Vanilla Cake with Strawberry Filling Recipe

Vanilla Cake with Strawberry Filling Recipe

Indulge in a delightful slice of summer with this easy Vanilla Cake with Strawberry Filling recipe. This delightful cake is bursting with fresh strawberry flavor, featuring moist vanilla cake layers sandwiched between a homemade strawberry filling. It's a perfect dessert for any occasion, from potlucks and birthday parties to afternoon tea.

Ingredients

• For the Cake:
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 2/3 cups granulated sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup buttermilk
• For the Strawberry Filling:
• 1 1/2 pounds fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
• For the Whipped Cream Frosting (Optional):
• 2 cups heavy whipping cream
• 1/3 cup powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease two 8-inch round cake pans. Line the bottoms with parchment paper. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
2. In a separate bowl, cream together the softened butter, vegetable oil, and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract.
3. Alternately add the dry ingredients and buttermilk to the wet ingredients, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined, being careful not to overmix.
4. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared cake pans. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cakes cool completely in the pans before frosting.
5. While the cakes cool, make the strawberry filling. In a saucepan, combine the sliced strawberries, sugar, cornstarch, and water. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens and becomes translucent. Remove from heat and stir in the lemon juice. Let the filling cool completely.
6. Once the cakes are cool, frost one layer with whipped cream frosting (optional) or your favorite frosting recipe. Spread the cooled strawberry filling over the top, then place the second cake layer on top. Frost the entire cake and decorate with fresh strawberries, if desired.
7. Tips:
8. For a richer flavor, substitute buttermilk with sour cream.
9. If your strawberries are very juicy, you may need to use a bit more cornstarch in the filling.
10. To make a whipped cream frosting, simply whip heavy whipping cream with powdered sugar and vanilla extract until stiff peaks form.