Description
Marie’s strawberry delight layered cake combines fresh berries with delicate sponge layers, creating a dessert that embodies summer’s sweet essence. Guests will savor each delightful bite of this classic celebration centerpiece.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 box strawberry cake mix
- 1 box vanilla cake mix
- 3 large eggs
- 16 oz (454 g) cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup sour cream
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup freeze-dried strawberries
- 1 cup vanilla wafer cookies or golden Oreos, crushed
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line cake pans with parchment paper for seamless cake extraction.
- Batter Creation: Craft strawberry and vanilla cake batters with precision, avoiding overmixing to maintain delicate texture. Distribute batters evenly across prepared pans.
- Initial Baking: Bake cake layers until testing skewer emerges clean, roughly 25-30 minutes. Transfer to wire racks for complete cooling, preserving moisture balance.
- Cheesecake Foundation: Reduce oven temperature. Prepare springform pan with protective parchment. Meticulously blend cream cheese mixture, integrating eggs individually to ensure silky, lump-free consistency.
- Cheesecake Execution: Pour batter into pan, baking until center exhibits subtle wobble. Cool at room temperature, then refrigerate for minimum four hours to achieve ideal firmness.
- Crunch Layer Preparation: Pulverize freeze-dried strawberries and cookies in food processor, creating fine, uniform crumb. Incorporate melted butter for complete moistening.
- Cake Assembly: Layer strawberry cake first, applying delicate frosting between components. Position cheesecake layer with structural precision, then complete with vanilla layer.
- Final Decoration: Enrobe entire cake with remaining frosting. Generously coat sides and top with strawberry crunch mixture, pressing gently for optimal adherence.
- Presentation: Refrigerate assembled cake for minimum two hours to solidify layers and enhance flavor integration. Garnish with fresh strawberries if desired. Serve chilled, revealing stunning layered composition.
Notes
- Prevent Cake Collapse: Ensure thorough cooling of each layer to room temperature before assembly, preventing structural instability and maintaining clean, distinct layers.
- Smooth Cheesecake Technique: Add eggs one at a time during mixing, gently incorporating to avoid air bubbles and achieve a silky, crack-free cheesecake texture.
- Crumb Coating Trick: Create a thin initial frosting layer and chill briefly before final frosting, locking in crumbs and producing a cleaner, more professional cake appearance.
- Strawberry Intensity Boost: Select high-quality freeze-dried strawberries for maximum flavor concentration and vibrant color in the crunch topping and overall cake profile.
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 433
- Sugar: 30 g
- Sodium: 293 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 98 mg