Vanilla Cake with Strawberry Filling and Whipped Cream Frosting is made up of layers of moist vanilla cake, a fresh strawberry filling, and a light and fluffy strawberry whipped cream frosting. It's the perfect cake to enjoy during the summer months and is a delicious dessert that's perfect for Valentine's Day, or Mother's Day.
Confession: I'm not really much of a cake person. But every once in a while, I get a craving for a particular cake. I love classic flavors, like chocolate, vanilla, and fruit, and light-as-air icings over heavier concoctions like buttercream.
This cake meets all those criteria and more. It's a simple, pure vanilla-flavored cake that has a great texture, with a delicious strawberry cake filling sandwiched between. And, my favorite, a Strawberry Whipped Cream Frosting is spread over the whole thing making this something that even I, a "non-cake person" cannot refuse.
In This Post
Why This Recipe Works
- Beautiful. This Strawberry Vanilla Cake is a stunner and is sure to impress. I made this as two two-layer cake but you could easily add a third to make it even more impressive and gorgeous.
- Delicious. The vanilla cake layers are light, fluffy, and perfectly moist, providing the ideal base for the sweet and tangy strawberry filling. And, the strawberry whipped cream frosting adds a light and airy finish that complements the other flavors perfectly. (Looking for something a bit denser but equally delicious? Try this banana pudding pound cake.)
- Fresh strawberry flavor. The strawberry cake filling and strawberry whipped cream are both made with juicy ripe strawberries, ensuring each bite has a burst of real strawberry flavor.
Key Ingredients
Just a few ingredients are needed for this delicious strawberry vanilla cake recipe.
- Vanilla extract. Provides the essential flavor base for the vanilla cake layers.
- All-purpose flour.
- Sugar and room temperature butter.
- Eggs. I used 3 full eggs, plus 1 egg white to add a bit more volume to the cake.
- Fresh strawberries. Used in both the filling and as a garnish, fresh strawberries add real strawberry flavor and a pop of color to the cake.
- Buttermilk. Adds moisture and tanginess to the cake batter, resulting in a tender and flavorful cake.
- Strawberry Cake Filling. My strawberry cake filling adds a delicious layer of sweetness to the middle of this homemade strawberry cake.
- Strawberry Whipped Cream. A light and fluffy strawberry frosting that tastes as good as it looks.
*See full list of ingredients in the recipe card below.
How To Make A Vanilla Cake With Strawberry Filling And Strawberry Whipped Cream Frosting
This vanilla strawberry cake is not hard to whip up. Just make sure to also read the ingredients and instructions for the Strawberry Cake Filling and the Strawberry Whipped Cream Frosting. These should be made ahead of time so that they are ready to use when you're ready to assemble your cake.
- Prepare. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Cut parchment paper to fit the bottom of two 8-inch round came pans. (I typically just trace the pan with a pencil and then cut the parchment paper to size with scissors.) Grease two 8-inch round cake pan. Dust lightly with flour, then line the pans at the bottom with the parchment paper. This will make it easier for you to remove the cakes from the pan once they're finished cooking.
- Mix the wet Ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, cream together softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. (You can also do this in the bowl of a stand mixer using the paddle attachment). Add the eggs and vanilla extract and mix until combined.
- Add the dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add the dry ingredients and buttermilk to the butter mixture, alternating a little of each at a time mixing until just combined.
- Bake the cakes. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared cake pans and bake for 30-33 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow the cakes to cool in the pans for 30 minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack to cool completely.
- Add the strawberry filling. Once the cakes are cool, spread strawberry cake filling on top of one cake layer, leaving a small border around the edge. Place the second cake layer on top.
- Frost. Frost the top and sides of the cake with strawberry whipped cream frosting.
- Garnish. Garnish with fresh strawberries, if desired, and serve.
Variations and Substitutions
- Use strawberry jam. For a shortcut version, you can use store-bought strawberry jam or preserves instead of making your own filling.
- Try a different frosting. Personally, I love the lightness of whipped cream frosting over a dense buttercream, but If you prefer a different type of frosting, you could use strawberry cream cheese frosting or buttercream frosting instead of whipped cream.
- Use cake flour. All-purpose flour works perfectly fine here, but if you prefer to use cake flour for a bit more tender texture, that works great as well.
- Try a different fruit filling. My Strawberry Cake Filling is perfect for this strawberry layer cake, but feel free to experiment with different fruits, depending on what's in season.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! You can bake the cake layers ahead of time and store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days before assembling. You can also make the strawberry filling and whipped cream frosting ahead of time and store them in the refrigerator until you're ready to assemble the cake. Alternatively, you can make the full cake and store it for up to one to two days in the refrigerator before serving. The icing is stable enough to hold up.
Yes, you can use frozen strawberries in the filling and frosting if fresh strawberries are not available. Just be sure to thaw and drain them well before using.
Absolutely! You can use this recipe to make cupcakes instead of a layer cake. Simply divide the batter evenly among lined muffin tins and adjust the baking time accordingly.
If you're looking for a good vegan alternative to this strawberry vanilla cake, this recipe for Vegan Strawberry Cake is to die for.
If you try this Vanilla Cake with Strawberry Filling and Strawberry Whipped Cream Frosting let me know what you think in the comments below. And please tag me with a pic @frontrangefed on Instagram so I can see your beautiful cakes!!
More Delicious Desserts
- Strawberry Cheesecake With A Pretzel Crust
- Lemon Cake With Strawberries
- Olive Oil Cake With Rosemary Dark Chocolate
- Easy Peach Cobbler
- Easy Dutch Apple Pie With A Graham Cracker Crust
Recipe
Vanilla Cake With Strawberry Filling And Whipped Cream
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter (room temperature)
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs +1 egg white (room temperature)
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 ⅓ cup buttermilk
- ¾ cup Strawberry Cake Filling
- 2 cups Strawberry Whipped Cream Frosting
- fresh strawberries for garnish
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350 degrees and grease pans with butter. (2 round 8 inch pans).
- Combine the softened butter and sugar and mix with a hand mixer or stand mixer on medium speed until the mixture is light and fluffy.
- Reduce the speed and add the eggs and the egg white one at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl with a spatula. Add the vanilla and mix until just combined.
- Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt to a medium bowl and whisk to combine.
- Slowly add the dry ingredients and the buttermilk to the butter mixture, alternating in batches, a little at a time until everything is incorporated.
- Add the batter to the pans and bake for 30-33 minutes until the cake starts to brown at the edges and a toothpick comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 30 minutes, then remove from pan and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Assemble the cake. Place the first layer on a cake platter or large tray. Spread about ½ cup - 1 cup of strawberry cake filling on the top of the first layer. Be sure to leave about ¼ inch of space around the edge of the cake. (This will prevent the strawberry filling from bleeding out of the side of the cake when you add the second layer.) Place the second cake layer on top of the strawberry cake filling.
- Ice the cake. Ice the cake with strawberry whipped cream frosting. Slice some fresh strawberries and arrange in a circle on the top of the cake, if desired.
Sage Scott says
This is such a light, luscious dessert that screams "spring is here!" It has just the right balance of vanilla sponge, sweet/tart berries, and sweet whipped cream.
Sarah Jenkins says
Glad you liked it Sage!!
Charlotte says
This was so good!! The cake was moist and perfect, the filling added just the right amount of sweetness, and the whipped cream frosting was light, airy and delicious. I loved every part of it!