Description
This luscious Strawberry Chocolate Cake combines rich cocoa layers with a homemade strawberry jam filling and a creamy strawberry cream cheese frosting. Perfectly moist and bursting with fresh strawberry flavor, this cake is an elegant dessert for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Strawberry Jam
- Fresh or frozen strawberries (about 2 cups)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup water
Cake Batter
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- ¼ cup oil (canola, avocado, or grapeseed)
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- ½ cup milk, room temperature
Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Decoration
- Fresh strawberries (for garnish)
Instructions
- Make the Strawberry Jam: In a small pot, combine strawberries, granulated sugar, and water. Cook over medium-high heat while stirring frequently until the mixture thickens to a jam-like consistency. Remove from heat and let cool completely.
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line two 6-inch round cake pans with parchment paper to ensure easy release after baking.
- Prepare Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until evenly combined.
- Combine Wet Ingredients and Batter: In a separate large bowl, beat melted butter, oil, brown sugar, eggs, and milk together until smooth. Gradually stir in the dry ingredients until the batter is well combined without overmixing.
- Bake the Cake: Divide the cake batter evenly between the two prepared pans. Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow the cakes to cool completely in the pans before removing.
- Assemble the Cake: Once the cakes are fully cooled, spread a generous layer of the homemade strawberry jam on top of one cake layer. Place the second cake layer on top.
- Prepare and Apply Frosting: In a mixing bowl, beat softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy. Spread the strawberry cream cheese frosting evenly over the top and sides of the assembled cake.
- Decorate: Garnish the finished cake with fresh strawberries on top for an added burst of fruity flavor and visual appeal.
Notes
- Use room temperature eggs and milk for better batter incorporation and cake texture.
- Ensure the cream cheese is softened properly to avoid lumps in the frosting.
- Fresh or frozen strawberries can be used for the jam; if using frozen, thaw before cooking.
- Two 6-inch pans yield a thicker cake; if unavailable, a 9-inch pan can be used but may require adjusted baking time.
- For a more intense chocolate flavor, use Dutch-processed cocoa powder.
- Refrigerate the assembled cake for 30 minutes if frosting becomes too soft to spread evenly.
