Neapolitan Cake Recipe: Easy Elegant Layers for Fancy Celebrations
This Neapolitan cake features three stunning layers—chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry—stacked together for a showstopping dessert that’s surprisingly easy to make. Perfect for birthdays, holidays, or any celebration, this cake brings classic ice cream flavors to your party table.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 2 cups (240g) all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup (170g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups (300g) granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 cup (240ml) whole milk, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup (20g) unsweetened cocoa powder (Dutch-processed preferred)
- 2 tablespoons (30ml) milk (for chocolate layer)
- 1/2 cup (80g) fresh strawberries, pureed (or thawed, drained frozen strawberries)
- Red or pink food coloring (optional, for strawberry layer)
- For the frosting:
- 3/4 cup (170g) unsalted butter, softened
- 3 cups (360g) powdered sugar, sifted
- 3–4 tablespoons (45-60ml) heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease three 8-inch round cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar together on medium-high speed for about 3 minutes until light and fluffy.
- Beat in eggs one at a time, scraping down the bowl between each addition. Mix in vanilla extract.
- With the mixer on low, add the dry ingredients in three parts, alternating with the milk, starting and ending with dry ingredients. Mix until just combined.
- Divide the batter evenly into three bowls (about 1 1/3 cups each).
- For the vanilla layer: Leave as is.
- For the chocolate layer: Stir in cocoa powder and 2 tablespoons milk.
- For the strawberry layer: Fold in strawberry puree and a drop of food coloring if desired.
- Pour each batter into a prepared pan, smoothing the tops. Bake for 20-25 minutes, rotating pans halfway through, until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Let cakes cool in pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely.
- For the frosting: Beat butter until creamy (about 2 minutes). Gradually add powdered sugar, vanilla, salt, and heavy cream. Beat for 2-3 minutes until fluffy, adjusting cream or sugar for consistency.
- To assemble: Place the chocolate layer on a serving plate and spread a layer of frosting on top. Add the strawberry layer, more frosting, then the vanilla layer. Frost the top and sides with remaining frosting.
- Decorate as desired with sprinkles, sliced strawberries, or chocolate shavings.
- Chill the cake for at least 30 minutes before slicing for clean layers. Use a sharp, warm knife for best results.
Notes
Use room temperature ingredients for best texture. If the strawberry batter is too thin, add a tablespoon of flour. Trim domed cakes for even stacking. For clean slices, chill the cake and use a hot, clean knife. The cake can be made gluten-free or dairy-free with appropriate substitutions. Layers can be baked ahead and wrapped tightly until ready to frost.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/12 of cake)
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 38
- Sodium: 210
- Fat: 21
- Saturated Fat: 13
- Carbohydrates: 55
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 5
Keywords: Neapolitan cake, layer cake, chocolate vanilla strawberry cake, birthday cake, celebration dessert, homemade cake, easy layer cake, party cake, classic cake, strawberry chocolate vanilla