Cooking Corner — Strawberry Shortcake

By: Kody Hanor

Ingredients

Cake Layers

  • 2½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 3 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1¾ cups granulated sugar
  • ½ cup vegetable or canola oil
  • 2 large eggs + 2 large egg whites
  • 2½ tsp vanilla extract
  • ½ tsp almond extract (optional)
  • ⅔ cup sour cream
  • ¾ cup milk (room temp)

Filling

  • 3 cups fresh strawberries (sliced or diced)
  • 2 tbsp strawberry jam
  • Extra whole strawberries for garnish (optional)

Stabilized Whipped Cream Frosting

  • 8 oz cream cheese (softened)
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • ¾ tsp vanilla extract
  • 2¼ cups heavy whipping cream (very cold)

Directions

Make the Cake

  • Preheat oven to 350°F.
  • Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt.
  • In mixer, blend sugar, oil, eggs, whites, extracts.
  • Add sour cream and mix.
  • Add flour mixture in two parts, alternating with milk.
  • Divide batter into three 8-inch prepared cake pans.
  • Bake 18–22 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
  • Cool completely.

Prepare Strawberry Filling

  • Combine sliced/diced strawberries with jam; set aside.
  • Use about 2½ cups for between the layers and reserve about ½ cup for the top.

Make the Frosting

  • Beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth.
  • Slowly add cold heavy cream while whipping to stiff peaks.

Assemble the Cake

  • Place first cake layer on platter.
  • Spread ⅓ of whipped cream frosting.
  • Top with ~1¼ cups strawberries.
  • Repeat for second layer.
  • Add last cake layer, frost top with remaining cream.
  • Add remaining strawberries in center and garnish with whole berries, if desired.

Notes

  • You can bake in two larger pans instead of three if preferred (adjust bake time).
  • Best served the day it’s made; refrigerate assembled cake and bring to room temp before serving.

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