Description
Simple strawberry cake struck me as the perfect solution during one of those weeks when everything seemed to go wrong at once. My usual easy recipe felt too basic for my neighbor’s important birthday celebration, but attempting a complex from-scratch version seemed overwhelming given my chaotic schedule. I needed something that looked and tasted homemade without requiring advanced techniques or endless prep time. That’s when I developed this simple approach – combining the reliability of straightforward methods with the satisfaction of creating something genuinely special from basic ingredients.
Ingredients
- 2¼ cups cake flour, sifted
- 1¾ cups granulated sugar
- ½ cup unsalted European butter, room temperature
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 2½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup whole milk, room temperature
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round pans or one 9×13-inch pan.
- Prepare strawberry puree by blending fresh berries until smooth, then strain through fine mesh to remove seeds.
- In a large bowl, cream room temperature butter until light and fluffy (3-4 minutes).
- Gradually add sugar and beat for 4-5 minutes until pale and doubled in volume.
- Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in vanilla extract and strawberry puree.
- In separate bowl, whisk together cake flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Alternate adding dry ingredients and milk to butter mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Mix just until combined.
- Toss diced strawberries with 1 tablespoon flour, then gently fold into batter.
- Divide batter between prepared pans and bake 25-30 minutes, until center springs back when touched.
- Cool in pans 10 minutes, then turn out onto wire racks to cool completely before frosting.
Notes
Room temperature storage works for 2-3 days when properly covered. Plastic wrap directly touching cut surfaces prevents drying. Refrigeration extends life but can dry cake texture. Bring to room temperature 30 minutes before serving for optimal flavor and texture.
- Prep Time: 30 min
- Cook Time: 2 hour