Strawberry Cake Recipe

Very Berry Delicious

This cake has become a family favorite. It usually graces our table during the hot summer months and it’s loaded with the bright taste of strawberry – both inside the cake as well as the strawberry buttercream frosting. This cake has debuted at several family birthday parties and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Foodie Tips:

❤  After 2-3 attempts at making the icing I’ve mastered a non-runny frosting! You’ll want to drain the strawberries used in the frosting (not the cake) very well. I placed them in a small strainer to drain the initial juice by pressing with a spoon. Then I transfer the mashed berries to a coffee filter where I continue to blot until dry. If you find that your icing is still on the runny side you can add small batches of confectioner’s sugar until you reach your desired thickness.

❤  I store my cake in a covered glass cake stand until the unveiling; it keeps the cake moist and leftovers will last for a few days in the fridge.

❤  Decorating a cake can be as much fun as eating it (well kinda close). One way to make a surprising embellishment for your cake is to cut strawberry-shaped hearts using a small cookie cutter. Watch their eyes grow wide with your culinary skills!

Ingredients: 

The Cake
1 Package  |  Plain White Cake Mix
1 Package  |  JELL-O Brand Strawberry Gelatin Mix
1 Cup  |  Mashed Strawberries With Juice
1 Cup  |  Vegetable Oil
½ Cup  | Whole Milk
4  |  Cage Free Eggs

The Frosting (can be doubled)
8 Ounce Package  |  Philadelphia Brand Cream Cheese, At Room Temperature
1  |  Stick Of Unsalted Butter (I suggest Texas born Falfurrias Brand)
3 ½ Cups  |  Confectioner’s Sugar
¾ Cup  |  Mashed Strawberries, Well Drained
To Garnish  |  Sliced Strawberries or Fresh Mint Leaves (optional)

Directions: 

1. To Prep: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Then lightly grease three 9-inch round cake pans and set them aside.

2. Make Cakes: In a large mixing bowl beat on low speed the six cake mix ingredients shown above. Divide the batter among the three pans and place them into the oven. Bake the cakes until they’re lightly brown (about 28-30 minutes). An inserted knife should come out clean. Remove the cakes from the oven and cool on a rack (about 45 minutes).

3. Make Frosting: Combine the cream cheese and butter in a medium bowl and mix on low speed for about a minute. Add sugar then the strawberries and blend on low until everything marries well.

4. To Assemble: Place one cake layer on a serving plate and spread the top with frosting. Add the second cake layer and frost the top. Top with the third cake layer and frost the top and sides of the entire layered cake.

5. Chill (optional): Your cake can be placed in the fridge to get it nice and cool. Serve chilled with a side of strawberry or vanilla ice cream. There’s nothing better!

Enjoy this berry fresh cake!

~ Joe Paul Reider

Home Style Austin Founder and Foodie
Austin Realtor®
Keller Williams Realty, Inc.

❤ Love Food? In a click and a scroll you can visit more of my favorite recipes!

Berry-Banana Smoothie Recipe

Berry Delicious

When it’s hot outside this smoothie recipe will cool things down in a jiffy. This smoothie packs a berry delicious triple-play punch of strawberries, blueberries and blackberries making this smoothie perfect for breakfast, a lighter meal or dessert.

Foodie Tips:

• The colder the ingredients, the more refreshing the smoothie.
• If you already have frozen, whole bananas in the freezer, this will work – you’ll just need to apply a little TLC removing the peel.
• Any frozen berries will work – we used the frozen Organics Mixed Berry Blend from Central Market (strawberries, blueberries and blackberries)

Ingredients: 

10 Ounces  |  Mixed Berries, Frozen
2  |  Bananas, Peeled and Frozen
8 Ounces  |  Vanilla Yogurt
1 Cup  |  Whole Milk
2 Tablespoons  | Local Honey
Dash  |  Orange Juice (Optional)

Directions: 

1. Toss everything into a blender and purée.

2. Pour into chilled glasses and serve.

Yields: 2-3 Smoothies

~ Joe Paul Reider

Home Style Austin Founder
Austin Realtor®
Keller Williams Realty, Inc.

❤ Love Food? In a click and a scroll you can visit more of my favorite recipes!

 

Cupid Cups Recipe

❤ Valentine’s Day 2014 Featured Post ❤

A Treat For Your Sweetheart

This recipe puts a heart-inspired twist on our Signature Lemonberry Cups recipe. There’s no baking involved, so these Cupid Cups are super-easy to make and feature fresh heart-shaped strawberries right on top!

Foodie Tips:

  Making your strawberry hearts is surprisingly simple! Remove the crown (leaves) from the strawberry then slice the strawberry in half. Using a small heart-shaped pie cutter/cookie cutter center the cutter on the fruit then cut. Voilà!

  For an extra-special treat, we suggest using ChocoMaker Belgian Dark Chocolate Dessert Cups which will yield about 16 treats (they’re about twice as big as the fillo shells). If you prefer fillo, you can find the mini fillo shells in the freezer section of your local Austin HEB. Jars of lemon curd will most likely be waiting for you on a shelf by the jams and jellies.

  To decorate: You can easily tint the cheese pink by adding 4-5 drops of red food coloring. To dust, or not to dust – that is the question! We dusted with powdered sugar!

  For a quick way to get the mascarpone into the shells you can use or make your own piping bag. To make your own tube simply fill one end of a clean plastic or “Ziploc” bag with the mascarpone mix. Flatten and remove the air space above the icing and cut a small piece of the bag’s corner away. Holding the bag in your palm you can squeeze out the desired amount of mascarpone!

Ingredients: 

8 Ounce Container  |  Mascarpone, Sweet Italian Cream Cheese
4 Tablespoons  |  Lemon Curd
4 Tablespoons  |  Powdered Sugar
16-25  |  Chocolate Cups (shown) or Mini Fillo (Phyllo) Shells
To Garnish  |  Strawberries, Cut Into Hearts
To Dust  |  Powdered Sugar

What To Do:

1. In a medium-sized bowl blend well the Italian cream cheese, lemon curd and the powdered sugar.

2. On a serving plate arrange the empty shells/cups. Fill the cups with the cream cheese mixture and top each with strawberries or berries of your choosing. Raspberries and blackberries are a favorite, too!

3. Place the Cupid Cups in the refrigerator for a 30-minute chill before serving.

4. Before the tasty unveiling, give the Cupid Cups a light dusting of powered sugar. This step is optional but creates a pretty topping for the dessert.

Serve chilled and enjoy!

~ Joe Paul Reider

Home Style Austin Founder
Austin Realtor®
Keller Williams Realty, Inc.

❤ Love Valentine’s Day? Visit our post called “Valentine’s Day The Home Style Way” for our ideas for how to make your day extra special at home. We’re pairing our favorite appetizer, main course, desserts and wine along with some great “at-home” movie recommendations sure to melt hearts.

Valentine’s Day Rice Krispies Treats

❤  Valentine’s Day 2014 Featured Post  ❤
Snap  ❤  Crackle  ❤  Pop  ❤  Yowza!

You’re sure to score points when you put a creative twist on this time-honored favorite. These treats are super-easy to make and super-fun to decorate. Let’s see why …

Tips:

• Like soft treats? These treats will impress you if consumed within 24 hours of your pressing.
• For a thicker treat, press your marshmallow mixture into a 9″ x 13″ pan. For a thinner treat, press into a 11″ x 17″ pan.
• For a quick and tasty shortcut for melted chocolate, use Ambrosia brand Chocolate Flavored Bark Coating (a.k.a. bark coating) – we found ours at our local HEB Grocery. It’s available in chocolate bark and white bark.
• Just because these treats are perfectly-shaped for Valentine’s Day doesn’t mean that they aren’t delicious all year round!

Ingredients:

3 Tablespoons  |  Unsalted Butter (my family’s favorite is Falfurrias Brand Butter)
1 Package (10 ounces)  |  Marshmallows
6 Cups  |  Kellogg’s Brand Rice Krispies Cereal
Your Favorite  |  Chocolates, Melted
Assorted  |  Decorations (sprinkles, crushed peppermints, strawberries, etc.)

Materials:

Medium-Sized Pan
Spoon To Stir
Large Mixing Bowl
Wax Paper
Baking Sheet (see size recommendations above)
Cooking Spray
Cookie Cutter (we used a heart-shaped cutter)

What To Do:

1. Melt the butter in a medium-large pan over low heat.

2. Raise the heat up a bit to medium heat and add the marshmallows. Stir until melted – do not let them boil or burn.

3. Pour your marshmallow mixture into the rice krispies and stir until well blended.

4. Using a spatula or spoon pour the mixture into a baking sheet lined with wax paper and press flat.

5. Let cool then cut your treats into your desired shapes. Spray your cookie cutter (or hands) with cooking spray will help prevent sticking.

6. Decorate your treats. Let your creativity impress their eyes and their appetite!

~ Joe Paul Reider

Home Style Austin Founder
Austin Realtor®
Keller Williams Realty, Inc.

❤ Love Valentine’s Day? Visit our post called “Valentine’s Day The Home Style Way” for our ideas for how to make your day extra special at home. We’re pairing our favorite appetizer, main course, desserts and wine along with some great “at-home” movie recommendations sure to melt hearts.