I think the older I get the more I look to external joys to celebrate my birthday.
In my youth, I used to flippantly say, “My favorite holiday is my birthday!” I would demand that people shower me in attention and gifts. It was my day after all.
*head smack*
And while I fully support when others want to treat their birthdays as the best day of the year (heck, I encourage it!) for me, the greatest gifts are the simple ones. The best day ever is having my kids near, knowing family and friends are safe and healthy, taking a few moments to just enjoy the precious life I have been given… thats a perfect birthday.
Oh, and cake of course.
I recently posted about an event that totally threw me off. (My husband being hospitalized for heart issues.) While it has been hard to process and not something I ever wanted to deal with, I am thankful that it has helped me put my priorities in perspective.
The greatest birthday gift is peace of mind when it comes to accepting the curve balls life throws at us.
This cake has been a long time coming for me. I love strawberry cake, strawberry jam, strawberry wine, strawberry anything. For almost a year now I have been searching for a great from scratch recipe that did not include jello or gelatin. Not that there are anything wrong with those… just that I truly desired a from scratch recipe and couldnt figure out why it was so hard to come by!
Based on our news and wanting to make some healthier changes in my family’s diet, I was even more motivated to make my hopes a reality.
Tips for Success:
There are a number a steps to this recipe, so its a good idea to read through first and prepare your ingredients before hand.
I had extra strawberry puree left over, so I added it to 1/2 cup of buttercream for the middle of the cake.
I highly recommend pairing this cake with a whipped cream frosting. I chose Vanilla Buttercream for this because I wanted to use a particular technique (Ruffle Tutorial with #401 tip) for the frosting, but I ultimately believe that whipped cream frosting is the best choice in terms of flavor.
If you are baking at a higher altitude, be sure to check out my High Altitude Baking Tips.
I truly enjoyed this real strawberry cake and hope you will too.
And because its my birthday, and I allow myself one day a year to be bossy without guilt, (without guilt are the key words there!) I am going to request that today you tell at least one person how much they mean to you. Pick one quality that you admire in someone and tell them so. I promise that not only will it brighten their day, but it will brighten yours too. 🙂
Strawberry Cake
Ingredients
- 1 c butter
- 2 -3 cups diced fresh strawberries
- 1 c sugar
- 4 egg whites
- 2/3 c strawberry puree 1 cup thawed frozen strawberry & 1-2 tbsp water in blender
- 2 tsp. baking powder
- 3 c all purpose flour
- 4 egg yolks
- 1/2 tsp. almond extract
- 1 tbsp. vanilla
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1 c white sugar
- 2 tbsp. flour
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare three 8-in round cake pans.
- Whip four eggs whites in mixer until soft peaks form. Add 1 cup sugar, 1 tbsp at a time, whipping to maintain soft peaks. Pour whites into large bowl (This was about 5 cups in volume after whipped) and set aside.
- Cream room temperature butter and 1 cup sugar until fluffy. Add in vanilla and almond extract. Add egg yolks one at a time, beating after each addition.
- Sift together 3 cups flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Alternatively add flour mixture and strawberry puree to batter until fully combined. Batter will be thick.
- Fold in egg whites.
- Coat diced strawberries in 2 tbsp flour and gently add to batter. (I used 2 cups but think 3 cups would also be delicious.)
- Pour batter into prepared pans and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. If using two 8-in cake pans, bake for 45-50 minutes.
- Recipe adapted from [Allrecipes.com | http://allrecipes.com/recipe/melt-in-your-mouth-blueberry-cake/]
Did you make this recipe?
Thank you for making my recipe! You took pictures, right? Well go ahead and post them on Instagram! Be sure to mention me @iambaker and use the hashtag #YouAreBaker.
Happy Birthday!!! I wish I was this good at cake baking. I think I would enjoy cake more if I was. Hope your hubby is doing ok.
You ARE good at baking cake silly!!! 🙂
Wow! What a cake. I wish I had the baking/decorating talent…I just didn’t get it. But I love to see the beautiful creations other people make. Happiest birthday wishes to you, Amanda!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Your cake is gorgeous, as always. 🙂
Because I live in the winter strawberry capital of the world-Plant City, Fl.-I make strawberry bread, cookies, brownies, jam, spinach salad, ice cream, etc….but have never found a cake that I like. Thanks so much…Happy late birthday, I wish I could give you some fresh berries growing right across the street from my house.
Oh that would be lovely… 😉
What a gorgeous cake! And happy birthday!
Thanks Amanda!
Happy B-Day, Amanda. XOXO
Thank you so much!
Happy birthday to you! Last year for my daughter’s first birthday I desperately wanted to make a from-scratch strawberry cake without the Jello. I ended up using Jello, and it was fine…but this year we will try your recipe! (She is my strawberry girl.) I’m thrilled. Thank you for sharing. Love those pink ruffles, too!
Thank you Laura!
“I am going to request that today you tell at least one person how much they mean to you.” Well then I pick you. You deserve it my sweet friend, your love and devotion to your family is so strong and your courage in the face of uncertainty truly admirable. Sending you and your family much love. xo
*humbled* Thank you so much sweet Sylvie. Think of you so often… sending hugs and prayers!
Happy Birthday Amanda!
I don’t think I’ve ever had strawberry cake! this looks amazing, as always!
Hope everything goes well for the hubby!xoxo
Thank you!
Happy Birthday! 🙂 That’s a pretty cake 🙂 love your blog!