Strawberry Vanilla Cake

Ingredients for two 26.7 cm (10.5 inch) strawberry vanilla cakes:

• 5 eggs
• 1.5 cups (165g) sugar
• 1 cup (225g)unsalted butter
• 1.5 Tbsp vanilla
• ¼ tsp salt
• ¾ cup (175ml) milk
• 3 tsp baking powder
• 2.5 cups (275g) sifted cake flour
• ½ cup (75g) strawberry pudding powder (optional, I usually add this to get  a stronger strawberry flavour)
• ½ cup (100g) seedless strawberry jam
• 1 Tbsp red food colouring (optional)

The pans should be greased with butter and floured or lined with parchment paper.

Directions:

Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F).

Beat the butter with an electric mixer on low to medium speed until smooth. Add ½ cup of sugar and beat for 1-2 minutes.

Beat in egg yolks, one at a time. Add vanilla and strawberry jam. Add food colour if you would like your cake to have a nice red colour (I didn’t add any this time).

Combine the dry ingredients – flour, pudding powder, baking soda and salt.

Add milk and flour mixture in a few additions (alternately) and mix on low speed until just combined. Do not overbeat.

In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form. Add remaining sugar (1 cup) and continue beating for a few minutes.

Slowly incorporate egg whites into the mixture using a spatula.

Divide the batter equally between the two pans. Bake for about 40-50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean.

Desserts with this type of flavour…

Strawberry and White Chocolate Squares