Today we’re preparing a simple vanilla and strawberry cake topped with fresh whipped cream. I absolutely love this recipe for its elegant simplicity, super-basic preparation process, and down-to-earth ingredient list – and I’m positive you will too.
Why You’ll Love Today’s Recipe
1) Simple Elegance. This cake is the cherry on top of ‘Simple Elegance,’ and is as much at home ending off a Sunday dinner as it is playing the centerpiece of a dinner party dessert spread.
2) Everyday Ingredients, Everyday Equipment. No obscure ingredients, no complicated equipment, or pastry chef techniques needed. As a result, this is a great cake for whipping up quickly for a dinner party, or for getting your kids involved in the kitchen.
3) Versatile. While this is a perfect ‘just because’ cake, it’s equally at home serving as the end note of a light dinner party, weekend brunch, or luncheon.
When To Bake This Cake
Cake is one of those things that, as much as we would like to believe otherwise, really ‘needs’ a reason to exist – especially if you’re going through the trouble of baking it yourself. So, here are a few situations and events for which today’s cake is simply perfect.
1) Weekend Dinner Parties. If you’re dinner party features light food, and perhaps a white wine bubbly or white dessert wine, this cake would feature absolutely deliciously.
2) Lunches. In my mind, the ending dessert of a luncheon should be something on the light side, something that doesn’t overwhelm the palate, or weigh you down for the rest of the day. Following that philosophy, this cake is an excellent end note for you next luncheon or brunch.
3) Celebrations. Scaling up the recipe by a factor of two or three to accompany a larger crowd, this vanilla and strawberry cake is a quintessential ‘celebration cake’ for showers, warm weather birthdays, job promotions, or really any lighthearted celebration.
Serving Tips
1) Dessert Wine. Today’s cake is a quintessential dessert wine pairing. For example, you might consider something along the lines of the Haak Amnesia or the Hatzidakis Vinsanto.
2) Coffee. Feel free to eye roll at me being Madam Obvious for pairing cake and coffee, but you really want a ‘good’ cup of coffee to pair with this cake. See my guide for French Pressing a delicious cup.
3) Ice Cream. An accompanying scoop of ice cream would be delicious with this cake, but I’m thinking some contrast would also be a nice addition, something chocolatey with a touch of coffee. Here’s a no-churn guide to make precisely that kind of ice cream.
4) Mix It Up. While I prepared today’s cake with fresh strawberries, feel free to substitute in your favorite fruit, be it blueberries, peaches, or apricots – or really whatever your heart desires. Feel free to experiment. However, if using bananas, be sure to serve right away – and to finish it right away, since the bananas will go brown rather quickly.
Strawberry & Cream Cake
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 1 two-layer cake 1x
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter - softened
- 2 1/2 cups flour
- 3 tsp. baking powder
- 1 tsp. sat
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 2 eggs
- 1-quart fresh strawberries - halved
- Strawberry preserves
- 1/2 cup of chopped almonds
- 1-pint heavy cream
- 1 tbs. powdered sugar
- 1 tsp. vanilla
Instructions
- Preheat oven 350 degrees F.
- Stir the softened butter in a large mixing bowl.
- Sift together the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar and add to the shortening.
- Add the milk and vanilla and mix on a low speed; add the eggs and mix for a minute longer.
- Butter two nine-inch layer pans and dust each with flour.
- Divide the batter between the two pans.
- Bake 20 – 25 minutes or until the toothpick test comes out clean.
- Cool in the pans for 10 minutes before turning onto racks.
- Add a tablespoon of powdered sugar and 1 teaspoon of vanilla to the heavy cream and then whip until peaks form.
- Spread two tablespoons of the strawberry preserves, or more if you like, on the bottom side of the first layer.
- Top with strawberries, sprinkle with chopped almonds and them cover with whip cream.
- Place the topside of the next cake, so that it is flat-side up, (the bottom of the cake is facing up.)
- Spread with the strawberry preserves topped with halved strawberries, followed by the whipped cream and sprinkled with the chopped almonds.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8 pieces of cake
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angiesrecipes says
Looks so inviting with fresh strawberries and all the nuts!
Stacie says
If this isn't the best dessert ever, then nothing is! That is seriously making me so hungry right now. Om nom nom.
Maya says
We have a lot to celebrate soon. This would be fantastic for the occasion!
Juliana says
I can't wait to try this!
Jordin says
The layers in this look amazing! I need to try this ASAP!
Caitlyn Erhardt says
This cake looks so good and I can't wait to make it!
Suzy says
This looks incredibly good! Love that you use fresh strawberries in the center!
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy says
This is the perfect cake. NAKED cakes are beautiful. NOT covered in frosting is a HUGE plus for me. More cake flavour is always best.
Alison says
This cake is absolutely gorgeous and decadent! I love the freshness of the strawberries in this cake!
Sonal says
Omg this cake looks super amazing. On my list to try soon. Perfect Naked Cake
Ella English says
This cake looks absolutely delicious. I will definitely make it soon for a spring event.
Chef Dennis says
This Strawberry & Cream Cake is simply mouth- watering! The combination of the strawberry and the whipped cream is perfect! Thanks for sharing.
Katie says
This looks so easy and yummy. My daughter and I made something like this very similar out of her American Girl cookbook. Strawberries are a hit any time of year!
kumamonjeng says
I love strawberries and can't resist whenever I see them, glad that it is included in this desert. Perfect.
Ashley Rollins says
Holy cow this cake looks absolutely amazing! I can't wait to try it.
DAVID J MYERS says
Catherine, Just a beautiful cake! Looks great...nice and moist! Take Care, Big Daddy Dave
GUNJAN C Dudani says
Love the combination of strawberry and cream in a cake. I can imagine the deliciousness of this dessert. Sounds a fantastic one.
Shannon Gurnee says
Strawberries and cream together? Heck yes! Sign me up! I would love to try this!
Liz says
Wow! Like a humongous strawberry shortcake! My family will love this beautiful, comforting dessert!!
AMY KAUR says
OMG Can I just say, I can’t help but drool over the picture! Who would not love to taste this! I’ll making this out over the weekends.
Arya says
Drooooooling haha That's the only thing that I can say at the moment, I am speechless!
Kelly Anthony says
This strawberry cream cake is sure to impress anyone. I'm going to make this this weekend for my mother in laws birthday.
Yeah Lifestyle says
This looks so amazing and such a stunning centre piece as well! I would have this any day to the shop bought cake. Gonna try making this as strawberries are cheap at the moment
Paula Montenegro says
It's a beautiful cake! I love the rustic simplicity of the flavors you choose. They are fantastic combined together! Thanks for sharing.
Denise says
You can never go wrong with strawberries and cream! And your cream on that cake is making me drool!
Jenni LeBaron says
Gosh, this strawberry cream cake is just gorgeous! I love that it's so unfussy, but loaded with bright strawberry flavor from the preserves and fresh fruit. Can't wait to bite into a slice of this beauty!
Kate says
This dessert looks so beautiful and elegant! I love that you can see the layers and filling on the sides. Very tantalizing!!
Lauren says
What a beautiful cake! This looks so simple yet elegant and simple to prepare. That fluffy whipped cream is the perfect combination.
Jo says
Simplest and the best cake ever! I really love the simple decoration on the cake. It looks so simple, close to heart, full of love.
Cathleen @ a Taste of Madness says
Simple elegance is the perfect description of this cake. I also have to agree with your lunch dessert philosophy 🙂
Aline says
What a spectacular looking cake! And yes, the best part is that is so simple to make with easy to find ingredients. It's the perfect recipe for when you want to impress effortlessly.
Michelle J Cantu says
Dreamy looking cake. I want to whip up a cake for my daughter's birthday and this is definitely along the lines of what I've been needing to find.
Gloria says
I love naked cake recipes. This is perfect when fresh strawberries are in season. The perfect celebration cake.
Beth says
This cake is as gorgeous as it is delicious! I love the way the cake is naked on the outside but just loaded in the middle. SO GOOD!
Yeah Lifestyle says
I really do love any thing with strawberries and cream, so this cake really does look very appealing, I would love to try it!
Sue-Tanya Mchorgh says
This blog post offers a delightful perspective on the art of baking cakes, highlighting the importance of having a reason to indulge in such a sweet creation. By suggesting occasions like weekend dinner parties as the perfect setting for enjoying this cake, it adds a touch of sophistication to the baking experience. Whether paired with light fare or complementing a glass of white wine, this cake promises to elevate any gathering with its deliciousness.
Lavanda says
Used your recipe for easter and found myself using it again for my nieces birthday!! Absolutely delicious, everyone loves it!!
Renata Feyen says
This seems like a great recipe to me, since I am a huge lover of strawberries.
Julie says
I was looking for something special to make for my family and this cake fit the bill. Everyone loved the pretty flavors and textures. I'll be making it again for sure.
Jen says
This strawberry & cream cake looks yummy. Thanks for sharing the recipe! I might try it with blueberries as well.
Rhian Scammell says
To me that looks like such a summer cake, what i'd expect to have when it's warm outside. I don't think I've ever had cake with actual strawberries in it though, I bet the texture is beautiful x
Hari says
What a fantastic combination! A strawberry cake topped with wipped cream is super delicious and I agree that it is easy to prepare as well. Awesome recipe indeed!
Kathryn says
These cake layers are so gorgeous and they taste even better! Loved this dessert so I'll be making it soon again i'm sure! 🙂
Jenny says
This recipe looks so much for afternoon tea, you can't beat fresh strawberries in this weather!
Debbie says
Sometimes the simple recipes are the best . This Strawberry and cream cake , is so simple yet delcious. This reminds me of the kind of cakes my Grandmother used to make ,
Archana Singh says
This strawberry cream cake looks so delicious. and, your recipe is super simple to try out too. thanks for sharing.
Elaine says
I recently made the strawberry and cream cake, and it turned out fantastic! The layers were light and fluffy, and the fresh strawberries with the creamy filling were a perfect match! Thanks for sharing this recipe!
Eric Boettner says
Beautiful cake. Amazing taste. Easy to make which is an added bonus. The best part is how light the cake is. Not too heavy.
Veronika says
This cake was amazing! I'd honestly choose this over a regular cake with sugary frosting any time! It's so much lighter.
Moop Brown says
I love the combination of strawberries and cream and this cake looks so tasty.
Sandhya Ramakrishnan says
We cannot go wrong with the strawberry and cream combination. This is my kind of cake. No complex decoration and process. Easy to assemble and perfect with fresh strawberries in season.
Ramona says
I made this last weekend to have as a dessert after bbq and it was such a success. It disappeared in a jiffy. A delicious combination indeed and I added some raspberries too. Superb!