Mamaw Emily’s Strawberry Cake

Strawberry Cake Tips

How do I make a cake more moist?

First, make sure you're following baking best practices! Don't overbake, measure ingredients carefully, and if the recipe calls for butter, make sure you're using the real stuff instead of margarine or a butter substitute. Then, try some of these tricks for upping the moisture:

• If you're making a box cake, a small amount of mayo (1/4 to 1/2 cup) added to the batter will make the cake more tender and moist without interfering with the chemistry. And you won't taste the mayo, we promise!
• Try mixing flours. If the recipe calls for all-purpose flour, try replacing half of it with cake flour for a more tender crumb. Or, replace 25% of the all-purpose flour with almond flour or coconut flour—the higher fat content adds moisture.
• Brush baked layers with liqueur or a simple syrup. Let the liquid soak in before adding frosting; if you use this trick, it's more vital than ever to use a crumb coat.

Can I put fresh fruit in a cake mix?

Yes, but you do need to be careful to avoid adding too much liquid to the batter. Cut the fruit into small pieces, and pat it dry with a paper towel. Toss the fruit with a little bit of flour before folding it gently into the batter. The flour coating will keep the fruit from leaking into the cake and help prevent the fruit from sinking to the bottom of the pan. You can add pureed fruit to a cake mix; a mix is much more tolerant of that kind of fiddling than a scratch cake.

Can I add fresh fruit to my cake frosting?

Pureed fruit makes a standout addition to classic buttercream frosting; just increase the amount of powdered sugar and reduce the amount of any milk as needed to keep a spreadable consistency.

What can I do with strawberries that are getting old?

If you're eating berries straight in a bowl, the fresher the better! But if the berries are overripe, they're still fine for baking and using in strawberry recipes.

Research contributed by Hazel Wheaton, Taste of Home Book Editor