01
Line the tins
Preheat the oven to 180°C. Line the bottoms of three round cake pans with parchment or wax paper, and lightly coat the paper and the sides of the pans with nonstick cooking spray.
Strawberry Cake
Three layers built on a boxed white mix with gelatin and chopped berries folded through, under a cream-cheese frosting made with well-drained strawberries.
- Total
- 2 h
- Hands on
- 50 min
- Serves
- 8
- Level
- Medium
Drain the berries or the frosting runs
The frosting strawberries go into a sieve over a bowl while the layers cool, and they need every minute of it. Chill the frosting until it stiffens before you go near the cake.
Cooking steps
023 min
Build the batter
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, or in a large bowl with a handheld mixer on medium speed, beat together the cake mix, flour, oil and water until thoroughly combined. Add the eggs one at a time, beating after each addition until fully incorporated. Add the gelatin powder and beat until incorporated. Using a rubber spatula, fold in the chopped strawberries.
EggsVegetable oilWhite cake mixPlain flourWaterStrawberry gelatin powderStrawberries
0325 min
Bake the three layers
Evenly divide the batter among the prepared pans and tap each one on a countertop a few times to release any air bubbles. Bake until a cake tester or toothpick inserted into the centre of each comes out clean.
04
Turn them out
Transfer the pans to wire racks and let them cool completely. Run a small knife blade around the inside edge of a pan to loosen the sides, invert the cake onto the rack, lift off the pan, peel off the paper, and turn the layer right-side up. Repeat with the other two.
05
Drain the frosting berries
While the layers are cooling, rinse and dry the mixer bowl and whisk, or the bowl and beaters. Spread the frosting strawberries in a sieve set over a bowl and leave them to drain off as much liquid as they will give up.
Do not rush this. Berries that go in wet make a wet frosting, and a wet frosting will not hold a cake together.
Strawberries
06
Whip the frosting
In the bowl, combine the butter, cream cheese, confectioners' sugar and the well-drained berries, and beat on medium-high speed until light and fluffy. If the frosting is a little thin, beat in a little more confectioners' sugar. Transfer it to the refrigerator to chill and stiffen until you are ready to frost.
Confectioners' sugarUnsalted butterCream cheese
07
Stack and frost
Place one layer on a plate or platter and spread the top with a thin layer of frosting. Top with the second layer and spread that thinly too — you can lay some strawberry slices on the frosting of each layer if you like. As you frost the first two, make sure you reserve enough to cover the entire outside. Place the third layer on top, then spread the remaining frosting over the sides and the top. Decorate with strawberry slices, cut into wedges, and serve.
Strawberries