Strawberry Velvet Cake Recipe
Strawberry Velvet Cake is a soft, moist cake bursting with fresh strawberry flavor and a beautiful pink color. Made with ingredients like strawberry puree or gelatin, this cake has a velvety texture that melts in your mouth. It's often paired with cream cheese or whipped frosting, creating a delicious balance of sweet and tangy. Perfect for special occasions or summer celebrations!
Equipment
- Mixing bowls
- Electric mixer or hand whisk
- Measuring cups and spoons
- 9-inch round cake pans (or desired shape)
- Parchment paper (optional, for lining pans)
- Cooling rack
- Saucepan (for frosting)
- Spatula
Ingredients
For the Cake:
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups white sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 3 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon white vinegar
- 1 ½ tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 1 drop of red food coloring or as desired
For the Frosting:
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 8 oz cream cheese softened
- 4 cups white sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 7 fresh strawberries sliced
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ cups whole milk
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Instructions
For the Cake:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans or line them with parchment paper. In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder.
- In another bowl, whisk together the softened butter, vegetable oil, buttermilk, eggs, vinegar, and food coloring.
- Gradually add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients. Mix until well combined and smooth. Be careful not to over-mix, just until the batter comes together.
- Pour the batter evenly into the prepared cake pans. Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Once baked, remove the cakes from the oven and allow them to cool in the pans for 10 minutes. Then, transfer the cakes to a cooling rack to cool completely.
For the Frosting:
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, whisk together the all-purpose flour, salt, and whole milk. Cook the mixture, whisking constantly, until it thickens to a pudding-like consistency. Remove from heat and let it cool to room temperature.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and cream cheese together until smooth and creamy. Gradually add the sugar and beat until fluffy. Then add the vanilla extract and lemon juice, mixing until well combined.
- Slowly add the cooled milk-flour mixture to the butter-cream cheese mixture, mixing continuously until smooth and fully incorporated. Gently fold the sliced strawberries into the frosting.
Assembling the Cake:
- Once the cake layers are completely cool, spread a generous layer of frosting on top of the first cake layer. Place the second cake layer on top and frost the top and sides of the entire cake.
- Garnish the top of the cake with additional fresh strawberry slices for a beautiful finish.
- Allow the cake to set for about 30 minutes for the frosting to firm up before slicing and serving.
Notes
1. Natural Coloring Alternative:
If you prefer to avoid artificial food coloring, you can achieve a soft pink hue by relying solely on the fresh strawberry puree.
The natural color from the strawberries will give the cake a beautiful, subtle pink tone without the need for added dyes. 2. Enhance Strawberry Flavor:
For an extra burst of strawberry flavor, try folding in chopped strawberries or adding a layer of strawberry jam between the cake layers.
This will amplify the fruity essence and make the cake even more indulgent and refreshing.
If you prefer to avoid artificial food coloring, you can achieve a soft pink hue by relying solely on the fresh strawberry puree.
The natural color from the strawberries will give the cake a beautiful, subtle pink tone without the need for added dyes. 2. Enhance Strawberry Flavor:
For an extra burst of strawberry flavor, try folding in chopped strawberries or adding a layer of strawberry jam between the cake layers.
This will amplify the fruity essence and make the cake even more indulgent and refreshing.