Vanilla cake isn’t so boring with a strawberry filling surprise.

It’s a little something extra when you need a special dessert to impress.

Layers of classicvanilla cakedon’t seem so, well, vanilla once you add a sweet strawberry filling.

Southern Living Vanilla Cake with Strawberry Filling sliced and ready to serve

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Tender berries are a snapshot of the seasonthosespecial monthswhen fresh strawberries come to us as little jewels of flavor.

Thecream cheese frostingfor this cake elevates the strawberry flavor; it doesn’t mask it.

What’s more, the vanilla cake has some subtle tang from buttermilk.

Southern Living Vanilla Cake with Strawberry Filling letting the strawberries macerate

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The end result is a layer cake that is impressive and slightly reminiscent ofstrawberry shortcake.

Learn how to make vanilla cake with strawberry filling.

Ingredients

Strawberry Filling:

1cupmashedstrawberries(about 8 oz.

Southern Living Vanilla Cake with Strawberry Filling cooking the filling

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whole strawberries)

1/2cupgranulated sugar

1 1/2Tbsp.strawberry-flavored gelatin dessert(from 1 [3-oz.]

pkg., such as Jell-O)

Vanilla Cake:

Baking spray with flour

2cupsgranulated sugar

1cup(8 oz.

)unsalted butter, softened

4largeeggs

1 1/2Tbsp.vanilla extract

3cups(about 12 3/4 oz.

Southern Living Vanilla Cake with Strawberry Filling letting the filling cool

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), softened

3/4cup(6 oz.

)unsalted butter, softened

9 1/2cups(about 38 oz.

Remove from heat; whisk in gelatin until fully dissolved, about 30 seconds.

Southern Living Vanilla Cake with Strawberry Filling preparing the pans

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Let cool until room temperature, about 30 minutes.

Add vanilla, beating on low speed until just combined.

Remove from oven, and let cool in pans on a wire rack for 10 minutes.

Southern Living Vanilla Cake with Strawberry Filling beating the butter and sugar until fluffy

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Spoon 1 cup frosting into a piping bag fitted with a 1/2-inch round tip.

Spread 1 cup frosting evenly to edges of cake using an offset spatula.

Spoon 1/2 cup Strawberry Filling inside of frosting border, and spread evenly.

Southern Living Vanilla Cake with Strawberry Filling adding the eggs to the batter

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Repeat layers:

Top with second cake layer, trimmed side up.

Refrigerate until frosting is cool to the touch, about 15 minutes.

Refrigerate, uncovered, until frosting is cool to the touch, about 15 minutes.

Southern Living Vanilla Cake with Strawberry Filling after adding the buttermilk and flour mixture

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Store fresh strawberries used as garnish separately, if possible.

Bring to room temperature or serve slightly chilled.

The gelatin in this recipe helps set the filling, which should help keep your cake from becoming soggy.

Southern Living Vanilla Cake with Strawberry Filling adding the batter to the pans

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verify your cake layers are completely cooled before frosting.

A crumb coat will also help keep the cake layers in place.

Southern Living Vanilla Cake with Strawberry FIlling beating the butter and cream cheese together for the frosting

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Southern Living Vanilla Cake with Strawberry Filling after mixing the frosting

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Southern Living Vanilla Cake with Strawberry Filling filling the piping bag with frosting

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Southern Living Vanilla Cake with Strawberry Filling trimming the cake layers

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Southern Living Vanilla Cake with Strawberry Filling getting ready to fill the cake

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Southern Living Vanilla Cake with Strawberry Filling adding the filling to the cake

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Southern Living Vanilla Cake with Strawberry Filling adding the next cake layer on top of the filling

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Southern Living Vanilla Cake with Strawberry Filling sliced and ready to serve

Credit:Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

Southern Living Vanilla Cake with Strawberry Filling ingredients

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