The Best Strawberry Cake Ever

Description:

This is The Best Strawberry Cake Ever—a light, fluffy cake bursting with fresh strawberry flavor and topped with a dreamy strawberry frosting. Perfect for birthdays, celebrations, or any time you’re craving something sweet and fruity! Whether you’re a strawberry lover or just in search of a show-stopping dessert, this cake is guaranteed to impress. With real strawberries in both the cake and the frosting, every bite is pure bliss.

Ingredients:

For the Cake:

• 1 box (15.25 oz) white cake mix (or use a homemade cake mix)
• 1 box (3.4 oz) strawberry instant pudding mix
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 4 large eggs
• 1/2 cup buttermilk (or regular milk)
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 cup fresh strawberries, pureed
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Strawberry Frosting:

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup fresh strawberries, pureed
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1-2 tablespoons heavy cream (optional, to adjust frosting consistency)

Instructions:

For the Cake:

1. Preheat Oven & Prepare Pans:
   • Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans (or line them with parchment paper).
2. Mix the Dry Ingredients:
   • In a large mixing bowl, combine the cake mix, strawberry pudding mix, and set aside.
3. Add Wet Ingredients:
   • Add the vegetable oil, eggs, buttermilk, water, and pureed strawberries to the dry ingredients. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed for 2-3 minutes, until well combined.
4. Bake the Cake:
   • Pour the batter evenly into the prepared cake pans. Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
5. Cool the Cakes:
   • Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

For the Strawberry Frosting:

1. Make the Frosting:
   • In a large bowl, beat the softened butter until smooth. Add the powdered sugar one cup at a time, beating well after each addition.
2. Add Pureed Strawberries & Vanilla:
   • Add the pureed strawberries and vanilla extract, and beat until smooth. Add heavy cream 1 tablespoon at a time if the frosting is too thick.
3. Frost the Cake:
   • Once the cakes have cooled completely, spread a layer of frosting on the top of one cake layer. Place the second layer on top and frost the entire cake with the strawberry frosting.
4. Serve and Enjoy:
   • Decorate with fresh strawberry slices, if desired, and serve!

Nutrition (per slice, assuming 12 servings):

• Calories: 340 kcal
• Carbohydrates: 47g
• Protein: 3g
• Fat: 18g
• Saturated Fat: 10g
• Cholesterol: 70mg
• Sodium: 230mg
• Sugar: 32g
• Fiber: 1g

Tips for Best Results:

1. Use Fresh Strawberries: For the best flavor, use fresh, ripe strawberries both in the cake and frosting. The sweetness of the strawberries makes a huge difference.
2. Don’t Overmix the Batter: Mix the cake batter just until combined to avoid a dense texture. Overmixing can make the cake heavy.
3. Make Ahead: You can prepare the cakes a day in advance and frost them when ready to serve. Store the unfrosted cake layers in an airtight container at room temperature.
4. Frosting Consistency: Adjust the consistency of the frosting by adding more powdered sugar for a thicker texture or more cream for a lighter consistency.