Description
This delightful Christmas Strawberry Cake combines fresh strawberries with a tender, moist cake base, topped with whipped cream for a festive and delicious dessert perfect for holiday celebrations.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake Batter
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup milk
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups fresh strawberries, sliced
Topping
- Whipped cream for topping
- Additional fresh strawberries for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the cake evenly.
- Prepare Pans: Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans to prevent sticking and ensure easy cake removal.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a mixing bowl, cream the softened butter and sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy, which helps incorporate air for a tender cake.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the eggs and vanilla extract until well combined, enriching the batter’s flavor and texture.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, combine the all-purpose flour and baking powder, ensuring they are evenly distributed.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet mixture alternately with milk, blending until just combined to avoid overmixing.
- Fold in Strawberries: Gently fold the sliced fresh strawberries into the batter to distribute them without crushing.
- Fill Pans: Divide the batter evenly between the prepared cake pans, smoothing the tops.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, indicating the cakes are done.
- Cool: Allow the cakes to cool in the pans for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Decorate: Once cooled, top the cakes with whipped cream and garnish with additional fresh strawberries before serving to enhance the festive look and flavor.
Notes
- Ensure the butter is softened for easier creaming.
- Do not overmix the batter after adding flour to keep the cake tender.
- Fresh strawberries add moisture and flavor; dried strawberries are not recommended.
- Let cakes cool completely before adding whipped cream to prevent melting.
- For a richer flavor, use room temperature milk.
- Whipped cream can be homemade or store-bought depending on preference.
