice a month but I totally love them.   I can sit and watch for 2 1/2 hours and be totally inspired.

Two layered Strawberry Dream Cake

I get more work done on my blog in those 2 1/2 hours then I do most of the week.   My two favorite shows, and the ones my husband loves to watch as well are Cook’s Country and America’s Test Kitchen.   They are both shows out of America’s Test Kitchen.  This same company puts out Cook’s Illustrated which is my go to online recipe site.   I have never made a recipe from ATK that hasn’t worked.   They are always delicious and they always turn out.

So when I was watching America’s Test Kitchen last week they made a Strawberry Dream Cake.   I’m not talking about the cake that’s made with Whipped Cream and strawberries.   This is a real dream cake.   The cake is made with juice from the strawberries, then the frosting is made with the strawberry solids.   I have the problem that every time I make strawberry frosting it curdles.   I hate to make it because of this.

Strawberry Dream Cake with fluffy strawberry frosting

I’m happy to report that ATK has solved this problem for me!    By taking the liquids out of the strawberries and then adding them to the frosting, it prevents it from curdling!   This alone makes this cake worth making.  In addition to the yummy strawberry cream cheese frosting, there’s a layer of fresh strawberries in the middle.   The entire cake tastes of fresh strawberries and is totally delicious.

I made the cake to take to dinner at a friends house.   This cake almost didn’t happen as the night before our power went out and stayed out for 18 hours.   In the morning I had to throw away most of what was in our refrigerator but I was determined to make the cake.  I went to the store, got the ingredients, and got baking.   The entire process was easy to follow and went off without a hitch.   The only problem I had was that the frosting was really soft.    I was able to put the entire cake into the refrigerator for an hour before we left and it really helped to firm it up.

Layers of strawberries and strawberry frosting make this a Strawberry Dream Cake

The cake itself has a light strawberry flavor and is firm enough to hold up to the soft frosting.   The frosting is simply bursting with fresh strawberry flavor.   I also liked that the frosting isn’t overly sweet.   It has a great balance of sweet and creamy going on.   This cake not only tastes amazing but it looks great as well.   Definitely a special occasion cake.

Strawberry Dream Cake
 
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Ingredients
For the cake:
  • 2 c. frozen whole strawberries (12 oz)
  • ¾ c. milk (I used 2%)
  • 6 egg whites, room temperature
  • 2 t. vanilla
  • 2½ c. flour
  • 1¾ c. sugar
  • 1 T. baking powder
  • 1 t. salt
  • 12 T. unsalted butter, softened
For the Frosting:
  • 10 T. butter, softened
  • 2¼ c. powdered sugar
  • 10 oz. cream cheese, softened
  • 8 oz. fresh strawberries, thinly sliced
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour two 9 inch cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper.
  2. Place the frozen strawberries in a bowl and cover. Microwave for 5 minutes or until the strawberries are soft and releasing their juices.
  3. Place a fine mesh strainer over a saucepan and press the strawberries through, reserving the solids.
  4. You will have about ½ cup to ¾ cup of juice in the pan. Bring the juice to a boil over high heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until the juice is syrupy and has reduced to ¼ cup.
  5. Remove from heat and whisk in the milk. Add the egg whites to the mixture, one at a time, whisking until combined. Stir in the vanilla and set aside.
  6. In a large bowl combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add the butter and mix until pea sized pieces remain.
  7. Add half of the strawberry milk mixture to the flour mixture and beat until light and fluffy. Add in the remaining milk mixture and beat until well combined.
  8. Divide the batter into the two prepared pans and place in the oven. Cook for 23-27 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool the cakes on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Run a butter knife around the edge of the pan then remove the cakes and cool completely, about 1 hour.
  9. To make the frosting beat the butter and sugar together on medium speed, until well combined. Add in the cream cheese, a little at a time, and beat until incorporated. Add in the strawberry solids and mix until well combined.
  10. Place the strawberries on a paper towel lined plate and pat dry with another paper towel.
  11. Place one cake layer on a round cake board and spread ¾ cup of frosting on top. Spread until smooth. Press the dried strawberry slices into the frosting and then gently cover with ⅓ cup of frosting.
  12. Place the other layer on top of the strawberries. Spread the remaining frosting over the top and sides of the cake.
  13. Refrigerate for at least an hour before serving.
Notes
Source: Slightly adapted from America's Test Kitchen

Strawberry Dream Cake is a lightly flavored strawberry cake with strawberry frosting.

 

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Comments

  1. I’m new here. I’m going to make your baked donuts with glaze. Happy Blogiversary! Thank you for the wonderful giveaway 🙂

    Reply

  4. The Strawberry Dream Cake looks amazing! My favorite recipe has to be the Blueberry Zucchini Bread. My kids will love it!

    Reply

  8. I’ve always had a problem with the crust on my fruit pizza. Either it’s too hard to bite into or it’s too soft to eat as finger food. Your crust is just right! So, that’s my favorite recipe of yours… so far!

    Reply

  13. I am so glad that I just found and followed Your blog. I love all recipes from here, especially the Vietnamese Caramel Pork recipe, but I think I would try all of them soon!
    Thank You So Much

    Reply

  21. Happy blogaversary!

    this might be my new favorite, but otherwise I love your brie en croute – I omit the jam because I’m a weirdo who prefers none (and, since i’m the one who introduced it to my fiance, he’s never had it with fruit before so doesn’t know to look for it)!

    Reply

    • I’ll be honest, I actually prefer it without the jam too but everyone who eats it with me likes the jam so I always make it with it.

      Reply

  26. This strawberry cake looks absolutely delicious! My favorite is not really a single recipe but the collection of freezer meals. When I visit my extremely busy son and DIL I leave variations of those for them.

    Reply

  42. My favorite is the recipe for Baked Jalapeno Mozzarella Sticks. We make them the same way you do, with the cheese sticks. The only problem is that we don’t have jalapeno cheese sticks in our area, so we will improvise with jalapeno jack and cut it ourselves.

    Reply

  45. BAKED QUINOA AND CHICKEN PARMESAN – i had been looking for a new type of quinoa recipie and this was amazing!

    Reply

  51. I have to say my favorite is the Strawberry Rhubarb Jam. My sister said it is THE best jam she’s ever had! Thanks for sharing a great recipe.

    Reply

  57. That’s a tough question because you have a ton and I’ve tried many and loved them all! I think my favorite at the moment is this strawberry cake lol. No i haven’t tried it but i can’t stop thinking about it now.

    Reply

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