Strawberry Cake with Strawberry Sauce

 Prep Time:  10 minutes    Cook Time:  50 minutes    Total Time:  1 hour

2 large eggs, room temperature

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup sour cream

1/2 cup light olive oil or vegetable oil

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

12 oz strawberries, hulled 

1 tsp powdered sugar, for dusting

Strawberry Sauce Ingredients:

16 oz strawberries , hulled and halved

1/4 cup granulated sugar or to taste

Cake Prep:

Butter a 9 inch spring form pan and line the bottom with parchment paper.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Prepare 12 oz of strawberries for the cake: dice 6 oz of strawberries and slice the second 6 oz into halves.

How to Make Strawberry Cake:

1.  In a large mixing bowl, using an electric hand mixer (or stand mixer), beat together 2 eggs with 1 cup sugar on high speed for 5 minutes or until light in color and thick.

2.  Add 1 cup sour cream, 1/2 cup oil, 1 tsp vanilla and beat o low speed until well combined.

3.  In a small bowl, whisk together: 2 cups flour, 2 tsp baking powder and 1/4 tsp salt until well incorporated.  With the mixer on med/low speed, add flour mixture to the batter 1/3 at a time, letting the flour incorporate with each addition and continue mixing just until well combined.  Do not over-mix.

4.  Pour half of the batter into prepared pan.  Top with 6 oz of diced strawberries then spread remaining batter over the top.  Cover the surface with 6 oz  of halved strawberries (cut -side-down), pressing them down just slightly into the batter.  Bake at 375 degrees for 45-55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. Let cake rest in pan 15-20 minutes then remove ring and cool to room temperature r until just lightly warm.

5.  Run a thin spatula around cake edges to loosen from pan, then transfer to a cake platter.  Cool until just warm or at room temperature.  To serve, dust with powdered sugar if desired.  Drizzle individual slices generously with strawberry syrup.

How to Make Strawberry Sauce:

While the cake is baking , make the strawberry sauce; In a blender or food processor, combine 16 oz strawberries and 1/4 cup sugar (or add sugar to taste) and blend until pureed.  

Recipe:  Natasha's Kitchen