Strawberry Cream Cake America's Test Kitchen
Strawberry cream cake is a classic dessert that is perfect for any occasion. Whether you are celebrating a birthday, hosting a dinner party, or just want to indulge in something sweet, this cake is sure to satisfy your cravings. In this article, we will be discussing the Strawberry Cream Cake recipe from America's Test Kitchen, which is known for its unique and delicious take on this classic dessert.
The Ingredients You Will Need
Before we dive into the recipe, let's take a look at the ingredients you will need to make this delicious cake:
- 2 1/4 cups cake flour
- 1 cup whole milk, at room temperature
- 6 large egg whites, at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons almond extract
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
- 4 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 12 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened but still cool
- 1 pound fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 cups heavy cream, chilled
Make sure that all of your ingredients are at room temperature before you start baking. This will help to ensure that your cake turns out light and fluffy.
The Steps to Make Strawberry Cream Cake
Now that we have all of our ingredients ready, let's get started on making the cake:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 9-inch cake pans.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the cake flour, baking powder, and salt.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk, egg whites, almond extract, and vanilla extract.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
- Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture in three parts, alternating with the wet ingredients in two parts. Beat until just combined.
- Divide the batter evenly between the two prepared cake pans. Smooth out the tops with a spatula.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
- Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then remove them from the pans and let them cool completely on a wire rack.
- While the cakes are cooling, prepare the strawberries. In a medium bowl, combine the sliced strawberries and 1/4 cup of sugar. Mix well and let sit for 30 minutes.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the heavy cream until stiff peaks form.
- To assemble the cake, place one of the cake layers on a serving plate. Spread half of the whipped cream over the top, then add half of the sliced strawberries.
- Place the second cake layer on top of the strawberries. Spread the remaining whipped cream over the top, then add the remaining sliced strawberries.
- Refrigerate the cake for at least 30 minutes before serving.
And there you have it! A delicious and beautiful strawberry cream cake that is sure to impress your guests.
Why America's Test Kitchen's Recipe is Unique
There are a few things that make America's Test Kitchen's strawberry cream cake recipe unique:
- Using cake flour instead of all-purpose flour. Cake flour has less protein than all-purpose flour, which results in a lighter and fluffier cake.
- Using only egg whites instead of whole eggs. This also helps to keep the cake light and fluffy.
- Adding almond extract to the batter. This gives the cake a subtle, nutty flavor that complements the strawberries perfectly.
- Preparing the strawberries separately. By mixing the strawberries with sugar and letting them sit for 30 minutes, they become sweeter and juicier, which makes for a more delicious cake.
Final Thoughts
Overall, America's Test Kitchen's strawberry cream cake recipe is a delicious and unique take on a classic dessert. With its light and fluffy texture, subtle almond flavor, and juicy strawberries, this cake is sure to impress your guests and satisfy your sweet tooth. So why not give it a try for your next special occasion?