Made this for my mom and sister’s combined birthday party. Not into the artificial coloring so toned it down a bit. The color turned out to be a medium brown color with a red tinge, which was fine with the pink-tinted icing. This cake has exposed sides wight he light whipped cream frosting in the middle of the cake which makes assembling so much easier than frosting a cake! Recipe is adapted from Cook’s Illustrated, Cake Man Raven and Martha Stewart
Ingredients:
2 1/2 c all-purpose flour
1 1/2 c sugar
1 tsp salt
2 TBSP cocoa powder
1 1/2 c oil
1 c buttermilk
2 eggs
1 tsp vinegar
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp red food coloring
Filling:
2 pounds fresh strawberries
2 tsp sugar
Frosting:
8 oz cream cheese
2 c heavy cream
powdered sugar to taste
1 tsp vanilla extract
Method:
In a stand mixer, combine sugar, food coloring and oil, adding eggs one at a time.
Combine dry ingredients except for baking soda in a bowl
Add dry ingredients, alternating with buttermilk to the mixer in three batches each. Scrape sides as needed to ensure distribution of the ingredients.
In a small bowl stir baking soda and vinegar together. Once it starts to bubble, immediately add to the batter.
Pour into 2 8-inch pans, bang out the air bubbles.
Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes.
Let cool completely before frosting the cake.
For the filling
As the cake cools, choose 24 of your best-looking berries and cut them in half length-wise. Set aside. These will be use to decorate the perimeter of the middle layers
Cut the rest of the strawberries into quarters and add the sugar. Let sit for about an hour, stirring occasionally. If a lot of juice is rendered from the strawberries, you may strain the juice and simmer it down to thicken. Once cooled, reintroduce to the quartered strawberries.
For the frosting
Beat the heavy cream, adding powdered sugar gradually until stiff peaks form. (optional but fun: add a few drops of red food coloring for pink frosting!)
Remove the whipped cream, then add the cream cheese and beat till fluffy.
Carefully fold cream cheese into whipped cream.
To assemble
Cut the cooled cakes into 4 layers-you will only need 3, the 4th is for you to snack on!
Place the bottom layer on a cake plate lined with parchment paper.
Place 16 strawberry halves (wide-side out) alone the perimeter of the cake.
Spoon half of the strawberry mixture onto the middle of the cake, then top with the whipped cream frosting. Repeat with the second cake layer.
For the top layer, no strawberry filling is added.
Let cake chill before serving
Nesting On A Hill 