Celebrate the strawberry season with Fresh Strawberry Cake. Although frozen strawberries can be used in this recipe, nothing beats the flavor of fresh locally grown strawberries.  Frost the cake with Strawberry Cream Frosting, or simply top with a dollop of whipping cream if you prefer.

Ingredients:

Batter:

3 cups cake flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

¼ teaspoon salt

1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

1¾ cups granulated sugar

4 large eggs

2 cups pureed fresh strawberries

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

½ cup buttermilk, chilled

Strawberry Cream Frosting:

3 ounces cream cheese, room temperature

¼ cup unsalted butter, room temperature

1teaspoon pure vanilla extract

½ cup pureed fresh strawberries

4½ to 5 cups confectioners (powdered) sugar

Garnish:

Fresh strawberries, optional

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour three 9 inch round baking pans. Or, to make baked cake easier to remove from pan, lightly grease the pans, line with parchment paper, then lightly grease again.
   
   Batter:
2. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; whisk together to mix. Set aside.
   
   
3. In a large bowl, combine butter and granulated sugar; cream together until mixture appears light and fluffy. Add eggs; beat until thoroughly mixed. Add pureed strawberries and vanilla, beat until mixed.
   
   
4. Alternately add some of the flour mixture, and the buttermilk to the batter, beginning and ending with the flour mixture, and stirring just until blended.
   
   Bake:
5. Pour batter into the pans, dividing the batter evenly between the 3 pans. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes then remove cake from pans and finish cooling on wire rack.
   

Strawberry Cream Frosting:

6. In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese, butter, and vanilla; beat together until mixture is smooth. Stir in pureed strawberries. Add 4½ cups powdered sugar; beat until frosting is smooth and creamy. Add additional ½ cup powdered sugar if necessary to make frosting a good spreading consistency. Spread frosting between layers and over top and sides of cake.
   
   Garnish:
7. Optional: Garnish cake with fresh strawberries.
   
   
8. Cover frosted cake and refrigerate until ready to serve.
   
   TheBakingPan.com