Fresh Strawberry Cake with strawberry cream cheese frosting- from scratch




Looks a bit like a bloated muffin. This is what happens when one uses pie plates in lieu of the cake pans I don't actually own. I seldom take the time to do layered cakes, but for an occasion like this, I wish I'd had the right pans. Bet it gets eaten though...

Cake Ingredients:
1 cup butter, softened
1 1/4-1 1/2 cups sugar [mostly depending on sweetness of strawberries used]
3 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla [or strawberry] extract
1 cup crushed/pureed fresh strawberries
1/4 cup sour cream**after making this, I think I would consider this optional next time**
2.5 cups cake flour
3 tsp baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda

Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting:
1/4 cup butter-softened [or margarine]
1 8oz package cream cheese-softened [reduced fat]
1/4 cup pureed fresh strawberries
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups confectioners sugar
                **Methinks this needs to be refrigerated or something after it is put together— I've added 5 cups of powdered sugar so far and mine is still thin like catsup.** tastes awesome though... In its defense I should mention I got carried away with the amount of pureed strawberries and probably ended up adding more like 1/2 cup.


How to make it

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Grease and flour 2  8 or 9" cake pans.

In a large mixing bowl, beat sugar and butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until fluffy.
Add vanilla extract, pureed strawberries,and sour cream. Beat until combined.
In a medium mixing bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda.
Gradually add to butter mixture, beating until combined. Beat in eggs one at a time.

Pour batter evenly into prepared pans.

Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Let cool in pans for 10 minutes then turn out onto wire racks.
Cool completely.

Frosting:
*In a large bowl, beat butter and cream cheese with an electric mixer at  medium speed until smooth.
*Add pureed strawberries and extract, beat until combined.
*Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar until smooth.
*Frost cake.
Word of WARNING: this turns out a weird brownish pink without the jellos and artificial dyes, but SOOO delicious!
Garnish with fresh sliced strawberries if desired.


Why do I do this blog?

Well, because I like easy to make, flavorful dishes with a moderate fat count, and a wide variety of them. This blog is the perfect place to bring together all of my favorites for easy access to pull up to use when it's time to make dinner.