My youngest son asked for a strawberry cake for his birthday and this cake is what came of that. He also requested dinosaurs baked inside it but I know my limits.

roasted strawberries and strawberry syrup
The only strawberries I could find at the time were a bit under ripe so I decided to roasted them to deepen the flavor. I simply cut the tops off and cut them in half, spread them on a pan with parchment paper and roasted in the oven at 350F for about 30 minutes. Let the berries cool a bit and then blend into a puree and set aside to use in the cake.
You can use this method for any berries. I used frozen berries for my berry cake below. I did not roast them but just thawed and pureed them.

strawberry syrup
I saved the tops of the strawberries to make a strawberry simple syrup. To make the syrup combine equal parts of sugar and water and add the strawberry tops. Cook and stir until the sugar is dissolved and then let simmer without stirring until the mixture is a thick syrup like consistency. Strain the strawberry tops and discard. Let the syrup cool while you make the rest.
You will see below I also did a berry cake version and made a blueberry syrup to drizzle over it. You can make basically any syrup using the ratio above.
cake batter ingredients
1 1/2 cups butter, room temperature (3 sticks)
2 cups granulated sugar
3Â eggs
3 egg yolks (save whites for another use like magic frosting)
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1/4 cup cornstarch
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup whipping cream or half n half
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 lb fresh strawberries, washed and cut in half (see roasted strawberries above)
cake batter method
This cake uses the standard cake mixing method:
cream butter and sugar
add eggs one at a time (or a little at a time) and mix until thoroughly incorporated
add flour and liquid in an alternate pattern beginning and ending with the flour. finish mixing by hand with a spatula.
So for this cake I used the strawberry puree, which came out to about 3/4 cup and added 1/4 cup of whipping cream and a little lemon juice as my liquid portion. I added cornstarch to the flour mixture to give it a lighter texture.

After the cake batter is mixed divide into your prepared pans (butter or oil and flour) and bake at 350F starting at 30 minutes or until cake bounces back in the middle when touched with your finger. If an indent stays, leave in for another 5 minutes and check again.
Let the baked cakes cool completely before removing from the pans. Run butter knife or offset spatula around the edges of pan and then invert onto a cutting board or counter.
If I am frosting immediately, I will put the cakes in the freezer for at least 30 minutes. So usually while I am making the frosting(s). Then I wipe the crumbs off the edges and start assembling and frosting. If I am making these ahead, I will wrap tightly and store in the freezer until I am ready to frost and decorate.


berry cake
For the berry cake variation I used berry puree made from thawed frozen berries. The decoration is a magic frosting I use to make some cute piping details as well as large and small white sprinkles, and obviously fresh berries. I made a blueberry syrup for this one that I drizzled on top to drip over the edges.



roasted strawberry cake
Ingredients
CAKE
- 1 1/2 cups butter, room temperature (3 sticks)
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 3 eggs
- 3 egg yolks (save whites)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 3/4 cups all purpose flour
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 cup whipping cream or half n half
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 lb fresh strawberries, washed and cut in half
Instructions
ROASTED STRAWBERRIES
- arrange strawberries on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake in oven at 350F for about 30 minutes or until brown around edges, let cool a bit and then use a spatula to scrape off pan into a blender or food processor and blend to a puree. you should get about 3/4 cup of puree
CAKE BATTER
MISE EN PLACE:
- preheat oven to 350F. Butter (or oil) and flour 3 – 6 inch round / 2 inch deep cake pansadd the butter and sugar to the bowl of a stand mixerwhisk the eggs and vanilla together in a measuring cup or containermix the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, soda and salt together in a bowlstir the berry puree, lemon juice and cream together in a measuring cup or container
METHOD
- using a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar together until nice and fluffy, scraping down the bowl a couple times to make sure it is all mixed
- with the mixer on low, add the eggs, then scrape down and mix on med to med high until mixture is homogeneous
- on the lowest setting mix in half of the flour mixture, then pour in the berry mix and stir, scrape down and add the rest of the flour mixing just until incorporated
- pull bowl off mixer and mix with spatula by hand making sure nothing is stuck to bottom of bowl, then pour into pans trying to make as even as possible
- place in preheated oven and bake starting at 30 minutes until cakes are done in center and bounce back when pressed with your finger
- place on a cooling rack and let cool completely before removing from pans
- to remove, run a butter knife around the edge of pan and then turn out onto a cutting board or other surface
- at this point you can wrap the cakes individually and freeze for later, if you are using right away put in the freezer for at least 30 minutes or until frosting is ready
- before frosting, use your hand to wipe off extra crumbs around the edges
- frost and decorated as desired and enjoy!
Here is the frosting I use for the filling and general all around cake frosting. It tastes amazing and has a great texture.

This frosting is great for piping and decorations. You can use the egg whites from the cake batter recipe to make it.

I like looking through a post that will make men and women think.
Also, many thanks for allowing me to comment!
Hi there! This is my 1st comment here so I just wanted to give
a quick shout out and tell you I truly enjoy reading your posts.
Can you recommend any other blogs/websites/forums that cover
the same subjects? Thanks a lot!
Hurrah, that’s what I was searching for, what
a data! present here at this web site, thanks admin of
this site.
Hello just wanted to give you a brief heads up and let you know a few of the pictures
aren’t loading correctly. I’m not sure why but I think its a linking issue.
I’ve tried it in two different internet browsers and both
show the same results.
I believe this website contains very excellent indited content material posts.
Thanks so much for providing individuals with an extraordinarily memorable chance
to check tips from here. It’s usually very nice and as
well , jam-packed with a lot of fun for me personally and
my office mates to visit your blog really thrice a week to read through the latest stuff you will have.
Not to mention, I’m just actually fulfilled for the astonishing points served by you.
Some 4 ideas in this posting are clearly the simplest we’ve had.
It’s remarkable to pay a visit this site and
reading the views of all mates about this paragraph, while I am also keen of getting
experience.
Hello, you used to write excellent, but the last several posts have been kinda boring…
I miss your super writings. Past few posts are just a little bit out of track!
come on!
you are truly a good webmaster. The website loading velocity is incredible.
It sort of feels that you are doing any distinctive trick.
In addition, The contents are masterwork. you have done a excellent
task in this subject!
Nice post. I was checking continuously this weblog and I’m impressed!
Extremely helpful info specially the remaining phase 🙂 I deal with such
info much. I used to be looking for this certain information for a
very lengthy time. Thanks and good luck.
For hottest news you have to visit web and on internet I found this web
site as a best web site for newest updates.
This piece of writing will assist the internet people for building up new web site or even a weblog from start to end.
Very great visual appeal on this website, I’d rate it 10.
If some one needs to be updated with most recent
technologies therefore he must be go to see this web site and be up to date all the time.
I’m not sure where you are getting your info, but good topic.
I needs to spend some time learning more or understanding more.
Thanks for excellent information I was looking
for this info for my mission.
I consider something really interesting about your weblog so
I bookmarked.
whoah this blog is great i love studying your posts.
Stay up the good work! You already know, many people are hunting round for this information, you can aid them greatly.
I’d forever want to be update on new blog posts on this site,
saved to favorites!
Thanks for every other excellent article. The place else could anybody
get that kind of information in such a perfect way of writing?
I’ve a presentation next week, and I’m on the look for such information.
Real nice layout and excellent articles, hardly
anything else we need :D.
I got what you mean, regards for putting up. Woh I am delighted to find this
website through google.
Good day I am so excited I found your website, I
really found you by accident, while I was searching on Aol for something else,
Anyways I am here now and would just like to say cheers for a tremendous post and
a all round exciting blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to browse it all at the moment but I have saved it and also added in your RSS feeds,
so when I have time I will be back to read more, Please do keep up the great job.
Hi there, i read your blog occasionally and i own a similar one and
i was just wondering if you get a lot of spam comments?
If so how do you reduce it, any plugin or anything you can recommend?
I get so much lately it’s driving me mad so any
help is very much appreciated.
I?m impressed, I have to admit. Rarely do I encounter a blog that?s both
equally educative and interesting, and without a doubt,
you’ve hit the nail on the head. The issue is something too few men and women are speaking intelligently about.
I’m very happy that I stumbled across this in my search for something concerning this.
Howdy, i read your blog from time to time and i own a
similar one and i was just wondering if you get a lot of spam comments?
If so how do you reduce it, any plugin or anything you can recommend?
I get so much lately it’s driving me insane so any support is very much appreciated.
We’re a group of volunteers and starting a new
scheme in our community. Your site offered us with valuable information to work on. You’ve done an impressive job and our whole community will
be thankful to you.
I’m not sure where you’re getting your info, but good topic.
I needs to spend some time learning much
more or understanding more. Thanks for excellent
info I was looking for this information for my mission.
Hello to all, how is the whole thing, I think every one is getting more from
this website, and your views are pleasant in support of new viewers.
These are genuinely great ideas in on the topic of blogging.
You have touched some fastidious factors here.
Any way keep up wrinting.
Hi there, You have done an incredible job. I will
certainly digg it and personally suggest to my friends.
I’m confident they will be benefited from this website.
Thanks , I’ve recently been looking for info about this
topic for a while and yours is the best I’ve discovered till now.
But, what about the conclusion? Are you sure in regards to the supply?
Hey there! Do you know if they make any plugins to help
with SEO? I’m trying to get my blog to rank for
some targeted keywords but I’m not seeing very good
results. If you know of any please share. Cheers!
I reckon something really interesting about your web blog so I saved to bookmarks.
Heya i am for the primary time here. I came across this board and I in finding It really helpful & it helped me out a lot.
I’m hoping to give one thing back and aid others such as you aided me.
Thank you so much for giving everyone an extraordinarily pleasant opportunity
to read critical reviews from this website.
It can be very nice and as well , packed with a great
time for me personally and my office peers to visit your site a minimum of thrice a week to
study the fresh guidance you have. And indeed, I am just certainly satisfied
for the splendid tips and hints you give.
Certain two ideas in this article are certainly the simplest we have all had.
I love reading through a post that will make men and women think.
Also, many thanks for permitting me to comment!
Thanks for any other informative website. The place else may
I get that type of info written in such an ideal means?
I have a venture that I’m simply now running on, and I have been on the glance out for such information.
I regard something really interesting about your web
site so I saved to bookmarks.
Howdy, I do think your site might be having internet browser compatibility problems.
When I take a look at your site in Safari, it looks fine however, if opening
in I.E., it has some overlapping issues. I just wanted to provide you with a quick heads up!
Besides that, great website!
Simply want to say your article is as astounding.
The clarity in your post is just great and i could assume you are an expert on this subject.
Fine with your permission let me to snatch your RSS feed to stay updated with coming near near
post. Thank you a million and please continue the rewarding work.
Hello to every single one, it’s in fact a nice for me to pay a visit
this web site, it consists of precious Information.
I see something genuinely interesting about your site
so I saved to my bookmarks.
you’re really a good webmaster. The site loading speed is incredible.
It kind of feels that you’re doing any unique
trick. Furthermore, The contents are masterpiece. you have
done a fantastic process in this topic!