Lemon Strawberry Layer Cake - this rustic looking cake is very easy to make and absolutely delicious! You will love the lemon and strawberry combo!
I am about to tell you that making a layer cake is ridiculously easy. Not only you cannot mess it up but you also don't need any skills or experience in decorating cakes.
Rustic cakes are the new thing! They are impressive to serve for a dinner party or any celebration. And we all know that summer is full of celebrations. Any reason is good for a party during summer. The sunshine, the warm breeze, the chirping birds - it all makes you want to throw a party!
Summer is also all about fruit. The best way to eat it? Fresh of course! When there is a fruit juice dripping down your hands - you know you are enjoying the fruit in the best way possible.
As soon as strawberries show up in farmers market and stores - you know the summer is just around the corner! And if you ask me - I think kids love strawberries way more than any candy. At least mine do! I cannot tell you how many times I caught my kiddos sneaking a few from the container or a bowl. This is a proof:
Our oldest daughter absolutely adores strawberries and I think this cake is also her favorite cake to date! She helped me place the strawberry slices on the whipped cream. I think it's safe to say, she was really happy about this project. 🙂
There is one thing about having 8 pounds of strawberries on hand. You have to figure out how you are going to use them all up. Which also means that you need to hull them all. Thankfully, OXO comes to the rescue with their newest kitchen tool - the Incredible Hull! The newest strawberry huller is designed to get the green part of a strawberry out quickly and without the mess.
For the lemon zest, I used OXO's zester. It makes the prettiest strips of lemon zest! Perfect for decorating the cake! I used half of them to infuse the sugar for the cake with the lemon flavor (so no lemon extract needed) and half to decorate the cake along with strawberries.
For the cake layers, I used my trusted lemon cake recipe. For days, I couldn't decide if I wanted the strawberries baked into the cake or use fresh to dress up the cake. I went with the latter because like I said above - these berries are the best fresh!
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Lemon strawberry layer cake
Ingredients
- 3 c all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 3/4 c granulated sugar
- 12 tbsp unsalted butter softened
- 3 large eggs room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- freshly grated zest of a whole lemon about 3 tsp
- 2 tsp lemon juice
- 1 c buttermilk or sour milk see note
- 3 c whipped topping or whipped cream
- 1 lb fresh strawberries washed, hulled and sliced
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
- If using sour milk: place 1 Tbsp of white vinegar in a measuring cup and fill with enough milk to make 1 cup. Stir few times and let sit for 2 to 3 minutes.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, soda, salt and the zest). Set aside.
- Generously grease and flour two 9" round cake pans. Set aside.
- Mix half of the lemon zest and lemon juice with sugar in a small mixing bowl. Mix until the sugar turns yellow and is fragrant.
- In a large mixing bowl of a stand mixer, beat together butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
- Add vanilla, lemon extract and beat well again.
- With the mixer on low speed, add the dry ingredients alternating with buttermilk. Increase the speed to medium and beat for 2 minutes.
- Pour the batter into prepared pans.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes OR until the toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Let the cake cool completely in pans. Invert onto a cutting board.
!assembly:
- Place one layer of the cake onto your serving platter or a cake stand.
- Place half of the whipped topping over the layer and spread with an offset spatula.
- Decorate with 1/3 of the strawberries.
- Top with the second layer of the cake.
- Decorate with the remaining whipped topping and strawberry slices.
- Sprinkle with the remaining lemon zest.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
If you like this recipe and make it, snap a photo and share it on INSTAGRAM! Tag me @crunchycreamysweet so I can check it out and leave a comment! 😀
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Curry and Comfort says
I love fresh strawberries and it's one fruit I can eat without feeling guilty about the carbs... I wish I could have the cake too... so bad! Mmmmm! 🙂
CrunchyCreamySw says
Thank you, Ramona!
BabyJune says
Oooh this looks great! Wish I had a slice right now. 🙂 Love the fresh flavors!
CrunchyCreamySw says
Thank you!!
Nancy says
Beautiful cake, Anna! This is the perfect summer dessert. And your daughter is gorgeous - just like her mum!
CrunchyCreamySw says
Awww, you are so sweet! Thank you, Nancy!!!
Danae Halliday says
This is a beautiful cake and I love that it is rustic! Strawberry lemon is one of my favorite combinations, and well cake, who doesn't love cake?!
CrunchyCreamySw says
Right?? 🙂 Thank you, Danae!
Averie Cooks says
I have a Driscolls post coming up soon and I am totally wanting a big piece of this cake right now! So beautiful and your daughter is just precious, Anna! So adorable! pinned
CrunchyCreamySw says
Oooo! Can't wait to see your post! Thanks, Averie!
Auntiepatch says
I'm not finding the widget!
CrunchyCreamySw says
I hope you were able to enter it!
Georgia says
Haha! Your little girl and those strawberries reminds me of myself... I can't get enough of them lately. This layer cake is gorgeous, Anna. So berry-licious and beautiful! Great recipe for summer parties.
CrunchyCreamySw says
Thank you, Georgia!
realfoodbydad says
What a beautiful cake! Would it be acceptable to have this for breakfast?:) Having that many strawberries is an awesome problem to have, right? Love this.
CrunchyCreamySw says
It's fantastic for breakfast. 🙂 You are getting your fruit! Thanks, Matt!
Tina | Mademoiselle Gourmande says
Wow, this looks soooo good! 🙂 Deliciously fresh looking cake!
CrunchyCreamySw says
Thank you, Tina!