Vanilla Cake With Strawberry Cream Frosting Food

MY BEST VANILLA CAKE - STAYS MOIST 4 DAYS!

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 180°C/350°F (160°C fan) for 20 minutes before starting the batter (Note 8). Place shelf in the middle of the oven.
• Grease 2 x 20cm / 8" cake pans with butter, then line with parchment / baking paper. (Note 9 more pan sizes) Best to use cake pan without loose base, if you can.
• Whisk flour, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Set aside.
• Beat eggs for 30 seconds on speed 6 of a Stand Mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, or hand beater.
• With the beater still going, pour the sugar in over 45 seconds.
• Then beat for 7 minutes on speed 8, or until tripled in volume and white.
• Heat Milk-Butter: While egg is beating, place butter and milk in a heatproof jug and microwave 2 minutes on high to melt butter (or use stove). Do not let milk bubble and boil (foam ok). Don't do this ahead and let the milk cool (this affects rise).
• Gently add flour: When the egg is whipped, scatter 1/3 flour across surface, then beat on Speed 1 for 5 seconds. Add half remaining flour, then mix on Speed 1 for 5 sec. Add remaining flour, then mix on Speed 1 for 5 - 10 sec until the flour is just mixed in. Once you can't see flour, stop straight away.
• Lighten hot milk with some Egg Batter: Pour hot milk, vanilla and oil into the now empty flour bowl. Add about 1 1/2 cups (2 ladles or so) of the Egg Batter into the Milk-Butter (don't need to be 100% accurate with amount). Use a whisk to mix until smooth - you can be vigorous here. Will look foamy.
• Slowly add milk: Turn beater back on Speed 1 then pour the Milk mixture into the Egg Batter over 15 seconds, then turn beater off.
• Scrape and final mix: Scrape down sides and base of bowl. Beat on Speed 1 for 10 seconds - batter should now be smooth and pourable.
• Pour batter into pans.
• Knock out bubbles: Bang each cake pan on the counter 3 times to knock out big bubbles (Note 10 for why)
• Bake 30 minutes or until golden and toothpick inserted into centre comes out clean.
• Remove from oven. Cool in cake pans for 15 minutes, then gently turn out onto cooling racks. If using as layer cakes, cool upside down - slight dome will flatten perfectly. Level cake = neat layers.
• Frost with frosting of choice, or cream and fresh berries or jam. See list of ideas in post!
• Beat butter with paddle attachment in stand mixer for 3 minutes on high until it changes from yellow to almost white, and it becomes fluffy and creamy.
• Add icing sugar / powdered sugar gradually in 3 lots, beating slowly (to avoid a powder storm) then once mostly incorporated, beat on high for a full 3 minutes until fluffy.
• Add vanilla and milk, then beat for a further 30 seconds. Use milk only if needed to make it lovely and soft but still holds it's form (eg for piping). Use immediately. (If you make ahead, refrigerate then beat to re-fluff).

WHITE LAYER CAKE WITH WHIPPED CREAM FROSTING AND STRAWBERRY FILLING

Steps:

• Rough-chop 1½ pounds (about 3 cups) strawberries.
• Halve the remaining 1 pound of strawberries and reserve for the topping.
• In a large saucepan, whisk together the water and cornstarch until smooth.
• Add strawberries, sugar, and salt; stir well.
• Cook the mixture over medium heat, stirring often. After the strawberries cook about 3 minutes, mash about half of them.
• Continue cooking and stirring the mixture until thickened, about 15 minutes.
• Remove from heat.
• Add lemon juice and stir well.
• If desired, add red food coloring; stir well.
• Pour the mixture into a heat-resistant, airtight refrigerator container. Cool to room temperature, stir, cover and refrigerate until ready to use (at least 2 hours and up to 5 days).
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the whipping cream on medium-high speed until thickened. Add ½ cup powdered sugar and whisk until very stiff peaks form. Set aside.
• Place cream cheese, ¼ cup powdered sugar, vanilla, almond, and salt in another mixing bowl. Whisk on medium-high speed for 4 minutes, scraping downs the sides as needed, until creamy and fluffy.
• Add the whipped cream and whisk, on low speed, until fully incorporated.
• Increase the speed to medium-high and whisk until light and fluffy and the mixture has firm peaks.
• Keep refrigerated in an airtight container up to 24 hours
• Adjust the oven rack to lower-middle position and preheat oven to 325°F.
• Line 2 (if making a 4-layer cake) and 3 (if making a 3-layer cake) 8x3-inch aluminum cake pans with parchment and spray with nonstick cooking spray.
• Sift the flour into a large mixing bowl; set aside.
• Add butter, coconut oil, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer. Fit the mixer with the paddle attachment. Set the mixer to low to moisten, then switch to medium speed and cream until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes, scraping as needed.
• With the mixer running, add egg whites, one at a time.
• Add vanilla and almond extracts and mix 30 seconds.
• Scrape down the bowl and paddle.
• Set mixer to low speed and slowly add one-third of the flour, followed by one-third of the buttermilk. Mix just until each addition is roughly incorporated. Add the remaining flour and milk, alternately, one-third of each at a time. Mix just until smooth.
• Turn off the mixer and use a rubber spatula to scrape all dry ingredients from the bottom. Mix on low speed just until dry ingredients are incorporated.
• Divide batter evenly between the prepared cake pans and bake about 40 minutes or until the cakes internal temperature registers 210°F. The cakes should be pale, brown around the edges and firm. A toothpick inserted in the middle of each cake should come out almost clean - with just a few crumbs attached.
• Transfer cakes to a wire rack and cool 15 minutes. Remove cakes from the pans and remove the parchment. Return them to the wire racks to cool completely.
• If not serving the cake within a couple of hours, wrap the cake layers tightly with plastic wrap up to 24 hours ahead. Keep the frosting and filling refrigerated until ready to frost.
• If the Whipped Cream Frosting is too stiff to spread, leave it on the counter for about 15 minutes, stir or beat it for a few seconds and it should be good as new.
• Place one cake layer on a plate or cake stand and spread about 1½ cups Whipped Cream Frosting on top. Spread it evenly while building a ½-inch "barricade" of frosting around the edge to keep the filling from leaking out.
• Add about ½ cup Fresh Strawberry Filling in the middle of the frosting and spread it out evenly to the frosting "barricade".
• Add the next layer of cake and add the filling and frosting as before.
• After adding all the layers, frost the sides of the cake with Whipped Cream Frosting.
• For the top of the cake, arrange halved strawberries as desired.
• Refrigerate until ready to serve and serve within 6 hours.

VANILLA CAKE WITH STRAWBERRY CREAM

Steps:

• 1. For the frosting beat cream cheese and butter in a large bowl until smooth. You will want to use a electric mixer so you don't end up with lumps. Stop every now and then to scrape down the sides of the bowl.
• 2. Beat in sugar then jam. Beat cream in a separate chilled bowl until peaks form. Fold whipped cream into frosting. Cover and chill for a couple of hours until its firm enough to spread.
• 3. For the cake preheat oven to 325. Butter and flour 2-9 inch cake pans with 2 inch high sides. In a medium bowl whist together flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda.
• 4. In a large bowl cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add eggs 1 at a time beating after each addition.
• 5. Beat in vanilla. Add sour cream and beat for 30 seconds. Add flour mixture in 3 additions beating to blend after each addition. Divide batter into prepared pans.
• 6. Bake cake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean 50-60 minutes. Remove from oven and cool for 10 minutes.
• 7. Run a sharp knife around the edges of the pans then turn cakes out onto a rack to cool completely. You may want to refrigerate them for a couple of hours to make the next step easier.
• 8. Using a serrated knife divide each layer in half horizontally. Place each half cake side down on a cake plate. Spread 2 tablespoons strawberry jam over the cake then spread 3/4 cup of the frosting over the jam.
• 9. Arrange 3/4 of the sliced strawberries on top of the frosting in a single layer. Repeat 2 more times with cake layer, jam, frosting and strawberries. Top with remaining cake layer cut side down.
• 10. Spread 2 cups of frosting over the top and sides of the cake in a thin layer then frost with remaining frosting.
• 11. Stir remaining jam to loosen then spoon teaspoonfuls onto the top and sides of the cake. Use the back of a spoon to swirl jam decoratively into the frosting.

VANILLA CAKE WITH STRAWBERRY CREAM FROSTING

Steps:

• For the frosting, use the electric mixer to beat cream cheese and butter in large bowl until smooth, stopping to scrape down sides of the bowl. Beat in sugar, then jam. Beat cream in medium bowl until peaks form. Fold whipped cream into frosting. Cover; chill until firm enough to spread, about 2 hours.
• Cake:.
• Preheat oven to 325°F.
• Butter and flour 2 or 3 9-inch cake pans with 2 inch high sides. Sift flour, baking powder, and baking soda into medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat sugar and butter in large bowl until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating after each addition. Add sour cream, beat 30 seconds. Add flour mixture in three additions, beating just to blend after each addition. Divide the batter between the prepared pans.
• Bake until tester comes out clean. About 45- 50 minutes. Cool cakes in pan for 15 minutes and then loosen with knife and turn onto rack to cool completely.
• Using a large serrated knife, cut each cake horizontally in half. Place one cake, cut side up, on cake plate. Spread 2 tablespoons strawberry jam over ( I like to warm it slightly in microwave and add some boiling water so I can brush it on the cake), then 3/4 cup frosting, and 3/4 cup sliced berries, arranging in a single layer.
• Repeat this 2 more times with each layer of cake.
• Spread 2 cups frosting on top of cake and over sides of cake.
• Optional, spread remaining jam (room temp) on top and sides of cake (swirl).
• Cut cake into wedges and top with remaining strawberries.

VERSATILE VANILLA CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour two 8-by-2-inch cake pans, tapping out excess flour. In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
• In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. With mixer on low, beat in eggs and yolks, one at a time. Beat in vanilla. Alternately beat in flour mixture and buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture; mix just until combined.
• Divide batter between pans; smooth tops. Bake until cakes pull away from sides of pans, 32 to 35 minutes. Let cool in pans 10 minutes. Run a knife around edges of pans and invert cakes onto a wire rack. Let cool completely.
• Place one cake, bottom side up, on a cake stand. Tuck strips of parchment paper underneath. Using an offset-spatula or table knife, spread top with Whipped Frosting. Top with remaining cake; frost top, then sides.