3ouncebox strawberry gelatin powderUNPREPARED, just the dry mix
1/2cupunsalted buttersoftened
1cupfinely chopped strawberries
Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting
8ozcream cheesesoftened
3/4cuppowdered sugar
1teaspoonvanilla extract
1cupheavy whipping cream
1/2cupcrushed strawberriesdo not drain
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 F. Butter the bottom and sides of a 13"x9" baking pan. Place baking pan onto a large baking sheet, like a jelly roll pan. Set aside.
Cake
Whisk together the cake flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
Whisk together buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla in a medium bowl or measuring cup.
In mixer with paddle attachment, or with a hand mixer, beat butter until creamy. Add sugar and gelatin powder and beat at medium speed for a full three minutes.
Reduce speed to low and gradually add half of the dry ingredients and half of the wet ingredients. When combined, add remaining wet and dry ingredients. Beat until combined, then scrape down the sides of the bowl. Beat one minute more on medium speed to aerate the batter. Fold in the finely chopped strawberries.
Pour batter into prepared 13x9 baking pan. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the center is set and spongy to the touch.
Transfer cake to a cooling rack and allow to cool completely.
Frosting
To crush the strawberries, press the tines of a fork into strawberries that have been chopped. Set aside.
Beat the softened cream cheese until creamy. Turn the mixer down to the lowest speed and slowly add the powdered sugar. Add the vanilla and mix to combine; set aside.
If using a stand mixer, transfer the cream cheese mixture to another bowl and wash out the mixer bowl. Beat the heavy cream with the whisk attachment at medium-high until stiff peaks form.
Gently fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture. Fold in the crushed strawberries (including any juice from the strawberries) using a rubber spatula until everything is completely combined. Frosting will be a pale pink.
When cake is completely cool, spread frosting across the top of the cake.
For a fancier serving, add a slice or fanned strawberry to the top of each piece of cake.
Video
Notes
Do not follow the directions on the Jello box. You only need the gelatin powder.
For a fancier serving, add a slice or fanned strawberry to the top of each piece of cake.
To make a fanned strawberry, leave the stem in tact and slice the strawberry from the bottom up to the stem without cutting all the way through. Fan out the slices.