Description
Indulge in the refreshing flavors of summer with this delightful Strawberry Lemonade Cake. A tender lemon-infused cake studded with fresh strawberries, layered with strawberry preserves, and topped with a luscious lemon cream cheese frosting.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake:
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 cup finely chopped fresh strawberries
- 1/2 cup strawberry preserves
Frosting:
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (for frosting)
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon milk
- Pink or yellow food coloring (optional)
- Fresh strawberries and lemon slices for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prep Pans: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans and line with parchment paper.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, beat softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Mix in eggs one at a time, then add lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla extract.
- Alternate Additions: Combine milk and sour cream; add to butter mixture alternating with dry ingredients.
- Include Strawberries: Gently fold in chopped strawberries.
- Bake and Cool: Divide batter between pans, bake for 28–32 minutes, cool in pans, then transfer to a wire rack.
- Prepare Frosting: Beat butter and cream cheese, add powdered sugar, lemon juice, and milk until creamy. Tint with food coloring if desired.
- Assemble Cake: Layer cake with strawberry preserves, frost with lemon cream cheese frosting, and garnish as desired.
Notes
- For best results, use fresh strawberries and freshly squeezed lemon juice.
- You can make the cake layers ahead of time and chill them before assembling the cake.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 42g
- Sodium: 210mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 61g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 105mg
