Strawberry Lemonade Cake (Printable)
Fluffy strawberry-lemon layers with tangy buttercream frosting
# What goes in:
→ Strawberry Lemon Cake
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→ Creamy Lemon Buttercream
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→ Decoration
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# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 8-inch round cake pans, lining bottoms with parchment paper.
02 - Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl until well combined.
03 - Beat butter and sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy, approximately 3-4 minutes.
04 - Add eggs one at a time, beating thoroughly after each addition. Mix in lemon zest and vanilla extract.
05 - Whisk together lemon juice, milk, and sour cream in a separate measuring cup or bowl.
06 - With mixer on low speed, alternately add flour mixture and lemon-milk mixture to butter mixture, beginning and ending with flour. Mix until just combined.
07 - Gently fold in chopped strawberries. Add food coloring drop by drop if using, mixing until desired pink hue is achieved.
08 - Divide batter evenly between prepared pans, smoothing tops. Bake for 28-32 minutes until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
09 - Let cakes cool in pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto wire racks to cool completely before frosting.
10 - Beat butter until creamy. Add powdered sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, and 2 tablespoons cream. Beat until fluffy, 3-5 minutes, adding more cream if needed for spreading consistency.
11 - Level cake tops if necessary. Spread buttercream layer between cakes, then frost top and sides evenly.
12 - Arrange fresh strawberry halves and lemon slices or zest curls on top and around the base as desired.
# Expert Advice:
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- The combination of fresh strawberries and bright lemon creates this incredible flavor that somehow tastes like sunshine in cake form
- Despite looking like something from a fancy bakery window, this comes together with techniques even beginner bakers can master
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- Room temperature ingredients cannot be skipped here. Cold butter and eggs will result in a dense cake no matter how perfect your technique.
- That toothpick test matters more than the timer. Every oven behaves differently so trust the visual cues over the clock.
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- A thin layer of strawberry jam between cake layers adds an incredible burst of strawberry flavor
- For the most vibrant crumb, use really red, ripe strawberries. Pale ones barely color the batter at all