Description
Indulge in the perfect blend of sweet strawberries and zesty lemon with this delightful Strawberry-Lemonade Layer Cake. Moist cake layers bursting with fresh strawberries, complemented by a luscious strawberry-lemon frosting, make this dessert a summer showstopper.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake:
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 1¾ cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 cup finely chopped fresh strawberries (patted dry)
- ½ cup strawberry preserves
Frosting:
- 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon heavy cream
- Pinch of salt
- ½ cup strawberry puree (strained)
Optional Garnish:
- Fresh strawberries
- Lemon slices
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Prepare batter: In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well. Mix in lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla extract. Gradually add the flour mixture and milk alternately, folding in chopped strawberries.
- Bake: Divide batter between pans and bake for 25–30 minutes. Cool cakes in pans before transferring to wire racks.
- Make frosting: Beat butter until smooth, then add powdered sugar, lemon juice, heavy cream, salt, and strawberry puree. Beat until fluffy.
- Assemble: Place one cake layer on a plate, spread with preserves and frosting. Top with second layer and frost the cake. Garnish as desired.
Notes
- Ensure strawberries are well-drained to avoid excess moisture.
- Cake layers can be baked a day ahead and stored wrapped before frosting.
- For a stronger strawberry flavor, add powdered freeze-dried strawberries to the frosting.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 510
- Sugar: 45g
- Sodium: 210mg
- Fat: 26g
- Saturated Fat: 16g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 67g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
