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Best Strawberry Cake from Scratch

This strawberry cake is easy to make from scratch with strawberry puree and strawberry gelatin. This recipe is worth its weight in gold to me as a caterer. I made this cake for a child's birthday party and it was a major hit! Frost with cream cheese frosting or chocolate ganache for a special treat.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course lunch/dinner, Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 14 people
Calories 5365.7 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Electric Mixer Stand or hand mixer for creaming and beating ingredients.
  • 2 Large Mixing Bowls For wet and dry ingredients.
  • 2 9-inch Round Cake Pans Essential for baking the cake layers.
  • 1 Wire Rack For cooling the cake layers evenly.
  • 1 Fine-mesh sieve or sifter For sifting cake flour and ensuring a tender crumb.

Ingredients
  

Main

  • 2 cups white sugar
  • 1 cup butter softened
  • 1 3 ounce package strawberry flavored Jell-O®
  • 4 large eggs at room temperature
  • 2 ¾ cups sifted cake flour
  • 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 cup whole milk room temperature
  • ½ cup strawberry puree
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
  • Beat sugar, butter, and dry strawberry gelatin together in a large bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Combine flour and baking powder in a large bowl; stir into butter mixture alternately with milk. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Blend in strawberry puree and vanilla. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Divide batter evenly between the prepared pans. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 25 to 30 minutes. Cool cakes on a wire rack for 10 minutes; run a table knife around the edges to loosen. Invert carefully onto a serving plate or cooling rack to cool completely. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Enjoy! DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS 

Notes

For optimal cake texture and rise, ensure all cold ingredients, especially butter, eggs, and milk, are at room temperature before mixing. This promotes better emulsion and a lighter crumb. When combining the flour mixture with the wet ingredients, mix only until just incorporated to avoid developing the gluten too much, which can lead to a tough cake. The strawberry gelatin not only boosts the flavor and color but also contributes to the cake's moistness. For a truly vibrant strawberry flavor, consider using fresh, ripe strawberries for your puree. A touch of strawberry extract can further enhance the natural berry notes. Always grease and flour your cake pans meticulously to prevent sticking and ensure a clean release. For a professional finish, level your cooled cake layers before frosting.