Fresh Strawberry Cake from Scratch: A Homemade Berry Delight

Get ready to bake a show-stopping strawberry cake that’s moist, fluffy, and bursting with fresh berry flavor.

Ingredients for the Ultimate Strawberry Cake

• For the Cake:
• 2 cups white sugar
• 3 cups cake flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
• 4 large eggs, at room temperature
• ½ cup sour cream
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• ½ cup fresh strawberry puree
• 1 (3-ounce) package strawberry-flavored gelatin
• For the Strawberry Buttercream Frosting:
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• ⅓ cup strawberry puree
• 2 tablespoons heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Step-by-Step Instructions for Baking Strawberry Cake

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together cake flour, sugar, strawberry gelatin, baking powder, and salt.
3. In a separate bowl, cream ¾ cup softened butter until smooth. Beat in eggs one at a time.
4. Stir in sour cream, vanilla extract, and strawberry puree until the batter is evenly tinted pink.
5. Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined. Avoid overmixing.
6. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans. Bake for 30–35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
7. Let cakes cool in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
8. For the frosting, beat 1 cup softened butter until creamy. Add powdered sugar slowly on low speed.
9. Mix in strawberry puree, heavy cream, and vanilla extract. Increase speed and beat until light and fluffy.
10. Level cake layers if needed. Spread frosting between layers, then frost top and sides evenly.
11. Chill the cake 20–30 minutes to set the buttercream before slicing.

Expert Tips for a Perfect Strawberry Cake

• Use fresh strawberries: Homemade puree tastes brighter than store-bought.
• Room-temperature ingredients: Ensure eggs and butter mix evenly for a tender crumb.
• Don’t over-bake: Check at 30 minutes to keep layers moist.
• Chill before slicing: A brief chill makes cleaner cake slices.

Nutrition Facts

Dig in and savor every bite of this delightful strawberry cake.

Recipe adapted from Allrecipes.