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Flavorful Heart-Shaped Strawberry Shortcake Layer Cake

heart-shaped strawberry shortcake layer cake - featured image
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A charming and easy-to-make strawberry shortcake layer cake with heart-shaped layers, fresh strawberries, and whipped cream, perfect for special occasions or spontaneous treats.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ½ cups (315 g) all-purpose flour, sifted
  • 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ⅓ cup (65 g) granulated sugar
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¾ cup (170 g) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
  • 1 cup (240 ml) whole milk, cold
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 4 cups (about 600 g) fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
  • ¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar, adjust to taste
  • 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 2 cups (480 ml) heavy whipping cream, cold
  • ¼ cup (30 g) powdered sugar, sifted
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease two 8-inch heart-shaped cake pans lightly with butter and dust with flour, tapping out the excess.
  2. In a large bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt.
  3. Add the cold, cubed butter to the flour mixture. Use a pastry cutter, two knives, or your fingertips to work the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with pea-sized bits.
  4. Pour in the cold milk and vanilla extract. Stir gently with a spatula until just combined. Do not overmix.
  5. Evenly distribute the batter between the two prepared pans. Smooth the tops gently.
  6. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and the tops are golden brown.
  7. Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then run a knife around the edges and invert onto cooling racks. Allow to cool completely.
  8. While the cakes cool, combine sliced strawberries, sugar, and lemon juice in a bowl. Toss lightly and let macerate at room temperature for at least 15 minutes.
  9. In a chilled bowl, beat the heavy cream with powdered sugar and vanilla extract until soft peaks form.
  10. Place one cake layer on your serving plate. Spread a generous layer of whipped cream, then spoon over half the macerated strawberries with their juices.
  11. Top with the second cake layer, then frost the entire cake with remaining whipped cream. Decorate with extra strawberry slices if desired.
  12. Chill the cake in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before serving.

Notes

Use cold ingredients to keep the batter tender and flaky. Do not overmix the batter to avoid toughness. Chill the mixing bowl before whipping cream for better results. Macerate strawberries to create a juicy syrup that soaks into the cake layers. If strawberries are very juicy, drain some juice before layering to prevent sogginess. For dairy-free or gluten-free versions, substitute milk with almond milk, heavy cream with coconut cream, and flour with gluten-free blends.

Nutrition

Keywords: strawberry shortcake, heart-shaped cake, layer cake, easy dessert, Valentine's Day cake, whipped cream, fresh strawberries

Find it online: https://bitefuljoy.com/flavorful-heart-shaped-strawberry-shortcake-layer-cake-recipe-easy-to-make-at-home/