A simple and quickly made Strawberry Cake, decorated with Strawberries and Coconut Balls

Ingredients

For the Sponge Cake:

• 1 cup (125g) all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 4 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup (60ml) whole milk
• 1/4 cup (60g) unsalted butter, melted
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt

For the Strawberry Cream:

• 1 cup (240ml) heavy cream, chilled
• 1/2 cup (100g) powdered sugar
• 1 cup fresh strawberries, pureed
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

For Decoration:

• Fresh strawberries (halved or sliced)
• Coconut balls (e.g., Raffaello or homemade)

Instructions

1. Preheat the Oven:

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line two 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper.

2. Prepare the Sponge Cake:

1. In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and a pinch of salt.
2. In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs and granulated sugar with an electric mixer on high speed for about 5-7 minutes, or until the mixture is pale, thick, and tripled in volume.
3. Gently fold in the dry ingredients using a spatula, being careful not to deflate the batter.
4. Warm the milk, butter, and vanilla extract together until the butter is melted. Gradually pour this into the batter, folding gently until combined.
5. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared cake pans and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
6. Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

3. Prepare the Strawberry Cream:

1. In a mixing bowl, whip the chilled heavy cream and powdered sugar together until soft peaks form.
2. Fold in the strawberry puree and vanilla extract, mixing gently until the cream is smooth and fluffy. Refrigerate until ready to use.

4. Assemble the Cake:

1. Once the sponge cakes have completely cooled, place one layer on a serving plate.
2. Spread a generous layer of the strawberry cream over the first layer.
3. Place the second sponge cake on top and coat the entire cake with the remaining strawberry cream, smoothing the sides and top with a spatula.

•     Arrange the fresh strawberries on top of the cake as desired.
•     Add coconut balls around the edge or in the center for an elegant finish.