Description
Sweet strawberry lemon cake delivers a harmonious blend of tangy and fruity flavors. Rich layers showcase fresh strawberries and zesty lemon, promising a delightful dessert experience you will savor with each delectable bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ¾ cups granulated sugar
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 4 large eggs (room temperature)
- 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 1 cup buttermilk (or 1 cup milk + 1 tbsp vinegar, let sit for 5 minutes)
- 1 cup diced fresh strawberries (tossed in 1 tbsp flour to prevent sinking)
- 2 ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tbsp lemon zest (about 2 lemons)
- ½ cup fresh lemon juice (about 2 lemons)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 8 oz (226 grams) cream cheese (softened)
- ½ cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 3 ½ cups powdered sugar
- ¼ cup fresh strawberry puree (blended strawberries, strained to remove seeds if desired)
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- Fresh sliced strawberries
- Lemon zest
- Whipped cream
Instructions
- Preparation: Grease two round cake pans and line with parchment paper, ensuring complete surface coverage for easy removal.
- Dry Mixture: Thoroughly combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a separate bowl, creating a uniform dry base for the cake’s foundation.
- Creaming: Whip butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl until the mixture becomes light, fluffy, and significantly increased in volume, achieving a pale, creamy texture.
- Egg Integration: Add eggs one at a time, mixing completely after each addition to maintain a smooth, well-incorporated batter.
- Flavor Infusion: Blend in vanilla extract, vibrant lemon zest, and freshly squeezed lemon juice, ensuring even distribution of citrusy aromatics.
- Batter Assembly: Alternately fold dry ingredients and buttermilk into the mixture, using gentle strokes to preserve the batter’s delicate structure and prevent overworking.
- Fruit Incorporation: Tenderly fold diced strawberries into the batter, distributing them with minimal handling to prevent fruit damage.
- Baking Preparation: Carefully pour batter into prepared pans, smoothing the surface to create an even layer and promote uniform baking.
- Baking Process: Place pans in a preheated oven at 350°F, allowing the cake to transform and develop its golden, delectable structure for approximately 25-30 minutes.
- Finishing Touch: Remove from oven when a toothpick inserted into the center emerges clean, indicating perfect doneness and allowing the cake to cool completely before frosting or serving.
Notes
- Prevent Fruit Sinking: Toss strawberry pieces in a light dusting of flour before folding into batter to prevent them from sinking during baking.
- Ensure Moist Texture: Do not overmix the batter when adding dry ingredients, as this can develop gluten and create a tough, dense cake.
- Temperature Precision: Allow eggs and butter to reach room temperature before mixing to guarantee smoother incorporation and better cake volume.
- Zest Intensification: Rub lemon zest directly into sugar before creaming to release more essential oils and maximize citrus flavor throughout the cake.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 30 g
- Sodium: 210 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 48 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg