What more says Happy Valentines than CHOCOLATE?
It seems every dessert I post includes some form of chocolate. Who doesn’t love chocolate? If you are one of those people, we can’t be friends :).
This layered Strawberry Cake with Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting has a layer of fresh strawberries between two strawberry cake layers.
So…. it’s OK to eat chocolate when it includes berries!
This recipe uses a boxed cake mix which makes it quicker to put together. And, I actually thought the cake mix was great- and a great shortcut. Making your own Chocolate Cream Cheese frosting takes the cake over the top and makes it taste more ‘homemade’, with less time involved.
For this recipe I used a Duncan Hines Signature Perfectly Moist Strawberry Supreme Cake Mix – Delicious! The box says it is made with juice from real strawberries. It is good.
And for a nice presentation, after I assembled the cake, I added chocolate covered strawberries to the top!
What goes better with chocolate, than chocolate?
When we were kids, my sister and I had our favorite cakes for special occasions/birthdays. Mine was ALWAYS Carrot Cake. My sister, Rita’s, was ALWAYS strawberry cake.
Both cakes were made from scratch (my mother never used boxed cake mix), cake and frosting, and were always three layers.
Every time I take a bite of this cake it reminds me of my sister and her love (still) of strawberry desserts. I really do think she would love this. It is definitely a spin on the old-fashioned strawberry cake that she loved as a child!
While I wouldn’t say this is a very time-consuming cake (thanks to the boxed mix), the frosting does take a little effort (but SO worth it). And then, of course, assembling everything does take some patience.
I’m certainly no expert cake decorator. I normally throw everything in a Bundt cake pan and skip the layer cakes. But, after all, it was Valentines and I was looking for something with a little more wow factor (which I think this recipe fits the bill).
The frosting has a very ‘rustic-look’….which is a good term for, “I didn’t spend much time on it”. LOL! I honestly don’t even own an offset spatula or a fancy cake decorating turntable.
Strawberry Cake with Dark Chocolate Frosting
Equipment
- Oven; Mixer
Ingredients
For the Strawberry Cake
- 1 box Duncan Hines Signature Perfectly Moist Strawberry Supreme Mix
- 1 cup Water
- 3 large Eggs
- 1/3 cup Vegetable oil
For the Frosting
- 1 8oz Cream cheese, cold I used 1/3 less fat, block style
- 1 stick Butter, unsalted, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup Dark chocolate cocoa, unsweetened
- 2 cups Powdered sugar
- 2 tsp Vanilla extract
- Milk or cream, for thinning frosting
For the Layer Between the Cakes
- 1 1/2 cup Fresh strawberries, sliced
Instructions
Cake Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray two 9 inch, round cake pans with cooking spray.
- Mix cake exactly as instructed on the box.
- Divide between two pans, bake on middle oven rack for length of time instructed on box. (I used dark pans and mine took 28 minutes.) Let cook as directed on box.
Frosting Instructions
- Sift the powdered sugar and cocoa together. (Don't skip this step or the frosting will be lumpy.) Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese til smooth. (About 4-5 minutes.)
- Add the butter gradually (1-2 tablespoons at a time) until well blended and smooth.
- Add the powdered sugar, cocoa and vanilla and mix until combined and smooth. If the frosting is too thin add more sifted powdered sugar or if too thick, add milk or cream a tablespoon at a time until you have the right consistency. (I had to add a little milk to thin mine out. Then I let it sit at room temperature until time to frost the cakes.)
Assembly Instructions
- After cakes have cooled, transfer one layer to a cake stand or cake plate. Place sliced strawberries evenly over bottom cake layer. Place second cake layer on top.
- Using a butter knife or silicone/rubber spatula (or offset spatula), start spreading the frosting over top and sides of cake until completely covered. To help smooth the frosting, dip the knife/spatula in water every so often.
Notes
***I had a small amount of frosting leftover. Next time I make this recipe I will add a layer of frosting in between the cake layers (before adding the layer of sliced strawberries).***
Seriously, you will want to take a spoon and eat this frosting!! It’s that good. I’ve made cream cheese frosting before but this was the first time I’ve added dark cocoa. YUM!
Dixie
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