Fresh Strawberry Walnut Cake Food

HOMEMADE STRAWBERRY CAKE

Steps:

• Make the reduced strawberry puree and allow it to cool completely. See note. You can make it a few days ahead of time and store it covered in the refrigerator or cover and freeze it for up to 3 months. Thaw before using in the recipe.
• Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C). Grease and lightly flour two 9-inch cake pans.
• Whisk the cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together. Set aside.
• Using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat the butter and sugar together on high speed until smooth and creamed, about 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides and up the bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula as needed. Beat in the egg whites on high speed until combined, about 2 minutes. Then beat in the sour cream and vanilla extract. Scrape down the sides and up the bottom of the bowl as needed. With the mixer on low speed, add the dry ingredients until just incorporated. With the mixer still running on low, slowly pour in the milk *just* until combined. Do not overmix. Whisk in 1/2 cup of reduced strawberry puree, making sure there are no lumps at the bottom of the bowl. The batter will be slightly thick. Stir in food coloring, if desired. (I use 1 small drop.)
• Pour batter evenly into cake pans. Bake for around 24-25 minutes or until the cakes are baked through. To test for doneness, insert a toothpick into the center of the cake. If it comes out clean, it is done. Allow cakes to cool completely in the pans set on a wire rack. The cakes must be completely cool before frosting and assembling.
• Using a blender or food processor, process the freeze-dried strawberries into a powdery crumb. You should have around 1/2 cup crumbs. Set aside. In a large bowl using a hand-held or stand mixer fitted with a paddle or whisk attachment, beat the cream cheese for 1 minute on high speed until completely smooth and creamy. Beat in the butter until combined. Add the confectioners' sugar, strawberry powder, 1 Tablespoon milk, and vanilla and beat on medium-high speed until combined and creamy. Add 1 more Tablespoon of milk to slightly thin out, if desired. Taste, then add a pinch of salt if needed. Yields about 3 cups of frosting.
• First, using a large serrated knife, slice a thin layer off the tops of the cakes to create a flat surface. Discard (or crumble over ice cream!). Place 1 cake layer on your cake stand or serving plate. Evenly cover the top with frosting. Top with 2nd layer and spread the remaining frosting all over the top and sides. Refrigerate for at least 45 minutes before slicing. This helps the cake keep its shape when cutting- it could slightly fall apart without time in the fridge.
• Cover leftover cake tightly and store in the refrigerator for 5 days.

STRAWBERRY CAKE WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Steps:

• For the puree: Pulse the strawberries in a food processor, scraping as needed, until a smooth puree forms. Add the strawberry puree to a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce the heat to low and simmer until the puree reduces by half (to about 1 cup). Transfer the puree to a bowl and set aside to cool.
• For the cake: Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Lightly coat two 9-inch round cake pans with nonstick baking spray. Line the bottoms with parchment rounds; lightly coat parchment with nonstick spray.
• Whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt and baking soda in a large bowl until combined. Beat the butter, granulated sugar, oil and vanilla in another bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the whole eggs and yolks one at a time, beating to blend between additions and occasionally scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl, until the batter is completely combined, smooth and creamy. With the mixer on low speed, add the dry ingredients in 3 additions, alternating with the buttermilk, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Fold in 1/2 cup of the cooled strawberry puree. Reserve the rest of the puree for the frosting.
• Scrape the batter evenly into the prepared pans. Smooth the tops. Bake, rotating the pans halfway through, until the cakes are a light golden brown and a tester inserted into the centers comes out clean, 35 to 45 minutes. Transfer the pans to a wire rack and let the cakes cool for 30 minutes. Run a knife around the sides of the cakes and invert onto the wire rack. Remove the parchment and let the cakes cool completely.
• For the frosting: Beat the cream cheese in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth and fluffy. Gradually beat in the butter, beating until smooth. Sift the confectioners' sugar into the bowl and beat until smooth. Add the vanilla and beat until light and fluffy. Remove 3 cups of the frosting to a medium bowl and set aside. Fold the reserved strawberry puree into the remaining frosting. Refrigerate both until slightly chilled and firm, about 20 minutes.
• To assemble the cake: Place one cake domed-side down on a platter. Spread 1 1/2 cups of the strawberry frosting evenly over the top. Place the remaining cake domed-side up on top. Spread the top and sides of the cake with 1 1/2 cups of the white frosting. Smooth out completely to make an even crumb coat. (It's okay if some of the cake shows through. This is just a base layer.) Refrigerate for 30 minutes to let the frosting set.
• Spread the remaining white frosting on the top of the cake and the upper half of the sides. There should be a band all around the bottom of the cake with the crumb coat exposed. Fill in the exposed area with 1 cup of the strawberry frosting. Use a large offset spatula to smooth the top and sides of the cake. The strawberry and white frostings should blend together during smoothing to create an ombre effect. Transfer the remaining strawberry frosting to a piping bag or resealable plastic bag fitted with a medium star tip. Pipe 8 rosettes evenly spaced along the top border of the cake.

FRESH STRAWBERRY WALNUT CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350. Grease a 9-inch springform pan and cut a parchment round for the bottom.
• Toss the strawberries with the cornstarch until the cornstarch is dissolved. Set aside.
• Grind the walnuts until they are very finely chopped but not a paste.
• In a medium bowl, mix together the walnuts with the flour, baking powder, and salt.
• In another bowl, mix together the buttermilk, vegetable oil, orange juice, and vanilla.
• Put the flat beater on your standing mixer. Add the eggs and the sugar to the bowl. Mix on medium high speed for 5 minutes. The batter will be very light colored and flow off the beater in a stream.
• Turn the mixer to low. Begin adding the flour and buttermilk mixtures in turn. Start with 1/3 of the flour, then 1/2 of the buttermilk, and continue 1/3, 1/2, 1/3. Be careful not to overmix and only mix just enough to incorporate each addition.
• Spread 1/3 of the batter onto the bottom of the prepared springform pan.
• Top the batter with 1/2 of the strawberries, spreading them out over the surface.
• Add the remaining batter and smooth it out over the top. Then add the remaining berries, pressing them in a bit so they are sitting in the batter.
• Bake for 50-55 minutes, or until a skewer comes out clean or until a thermometer reads between 205-210F.
• Let rest on a cooling rack for about 15 minutes. Then remove the ring of the springform pan and let it cool completely.
• To serve move the cake onto a serving platter (removing the pan base) and dust with confectioners' sugar.

MOTHER'S WALNUT CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Cream butter, shortening and granulated sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Combine flour, baking soda and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk and vanilla. Beat on low speed just until combined. Stir in ground walnuts. , Pour into three greased and floured 9-in. round pans. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 20-25 minutes. Cool 5 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks to cool completely. , For frosting, beat cream cheese and butter. Add confectioners' sugar; mix well. Beat in vanilla until smooth. Spread frosting between layers and over the top and sides of cake. Sprinkle with walnuts. Refrigerate.

STRAWBERRY WALNUT CREAM CAKE 1956

Steps:

• Make 8 inch spring form cake;.
• Grease with butter an 8 inch spring form pan.
• Sprinkle first with granulated sugar.
• Then dust with flour, removing by tapping excess out.
• Set oven to 350 degrees.
• Beat the eggs and sugar, and coffee granules over a saucepot of hot water on medium heat.
• Beating with a rotary beater until mixture is thickend and leaves a ribbon like effect with beaters are lifted.
• Take from the heat and beat until cool.
• If you are using an electric beater, than the cooking process is not really necessary.
• Sift the measured flour and fold into the cooled egg mixture, alternating with the walnuts in three batches.
• Pour into the prepared sugared floured pan.
• Bake 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until tester comes away clean.
• Turn onto a wire rack and cool.
• Slice the berries reserving a few for decorations.
• Whip the heavy cream until it holds its shape.
• Can sweeten if desired with a tablespoon corn syrup.
• As you will notice the berries and cream is not sweetened.
• When the cake is cooled and about ready to serve, split cake into three layers.
• Remove 1/3 of the whipped cream for the top plain layer.
• Combine the remaining whipped cream with the berries.
• Place first layer onto serving dish and place 1/2 of filling .
• Top with second layer and another of filling.
• Top with final layer and and last of the whipped cream, garnish with a few whole berries.