The strawberry puree reduction in the creamy frosting provides a concentrated flavor.

There’s strawberry in every single biteand strawberries on top, too.

It doesn’t hurt that the lovely bright pink color is darling.

Southern Living Strawberry Cake with a slice out to serve

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In short, if you love strawberries, you’ll love this cake.

Ingredients

2cupstrimmed fresh strawberries(from 1 qt.

fresh strawberries), plus more for serving

Baking spray with flour

2 3/4 cups (about11 3/4oz.

Southern Living Strawberry Cake making the strawberry puree

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)all-purpose flour

2 1/2tsp.baking powder

1 1/4tsp.kosher salt, divided

1 2/3cupsgranulated sugar

1(3-oz.)

pkg.strawberry-flavored gelatin (such as Jell-O)

2 cups (1lb.

Prepare oven and cake pans:

Preheat oven to 350F with rack in center position.

Southern Living Strawberry Cake whisking together the dry ingredients

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Coat 2 (9-inch) round cake pans with baking spray.

Line bottoms with parchment paper, and lightly coat parchment with baking spray; set aside.

Beat in 1/2 teaspoon of the vanilla until just combined.

Southern Living Strawberry Cake beating together the butter, sugar, and jello

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Let cakes cool in pans 15 minutes.

Remove cakes from pans, and discard parchment paper.

Let cool completely on wire racks, about 1 hour.

Southern Living Strawberry Cake adding the eggs to the batter

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Reduce heat to medium-low; cook, stirring occasionally, until reduced to 1/4 cup, about 15 minutes.

Increase speed to medium, and beat until fluffy, about 1 minute.

Assemble cake:

Place 1 cooled cake layer on a serving plate or cake stand.

Southern Living Strawberry Cake whisking together the strawberry puree and milk

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Spread about 1 cup of the frosting in an even layer over top of cake layer.

Garnish and serve:

Top with remaining cooled cake layer.

Spread remaining 2 cups frosting evenly over top and sides of cake; swoop or smooth as desired.

Southern Living Strawberry Cake adding the batter to the pans

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Garnish with additional fresh strawberries.

What’s the Secret to Great Strawberry Cake?

Boxed mixes use artificial flavorings that may not taste very fresh.

Southern Living Strawberry Cake cake layer after baking

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But we were determined to make our homemade strawberry cake with real strawberriesand that’s precisely what we did.

We start by pureeing some fresh berries.

This is the secret ingredient of this cake, the real powerhouse.

Southern Living Strawberry Cake cooking the puree on the stove

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It delivers incredible berry flavor but doesn’t water down the frosting or make it curdle and run.

it’s possible for you to also use other frostings if you like, includingcream cheese frostingorvanilla buttercream frosting.

ThisStrawberry Frostinghas pieces of the fruit mixed in, not a puree.

Southern Living Strawberry Cake beating the butter and vanilla for the frosting

Credit:Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster

Southern Living Strawberry Cake making the frosting

Credit:Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster

Southern Living Strawberry Cake spreading the frosting on top of one of the cake layers

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Southern Living Strawberry Cake adding another layer and more frosting to the cake

Credit:Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster

Southern Living Strawberry Cake spreading the frosting on the top and sides of the cake

Credit:Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster

Southern Living Strawberry Cake adding the fresh strawberries to the cake

Credit:Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster

Southern Living Strawberry Cake Ingredients

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Southern Living Strawberry Cake garnished and ready to serve

Credit:Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster