Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Strawberry Cream Cake


3 cups fresh strawberries, cleaned and stems removed
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon squeezed lemon juice
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest

Combine all ingredients in a medium mixing bowl and toss to thoroughly coat strawberries. Let sit at room temperature at least 20 minutes before using. Strain berries, reserve syrup and set aside.

Cake:

2 cups cake flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup water
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
6 large eggs, separated
1 1/4 cups sugar

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour two (8-inch) cake pans. Sift flour, baking powder, and salt together into a mixing bowl; set aside. Mix together vegetable oil, water, lemon zest, vanilla, egg yolks, and 1 and 1/4 cups of the sugar. Mix for about 5-7 minutes until mixture is light and airy. Turn off the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl; add dry ingredients and whip until smooth, about 1 minute more.

In a clean bowl, whip egg whites to medium peaks. Add remaining 1/4 cup sugar and continue whipping until stiff peaks form, about 1 minute more. Using a rubber spatula, fold 1/4 of the egg whites into the cake batter until evenly incorporated; gently fold in remaining egg whites until just combined.

Divide batter between prepared cake pans. Bake just until surface of cakes springs back when pressed and a toothpick or cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean, approx. 25 to 30 minutes. (Don’t over bake) Remove cakes from the oven, and let cool 15 minutes. Run a knife around the edges of each, and turn them out onto wire racks to cool completely.

Filling:

4 oz of cream cheese
2 Tbsp of sour cream
1 cup heavy cream
Approx. 1 cup of powdered sugar – more or less to thicken & sweeten.

Combine cream cheese, sour cream and heavy cream in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, and whip until stiff peaks form, (about 2 minutes) slowly add the powdered sugar until mixture is pretty thick. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

Frosting:

2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 tablespoon sugar
3 cups heavy cream
1 small pack of instant vanilla pudding

Place the cleaned bowl of the stand mixer and the whip attachment in the freezer for 10 minutes. Combine vanilla extract, sugar, and heavy cream in the chilled bowl and whip at medium high speed until medium peaks form, about 2 minutes. Slowly add instant pudding mix until mixture becomes smooth and thick enough for icing. (Might not have to use the whole thing)

Cover and refrigerate until well chilled, at least one hour.

Using a long serrated knife, trim the tops of the cakes if needed. I just put the bottom side up on the bottom layer and the top layer doesn’t hurt to be a little rounded but you can trim it if you prefer it to be level. Place cake rounds on a clean, dry surface and, using a pastry brush, brush off loose crumbs then brush 1/2 of the reserved strawberry syrup on the cut side of the first cake round; repeat on the cut side of the second cake round. If you don’t cut any off the cake apply the syrup anyway.

Place the bottom layer on a plate or serving dish. Mix the drained, sliced strawberries with the filling and spread it thick on the bottom layer of the cake. Place second cake layer over filling and strawberries, cut side down, pressing gently to secure it. Using an offset spatula or a long, thin spatula, spread 3/4 cup of the frosting in a thin layer over the top and sides of the cake. Return remaining frosting and cake to the refrigerator until frosting on cake is set, about 15 minutes.

Spread the remaining frosting all over the top and sides of the cake. Let sit in the refrigerator at least 15 minutes before serving.


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