America's Test Kitchen Strawberry Cream Cake
If you're looking for a dessert that's both delicious and easy to make, look no further than America's Test Kitchen Strawberry Cream Cake. This cake is perfect for any occasion, from a family dinner to a birthday party, and is sure to impress your guests with its beautiful presentation and irresistible flavor.
The Ingredients
The first step in making this cake is gathering all of the necessary ingredients. Here's what you'll need:
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 pound fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
- 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
- 1 cup heavy cream, chilled
Make sure to use fresh, high-quality ingredients for the best possible flavor. You'll also need a 9-inch cake pan and an electric mixer.
The Preparation
Once you have all of your ingredients, it's time to start preparing the cake. Here's what you'll need to do:
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
- Grease a 9-inch cake pan and set it aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Using an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
- Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
- Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture in three parts, alternating with the milk and vanilla extract and beginning and ending with the dry ingredients.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top with a spatula.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
- Let the cake cool completely in the pan.
While the cake is cooling, you can prepare the strawberries and whipped cream. Here's what you'll need to do:
- In a large bowl, toss the sliced strawberries with the confectioners' sugar.
- In a separate bowl, beat the chilled heavy cream with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form.
The Assembly
Once the cake has cooled and the strawberries and whipped cream are prepared, it's time to assemble the cake. Here's how:
- Carefully remove the cake from the pan and place it on a serving platter.
- Using a serrated knife, slice the cake in half horizontally.
- Spread a layer of whipped cream on the bottom half of the cake.
- Add a layer of sliced strawberries on top of the whipped cream.
- Place the top half of the cake on top of the strawberries.
- Cover the entire cake with whipped cream.
- Garnish with additional sliced strawberries as desired.
And that's it! Your delicious and beautiful America's Test Kitchen Strawberry Cream Cake is ready to serve. Enjoy!