Strawberry Cake

Total Time Prep: 1 hour. Bake: 30 min. + cooling
Yield 16 servings
Test Kitchen Approved
Looking for the perfect strawberry cake recipe? We use fresh strawberries and strawberry jam to create a cake that is full of juicy berry flavor and looks totally pretty in pink.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups pureed strawberries
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 1-3/4 cups sugar
  • 5 large egg whites, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon strawberry extract, optional
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 3 cups cake flour
  • 2-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • FROSTING:
  • 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
  • 1/4 cup butter, softened
  • 6 cups confectioners' sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon strawberry extract, optional
  • 1 to 3 drops red food coloring, optional
  • 1/2 cup seedless strawberry jam, divided
  • Halved or sliced fresh strawberries, optional

Directions

  1. In a small saucepan, bring strawberries to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered 20-25 minutes or until reduced to 3/4 cup, stirring occasionally. Transfer to a shallow container. Refrigerate until chilled.
  2. Preheat oven to 350°. Line bottoms of 2 greased 9-in. round baking pans with parchment. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Gradually beat in egg whites and, if desired, strawberry extract. Mix in sour cream. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture. Stir in 1/2 cup reduced strawberry mixture. Transfer batter to prepared pans.
  3. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 30-33 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks; remove paper. Cool completely.
  4. For frosting, in a large bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until fluffy. Beat in confectioners’ sugar, 1/4 cup reduced strawberry mixture and, if desired, extract and red food coloring; beat until smooth.
  5. Place bottom cake layer on a serving plate; top with jam and 1 cup frosting. Top with remaining cake layer. Spread remaining frosting over top and side of cake. Garnish with strawberries if desired.

Nutrition Facts

1 piece: 586 calories, 21g fat (13g saturated fat), 58mg cholesterol, 331mg sodium, 97g carbohydrate (74g sugars, 1g fiber), 5g protein.

Every year I make this special strawberry jam cake for the Relay for Life cake raffle. It has raised lots of money for a good cause. —Tammy Urbina, Warner Robins, Georgia
Recipe Creator

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