Description
A layered strawberry cake with a gradient color effect, perfect for Valentine’s Day.
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup finely chopped fresh strawberries
- Red food coloring (gel or liquid)
- For the frosting: 8 cups powdered sugar
- 2 cups (4 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Red food coloring (gel or liquid)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour three 8-inch round cake pans.
- In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
- In a separate bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla.
- Gradually add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, alternating with milk, beginning and ending with dry ingredients.
- Fold in chopped strawberries.
- Divide batter into four bowls. Leave one bowl plain. Add a few drops of red food coloring to the second bowl, more to the third, and the most to the fourth, creating a color gradient.
- Pour batter into prepared pans, layering the colors to create the ombre effect.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Let cakes cool in pans for 10 minutes before inverting onto a wire rack to cool completely.
- For the frosting: Beat butter until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar, alternating with heavy cream, until frosting reaches desired consistency. Stir in vanilla.
- Divide frosting into four bowls. Leave one plain. Add a few drops of red food coloring to the second bowl, more to the third, and the most to the fourth, creating a color gradient.
- Level the cakes. Place the darkest layer on a serving plate and frost. Add the next layer and frost, and so on. Frost the entire cake.
- Decorate as desired.
Notes
- For best results, use gel food coloring.
- Make sure your butter is softened, not melted.
- Prep Time: 45 min
- Cook Time: 35 min
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American