Dreamy Vanilla Bean Cake with Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

Sweet aromas of freshly baked vanilla bean cake with strawberry cream cheese frosting waft through the kitchen, promising pure delight.

Layers of tender, golden cake infused with authentic vanilla beans create a dreamy dessert.

The delicate crumb melts in your mouth, complemented by a luscious strawberry cream cheese frosting that adds vibrant color and tangy sweetness.

Each slice tells a story of careful crafting and passion for baking.

Soft vanilla notes dance with bright strawberry undertones, making this cake a true celebration of flavor.

Rich, creamy, and utterly irresistible, this dessert transforms an ordinary moment into something extraordinary.

Prepare to fall in love with every decadent bite.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes

Calories: 423 kcal

Servings: 13

What You’ll Need For Vanilla Bean Cake With Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting

• Cake Flour: Fine-textured flour creates a tender, delicate cake crumb with soft texture.
• Baking Powder: Essential leavening agent that helps cake rise and become light and fluffy.
• Baking Soda: Helps cake achieve perfect golden-brown color and balanced texture.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances sweetness in the cake.

• Butter: Provides rich, creamy base and contributes to cake's smooth texture.
• Granulated Sugar: Creates sweetness and helps cake develop golden exterior.
• Eggs: Bind ingredients together and add structure to cake layers.
• Sour Cream: Adds moisture and tangy depth to cake's flavor profile.
• Milk: Helps create smooth, consistent cake batter consistency.
• Vanilla Bean Paste or Seeds: Delivers authentic, intense vanilla flavor with elegant specks.

• Cream Cheese: Creates tangy, smooth base for frosting with luxurious texture.
• Powdered Sugar: Sweetens and thickens frosting for perfect spreading consistency.
• Fresh Strawberries: Provides natural sweetness and vibrant fruity flavor to frosting.
• Vanilla Extract: Complements strawberry flavor and adds aromatic depth.

Gear For Vanilla Bean Cake With Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting

• Electric Mixer: Essential for creaming butter, beating eggs, and whipping frosting to smooth, fluffy perfection.
• Cake Pans (6-inch, 3): Round pans for baking cake layers with even thickness and perfect shape.
• Parchment Paper: Prevents cake from sticking and ensures easy removal from pans.
• Spatula: Used for smoothing batter and spreading frosting evenly.
• Whisk: Perfect for mixing dry ingredients thoroughly without lumps.
• Mixing Bowls (Large and Medium): Needed for preparing cake batter and frosting.
• Wire Rack: Allows cake layers to cool completely and evenly.
• Toothpick: Helps check cake doneness by testing for clean insertion.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: Ensures accurate ingredient measurements.

How To Make Vanilla Bean Cake With Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting

• Warm Up the Oven

Crank the oven to a toasty 350F. Grab your cake pans and give them a quick butter and flour massage. Line the bottoms with parchment paper for a smooth cake escape.

• Mix the Dry Magic

Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. Set this powdery blend aside for later.

• Create Butter Bliss

Beat butter and sugar until they become a fluffy cloud. Toss in eggs one by one, letting each friend get comfortable. Sprinkle in vanilla bean goodness and mix.

• Combine with Care

Gently fold dry ingredients into the buttery mixture, taking turns with sour cream and milk. Stop mixing the moment everything looks happy together.

• Bake to Perfection

Pour batter into prepared pans. Smooth the tops and slide into the oven. Bake for 20-25 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cakes cool completely.

• Whip Up Frosting Delight

Cream together cream cheese and butter until silky smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar. Blend in strawberry puree and vanilla. Whip until the frosting looks like a pink cloud.

• Stack and Decorate

Place first cake layer on a plate. Spread frosting generously. Add next layer and repeat. Cover entire cake with remaining frosting. Garnish with fresh strawberries if you’re feeling fancy.

Tasty Tips For Vanilla Bean Cake With Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting

• Cake Cooling Hack: Let cake layers cool completely before frosting to prevent melting and sliding. Ensure even cooling by placing layers on a wire rack with space between them for air circulation.
• Make-Ahead Magic: Bake cake layers up to two days in advance and store wrapped tightly in plastic wrap at room temperature. Frosting can be prepared a day earlier and refrigerated, just bring to room temperature before spreading.
• Gluten-Free Transformation: Swap cake flour with a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend for celiac-friendly version. Add xanthan gum if your blend doesn't include a binding agent to maintain cake's tender texture.
• Flavor Adventure: Experiment with different fruit purees like raspberry or blueberry instead of strawberry for unique frosting variations. Each fruit will bring its own vibrant color and subtle flavor profile to the cake.
• Decoration Drama: Create stunning visual appeal by using a piping bag with different tips for textured frosting. Alternatively, try rustic naked cake style by allowing cake layers to peek through the frosting for a more relaxed elegant look.

How To Serve Vanilla Bean Cake With Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting

• Sweet Breakfast Pairing: Start your morning with a slice alongside a warm cup of earl grey tea or freshly brewed coffee for a delightful breakfast treat.
• Afternoon Tea Elegance: Serve thin slices on a beautiful china plate during afternoon tea, complementing the delicate flavors with light conversation and soft background music.
• Dessert Party Centerpiece: Display the cake as a stunning centerpiece at dinner parties, garnishing with extra fresh strawberries and maybe a light dusting of powdered sugar for visual appeal.
• Summer Gathering Delight: Perfect for outdoor summer gatherings, this cake pairs wonderfully with chilled white wine or sparkling rosé, creating a refreshing and sophisticated dessert experience.

Store Vanilla Bean Cake With Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting Well

• Chill & Seal: Wrap the fully frosted cake tightly in plastic wrap or place inside an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 4 days to maintain peak freshness and flavor integrity.
• Room Temperature Rest: Before serving a chilled cake, let it sit at room temperature for 30-45 minutes. This technique helps restore the cake's soft texture and enhances flavor development.
• Slice & Separate: When storing individual cake slices, place parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking. Stack them carefully in a sealed container for convenient grab-and-go enjoyment.
• Freezer-Friendly Strategy: Unfrosted cake layers can be frozen for 1-2 months. Wrap each layer separately in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before assembling and frosting.

Heavenly Vanilla Bean Cake With Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting

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4.6 from 29 reviews

• Total Time: 55 minutes
• Yield: 13 1x

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Description

Delightful vanilla bean cake spotlights sweet strawberry cream cheese frosting, creating elegant dessert perfection. Bakers can craft this memorable treat with simple ingredients and classic techniques.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 2 ¼ lbs (about 6 cups) fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
• 16 oz (452 g) cream cheese, room temperature
• 1 cup (2 sticks, 226 g / 8 oz) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 cup (2 sticks, 226 g / 8 oz) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 2 ½ cups (500 g / 17.6 oz) granulated sugar
• 4 cups (480 g / 16.9 oz) powdered sugar
• 1 cup (240 g / 8.5 oz) sour cream, room temperature
• ¾ cup (180 mL / 6.1 fl oz) heavy whipping cream, chilled
• 7 large eggs, room temperature
• 3 cups (360 g / 12.7 oz) cake flour
• ½ cup (160 g) seedless strawberry jam
• 6 tbsps seedless strawberry jam
• ½ tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ¾ tsp salt
• 2 tbsps vanilla extract

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Instructions

1. Preparation: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and meticulously prepare three 6-inch round cake pans by coating with butter, dusting with flour, and lining bottoms with parchment paper.
2. Dry Ingredient Blend: Whisk cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl until perfectly combined and lump-free.
3. Butter Mixture: Use an electric mixer to cream butter and granulated sugar until light, airy, and pale, achieving a fluffy consistency in 2-3 minutes.
4. Wet Ingredient Integration: Gently fold eggs into the butter mixture one at a time, thoroughly incorporating vanilla bean paste to create a smooth, homogeneous batter.
5. Batter Composition: Alternate folding dry ingredients with sour cream and milk, maintaining a delicate texture and ensuring even distribution without overmixing.
6. Baking Process: Distribute batter evenly among prepared pans, smoothing surfaces with a spatula, and bake for 20-25 minutes until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
7. Cooling Stage: Rest cakes in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack for complete cooling, allowing layers to stabilize and firm up.
8. Frosting Creation: Blend cream cheese and butter until silky smooth, gradually introducing powdered sugar at low speed to develop a creamy base.
9. Flavor Enhancement: Incorporate strawberry puree and vanilla extract, adjusting consistency with additional powdered sugar or puree to achieve desired texture.
10. Final Assembly: Layer cake with strawberry cream cheese frosting between each tier, completely covering top and sides with a uniform, elegant frosting finish.
11. Garnish: Optionally embellish with fresh strawberries or a delicate strawberry puree drizzle for a sophisticated presentation.

Notes

• Precise Ingredient Temperature: Ensure butter, eggs, and dairy are at room temperature for smoother mixing and better cake texture.
• Gentle Mixing Technique: Fold dry ingredients gently to prevent overmixing, which can lead to a dense, tough cake with less volume.
• Check Cake Doneness Accurately: Use the toothpick test carefully; a few moist crumbs are okay, but no wet batter should remain on the toothpick.
• Frosting Consistency Control: Adjust strawberry puree and powdered sugar gradually to achieve the perfect spreadable frosting without becoming too runny or stiff.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 13
• Calories: 423
• Sugar: 45 g
• Sodium: 230 mg
• Fat: 24 g
• Saturated Fat: 15 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 48 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 5 g
• Cholesterol: 110 mg