Fresh Strawberry Sheet Cake with Strawberry Buttercream

A slice of strawberry cake on a white plate.

Fresh Strawberry Sheet Cake with Strawberry Buttercream

This Fresh Strawberry Sheet Cake with Strawberry Buttercream Frosting is the perfect cake to use all those beautiful red, ripe berries. Bake this easy to make cake for summer cookouts, celebrations, or an anytime dessert that is moist, tender, and full of strawberry flavor.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Prep Time 30

Cook Time 40

Total Time 1 10

Servings slices

Calories 714kcal

Author Jere' Cassidy

Equipment

Ingredients

Strawberry Puree

8 ounce strawberries washed and stemmed
1 cup granulated sugar
⅓ cup water

Cake batter

4 ounces unsalted butter room temperature - 1 stick
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3 cups AP flour
1½ teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon kosher salt
1 lemon
¾ cup whole milk
3-4 drops pink food coloring optional
1 teaspoon strawberry flavoring optional

Strawberry Butter Cream Frosting

8 ounces unsalted butter room temperature- 2 sticks
1 pound powdered sugar 3 ½ cups
2 tablespoon heavy whipping cream
¼ cup strawberry reduction puree

Instructions

Strawberry Puree (Reduction)

Wash, stem and chop the strawberries, then add them to a medium-sized saucepan with the sugar and water. Bring this mixture to a boil, then lightly boil for 15 minutes, stirring frequently. When done remove from the heat and smash the berries with a fork. This mixture will not be super thick.
Pour the strawberries into a bowl to cool, while you are making the cake batter. You should have about 1⅓ cups of puree.

Mixing the Strawberry Cake

Preheat the oven to 350° F. Prepare a 13" x 9" pan with cooking spray. If you are going to depan the cake, line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper.
In a large mixing bowl, or the bowl of a stand mixer, add the softened butter and beat until fluffy then add the sugar and mix on medium speed for two 3-4 minutes. Scape the bowl as needed.
Separate the eggs and add the egg whites and vanilla to the butter. Mix on medium speed until well incorporated.
In a small bowl mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together. With the mixer on low speed, alternately add the flour and the milk to the bowl. Begin and end with the flour mixture and scrape the bowl as needed. Mix just until combined.
Remove a ¼ cup of the strawberry puree then add the rest of the puree to the cake batter along with the lemon zest. Mix on medium speed until combined. The batter will be thick.

Optional color and flavoring

Add 3-4 drops of pink food coloring and mix to combine.
For a stronger strawberry flavor add ½ teaspoon to 1 teaspoon of strawberry flavoring.
Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and bake for 35-40 minutes. Test with a toothpick for doneness. When done set the cake on a cooling rack.
If you are leaving the cake in the pan it is ready to frost when completely cooled.
If you are serving the cake on a platter, let the cake cool completely and turn it out onto a platter, and frost when cooled.

Strawberry Buttercream Frosting

Add the softened butter to a stand mixing bowl or a large bowl and mix on medium speed until smooth.
Mix in half of the powdered sugar then add the other half and mix into the sugar.
Add the ¼ cup of strawberry puree and 1 tablespoon of the cream. Mix on medium speed until combined. Depending on the consistency of the icing add another tablespoon of cream and mix.
Spread the icing on top of the cake and serve.
Store any leftover cake covered for up to three days.
If you have topped the cake with strawberries store the cake in the refrigerator.

Notes

Storage information - if it is exceptionally hot it is best to store the cake in the refrigerator.

I used a 12" x 8" cake pan and cut it into 8 slices.

If using frozen strawberries, cook the puree a couple of minutes longer.

This cake can also be baked in 2-8 inch cake pans, or you can make 24 cupcakes.

More strawberry desserts -

NoBake Strawberry Shortcakes are quick to make with fresh strawberries, pound cake and lots of strawberry flavored whipped cream.

These Strawberry Curd Tarts are sweet bite-sized pastries to serve at your summer parties. We get rave reviews when we make these.

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