Strawberry-Glazed Pink Velvet Cake
How pretty is this Strawberry-Glazed Pink Velvet Cake? It’s delicious and gorgeous and easy!! It’s a surprise cake…when you cut into it and see that lovely pink color, you know you’ve arrived at dessert heaven!
This is a wonderful cake to make for Mother’s Day, graduations or just because!
This is a simple vanilla buttermilk cake (taken to the next visual level with pink food coloring) that’s been brushed with a yummy strawberry glaze. Top it with an almond buttercream. Or don’t. Either way, it’s delicious, gorgeous and should be on your list for next dessert to make!
To make this cake, make sure the butter is very soft. That way, you won’t need a mixer. Everything can be done in one bowl, by hand.
With very soft butter, whisk it until it’s light and creamy. Add sugar, vanilla and almond extracts. You’ll notice that I’m suggesting using clear vanilla. I prefer this vanilla to traditional vanilla extract as it changes the flavor slightly and keeps the batter whiter (even though you are adding food color, it keeps the color more pure).
Add the baking soda, powder and salt and then alternate 1/3 of the buttermilk and 1/3 of the flour until it is all incorporated. Add the egg whites in and then the pink food coloring.
Pour the batter into a prepared pan and bake for about 45 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool it completely.
While the cake is baking, prepare the glaze by combining diced strawberries with sugar and pop it into the microwave for 1 minute. Stir it and microwave for another minute.
Pour the strawberry mixture into a sieve set over a bowl and allow the strawberry juice to drip into the bowl. Press on the strawberries with a spoon to extract as much liquid as possible and then dispose of the smashed strawberries. Stir in the powdered sugar until there are no lumps remaining.
Brush the strawberry glaze on the top and sides of the baked cake. It should all absorb in; just give it a minute.
If you want to top it with buttercream (why wouldn’t you?), the buttercream is very simple to make without even using a mixer.
Melt the butter in the microwave and add half-and-half, vanilla, almond extract and powdered sugar. Whisk it until it’s smooth and spreadable. Add more half-and-half if it’s too thick or more powdered sugar if it’s too thin.
Spread it over the top of the cake, add some sprinkles and serve it with a big glass of milk! Or rosé Champagne!
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Strawberry-Glazed Pink Velvet Cake
Makes: 12 servings
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Bake Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour & 15 minutes plus cooling time 30 minutes
Ingredients
For the Cake:
- 1/2 cup very soft unsalted butter
- 1 & 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp clear vanilla (or regular)
- 1/4 tsp almond extract
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 2 cups cake flour
- 3 egg whites from large eggs
- 4-8 drops pink food color (I use Wilton Pink Rose but any pink food color will work)
For the Strawberry Glaze:
- 1/2 cup diced fresh strawberries (5-6 medium-size strawberries)
- 1 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
For the Buttercream: (optional)
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 4 tbsp half and half or cream
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp clear vanilla (or regular)
- 1/4 tsp almond extract
- nonpareils for garnish, if desired
Instructions
For the Cake:
Preheat the oven to 350°. Spray a 9-inch cake pan (with sides that are at least 2 inches tall with baking spray. Line the pan with a circle of parchment paper.
Whisk the butter until light and creamy. Add the sugar, vanilla and almond extract, then whisk until well combined. (It will not be smooth and creamy at this point but rather a bit sandy.)
Add the baking soda, baking powder and salt and stir to combine. Add approximately 1/3 of the buttermilk and stir to combine. Then add approximately 1/3 of the flour and stir again. Repeat 2 more times until all of the buttermilk and flour have been added.
Add egg whites, one at a time and whisk vigorously for 30 seconds after each addition. Add pink food coloring, stirring after each drop until the desired shade of pink is reached. (I used 5-6 drops.)
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top to an even layer with an offset knife or spatula. Bake for 35-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or (best way to determine doneness) until an instant thermometer inserted into the center of the cake registers 200-210˚F.
Cool for 10 minutes in the pan, then invert the cake onto a cooling rack. (The flat bottom of the cake now becomes the top.) Slowly brush the cake on the top and sides with the strawberry glaze (recipe below – make it while the cake is baking). Some will drip off but most of it will be absorbed. Allow the cake to cool completely before adding the optional buttercream.
If you decide to go with the buttercream, scrape it out onto the center of the cake then spread with an offset spatula or knife. Swirl the buttercream decoratively with the back of a spoon, if desired. Sprinkle with nonpareils, if desired.
For the Strawberry Glaze:
While the cake is baking, prepare the glaze. Combine diced strawberries with the 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar in a medium-size microwave-safe bowl or cup (not too small as the mixture will bubble up in the microwave). Stir to combine. Microwave on high power for 1 minute. Stir then microwave for 1 more minute.
Pour the strawberry mixture into a fine-mesh strainer that’s been set over a bowl and allow the strawberry juice to drain into the bowl. Stir the mixture every now and then and press on the solids with the back of a spoon to push out all of the juice. You should end up with about 1/4 cup of strawberry juice. If you have a bit more, discard the excess. If it’s not quite 1/4 cup, add a bit of water to equal 1/4 cup.
Add the powdered sugar to the strawberry juice and stir well until lump free. If it is difficult to dissolve the lumps you can microwave the mixture for 20-30 seconds then stir well again.
For the Buttercream: (optional)
Place the butter in a medium-size microwave-safe bowl and cook on high power for 1 minute or until melted. Remove from the microwave and add the half and half or cream, the vanilla and almond extracts and the powdered sugar.
Whisk until smooth and creamy. It should be a nice spreadable consistency. If it’s a little thin you can add a bit more powdered sugar. If it seems a little thick, add a bit more half-and-half or cream.
Recipe from The Cafe Sucre Farine
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