Strawberry Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Cake

1 cup butter 1¾ cups sugar

1 tsp. strawberry extract 5 large eggs

3 cups flour 2 tsps. Baking powder

¼ tsp. salt ¾ cup milk

1 3oz. package strawberry gelatin

1 cup pureed, thawed frozen strawberries

Frosting

½ cup butter, softened

1 8oz. cream cheese, softened

¼ cup pureed, thawed frozen strawberries

1 tsp. vanilla

4 cups confectioners’ sugar

Directions: For cake, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 13” x 9” baking pan with nonstick baking spray with flour.

In large bowl, beat butter, sugar, and extract at medium speed with a mixer until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

In a medium bowl, combine flour, gelatin, baking powder, and salt.

In a small bowl, combine strawberry puree and milk.

Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture alternately with strawberry mixture, beginning and ending with flour and beating just until combined after each addition. Pour butter in prepared pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Let cake cool completely on wire rack. Spread frosting. Garnish with strawberries, if desired.

For icing, in a large bowl, beat butter and cream cheese at medium speed with a mixer until creamy. Add strawberry puree, beating until combined. Gradually beat in confectioners’ sugar until smooth and right consistency.

Comment: Very dense and moist. Really good flavor! A Paula Deen recipe. Have made it without strawberry extract when I couldn’t find it, and it was still excellent.