Strawberry and Cream Sheet Cake
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter softened
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tsp. fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups cake flour
- 2 Tbs. strawberry-flavored gelatin
- 1/2 tsp. baking soda
- 1/4 tsp. table salt
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 2/3 cup chopped fresh strawberries
- Strawberry Frosting
- 1 8-oz. package cream cheese, softened
- ⅔ cup sugar divided
- ⅔ cup chopped fresh strawberries
- 1 drop pink food coloring gel optional
- 1 ½ cups heavy cream
- 3 Tbs. fresh lemon juice
- Garnish: fresh strawberries
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°. Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy; gradually add sugar, beating 4 to 5 minutes or until light and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating until blended after each addition. Beat in lemon juice and vanilla.
- Stir together flour and next 3 ingredients; add flour mixture to butter mixture alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat at low speed just until blended. Stir in strawberries.
- Grease (with shortening) and flour a 13- x 9-inch pan; line with parchment paper, allowing 2 to 3 inches to extend over long sides. Lightly grease paper with cooking spray. Spread batter in prepared pan.
- Bake at 350° for 30 to 40 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack 30 minutes. Lift cake from pan, using parchment paper sides as handles. Invert cake onto wire rack; gently remove parchment paper. Cool completely (about 1 hour). Spread Strawberry Frosting on top and sides
- Strawberry Frosting
- Beat cream cheese and 1/3 cup sugar with an electric mixer until smooth; add strawberries and food coloring (if desired); beat until blended.
- Beat cream and juice at medium speed until foamy; increase speed to medium-high, and slowly add remaining 1/3 cup sugar, beating until stiff peaks form. Fold half of cream mixture into cheese mixture; fold in remaining cream mixture. Use immediately