Strawberry Cake

 In the spirit of SPRING and recent Easter holiday I'm posting this delicious Strawberry Cake recipe.  Strawberry cake is my favorite cake hands down.  I made it this weekend for our Sunday Easter dinner.   It was so yummy.  Definitely a must try cake recipe for this spring or upcoming summer.  

Strawberry Cake

(by Paula Deen)

Ingredients:
1 box white cake mix
1 (3oz) box strawberry-flavored instant gelatin
1 (15oz) package frozen strawberries in syrup, thawed and pureed
4 large eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup water

Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe:
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 (8oz) package cream cheese, softened
1 (10oz) package frozen strawberries in syrup, thawed and pureed
1/2 teaspoon strawberry extract
7 cups confectioners' sugar
Freshly sliced strawberries, for garnish, optional

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease 2 (9-inch) round cake pans.

In a large bowl, combine cake mix and gelatin.  Add pureed strawberries, eggs, oil and water; beat at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth.  Pour into prepared pans, and bake for 20 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean.  (Mine took about 27 minutes to bake)

Let cook in pans for 10 minutes.  Remove from pans, and cool completely on wire racks.

For the frosting:
In a large bowl, beat butter and cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy.

Beat in 1/4 cup of the strawberry puree and the strawberry extract.  Gradually add confectioners' sugar, beating until smooth.

Spread frosting in between layers and on top and sides of cake.  Garnish with sliced fresh strawberries!