Not only was Saturday Sara’s bridal shower, but it was also just a couple of days after a big birthday for her mom. So, in addition to fun pick-up desserts, I wanted to make a birthday cake.
Usually I’d stay safe with a vanilla or chocolate cake for a crowd, but I wanted to make something more special. Given that the bride loves pink and it was a girly event, strawberry cake with a bright pink hue sounded perfect. I used this strawberry cake recipe. To keep it simple, I filled and iced the cake with a rich and creamy white chocolate buttercream. The cake itself had a strong enough strawberry flavor that strawberry icing would have been over the top, and a plain buttercream just didn’t seem as exciting. The white chocolate recipe I use is just so silky that it made a wonderful addition to the cake. Plus, I’ve made that frosting before and knew that it would hold up well, even if the room got warm.
The cake recipe looks like a lot of work, but once you get past pureeing the frozen strawberries it is a pretty standard cake recipe. (Warning: I almost broke my mini blender with the super frozen whole strawberries.) Get the cake recipe here and see the photos below as a reference.
This buttercream recipe is very easy; combine the white chocolate and whipping cream in a medium saucepan on low-medium heat, stirring continuously
Remove mixture from heat and stir in milk
Refrigerate for a half hour
When white chocolate mixture is cool, finish making the buttercream
Using the whisk attachment of a mixer, beat the butter until creamy
Beat in confectioners’ sugar until butter and sugar are light and fluffy
Now beat in the cooled white chocolate mixture until buttercream is creamy and light
The buttercream may get lumpy at first, just keep beating it at high speed
Once cake has cooled and buttercream is ready, ice the bottom cake layer with about 1 cup of frosting
Place top layer over top of that and press down lightly
Cover top and outside of the cake with remaining buttercream smoothing it out around the edges and on top
I forgot to use the trick of putting a piece of paper or cardboard under the edges of the cake to keep it clean!
Serve cake with a couple of strawberries for decoration
Strawberry Cake with White Chocolate Buttercream
Yield: Serves 12 generous slices
Ingredients
- 2 8 or 9-inch round layers of prepared and cooled strawberry cake*
- 1 batch White Chocolate Buttercream
Cooking Directions
- Once cake has cooled and buttercream is ready, ice the bottom cake layer with about 1 cup of frosting
- Place top layer over the frosted layer and press down lightly
- Cover top and outside of the cake with remaining buttercream smoothing it out around the edges and on top
- Store cake in refrigerator for up to 3 days; remove from fridge a half hour before serving
White Chocolate Buttercream
Ingredients
- 6 ounces baking white chocolate
- 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1/2 cup milk (any type is fine)
- 1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
Cooking Directions
- Combine the white chocolate and whipping cream in a medium saucepan on low-medium heat, stirring continuously
- Remove mixture from heat and stir in milk
- Refrigerate for a half hour
- When white chocolate mixture is cool, finish making the buttercream
- Using the whisk attachment of a mixer, beat the butter until creamy
- Beat in confectioners’ sugar until butter and sugar are light and fluffy
- Now beat in the cooled white chocolate mixture until buttercream is creamy and light
Note: Cake can be frozen up to 3 weeks if wrapped tightly
*I recommend this recipe from Sweetapolita
What flavor would you pick for your birthday cake?
Graduation Gourmet Gift Basket 
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What a beautiful pink girlie cake! Great step-by-step photos, too. I love that it uses frozen strawberries, so you can make it any time of year.
Thank you, Monica!
Yum! That looks delicious and beautiful! I’ve actually never tried a strawberry cake before. But it looks amazing!
Plus, it helps that my favorite color is pink. 
Thank you! I loved the strawberry cake and will definitely make it again.
I recently made a strawberry cake, but I can tell just from your pics that yours was way better than mine. I will definitely need to give your recipe a try.
Hi, can you do a blog post with tips on how to not eat all that cake batter? Because it looks delicious and I would dive into the bowl.
lol sometimes I feel like i need to have my mouth sewn shut!
White chocolate and strawberries!!! Now there is a combo! I usually go for chocolate and peanut butter, but I’m going to have to try something new soon!
I also have a hard time parting from chocolate and peanut butter:-)
The cake looked beautiful, and I love the way you finished it with the simple touch of a few strawberries!
This cake looks lovely. I am constantly inspired by people who make them… and make them as pretty as this one.
Thank you, Brian! Now if only I had your photography skills:-)
As if you read my mind; I have been thinking of strawberry cake all week. This looks so beautiful and delicious.
GORGEOUS! I’m a chocolate girl, all the way!
I want this cake for every birthday, holiday, barbecue, get together, you name it. It is beautiful Lauren!!
looks awesome especially the frosting..i heart frosting
The color is so pretty! This looks so yummy!
This looks so fancy and cute! What an undertaking. I shudder at the thought of baking then icing an entire cake like this. Props!
You could definitely do it!
Love your super strawberry cake – the color is sooo pretty
wow! this cake is so impressive! nice work!!!
Looks amazing! This just might have to be my birthday cake this year
What a beautiful cake!
I love everything about pink cakes and yours is gorgeous!
Your friends and family are so lucky, and I’m sure they were all thrilled with this cake! Sounds wonderful and it looks so elegant! I would definitely want to go back for seconds!
What flavor would I pick for my birthday cake? Gosh…that’s a hard one ’cause I love just about everything. I’ve never had a rose cake before, and I love anything flavored with rosewater. I have a recipe for such a cake…maybe I’ll make it for myself for my birthday.
Thank you, Sheila! I’ve never had a rose cake or anything flavored with rosewater! I’d love to try that.
What a pretty cake! And a strawberry from scratch–a rarity! Love the addition of white chocolate buttercream.
Mmmm, this cake sounds wonderful!
What a pretty cake! Great pictures!
Strawberry cake AND white chocolate buttercream?!?! YUM. This sounds so perfect and wonderful.
White chocolate buttercream. Everyone needs that in their recipe arsenal I think…and now, thanks to you, I have it in mine.