Strawberry Cake

Strawberry cake is not a thing my northerner self has ever really consumed but when we we had a family birthday for a cousin from Texas, I had to make what the birthday girl wanted! This strawberry cake was a winner for my southern side of the family and this northerner thought it was pretty good, too!

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• pinch of salt
• 3/4 cups salted butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 4 egg whites
• 1/3 cup sour cream
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 cup oat milk
• 1, 16oz container of strawberries, mashed

Frosting Ingredients:

• 1, 16oz container of strawberries, chopped (reserve 6)
• 1 Tbsp sugar
• 2, 8oz blocks of cream cheese, softened
• 3/4 cup salted butter, softened
• 2 1/4 cup powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla

Directions:

• Place mashed strawberries into a pot and heat on medium heat until reduced by half, about 25-30 minutes
• Pour strawberry puree into bowl and place in the refrigerator for an hour to cool
• Remove from fridge when starting to make cake batter
• Preheat oven to 350*
• In medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt
• In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat butter and sugar on medium high speed until combined
• On medium low, beat in egg whites
• Add sour cream and vanilla, beating on medium until fully combined, about 2 minutes
• Beat in flour mixture, half at a time, on low, until fully combined
• Pour in milk and mix on medium until just combined, be sure not to over mix
• Stir in strawberry mixture, by hand, with a spatula
• Grease and flour two nine-inch cake pans or one 9×13 pan
• Divide batter evenly and place in 350* oven for 24 minutes or when a toothpick comes out clean
• Cool cake completely on counter, or in fridge overnight, before frosting

For Frosting:

• Place chopped strawberries, 1 Tbsp of sugar, and a splash of water in a pot over medium heat
• Stirring occasionally, continue cooking until mixture has thickened, about 20-25 minutes
• Place strawberry jam in fridge to cool completely
• Beat cream cheese, butter, and vanilla on medium high heat until combined.
• Add in powdered sugar, one cup at a time, beating until completely combined each time
• When strawberry mixture is cooled completed, stir in by hand

To Assemble:

• Level out cakes using a serrated knife
• Frost on top of first layer and place sliced strawberries over frosting
• Layer second cake on top and frost completely