Strawberry Lavender Cake
Happy Monday!
It’s my birthday today, and I made myself a birthday cake! A Strawberry Lavender Cake, to be precise.
Apparently, you are not supposed to make yourself a birthday cake, but I wanted to, and there was no stopping me. Who makes these rules anyway? Here was an opportunity to make myself whatever I wanted without worrying whether people would like it because it’s my cake. Like this strawberry lavender cake, a great flavor combination that is me and not my family’s taste.
This cake is straight up from my cake crush, Sweetapolita, and I’ve had it for months at the back of my mind. All her cakes are on my to-bake list, like this chocolate marshmallow cake. But I digress. This strawberry lavender cake starts with a wonderfully moist buttermilk cake filled with a whipped vanilla mascarpone filling & strawberry and lavender compote and then topped with whipped lavender frosting. It’s a mouthful, but it’s just as impressive as it sounds!! Let me break it down for you.
First, there is a light, airy, yet very moist cake. Rosie (Sweetapolita) uses an interesting mixing technique in making this cake. She adds cold butter to the dry ingredients and mixes to create a cornmeal consistency before mixing in the wet ingredients, making light and fluffier buttermilk cake. Next, the cake is filled with vanilla whipped cream, perfectly matching the strawberries. I added mascarpone cheese to this for more richness and a slight tartness. In addition to the whipped cream, the cake is also filled with a fresh strawberry, lemon, and lavender compote that is sweet and full of summer flavors. Finally, a delightful whipped vanilla lavender frosting tops it all. Lavender is a beautiful flavor, and if you haven’t tried it yet, I suggest you do it soon. It’s my first time baking with it, and I don’t know why it took me this long.
I am not a big fan of birthdays, to be honest. I hate being the center of attention, and despite my love of presents, I don’t throw birthday parties! My wedding took lots and lots of effort to walk out and be stared down…yikes! Anyway, I let my husband host two dinner parties for me this weekend, and I resisted the urge to be involved in any planning except making this cake and some cupcakes I’ll share later. Thanks to the great presents, I survived both parties! Oh, I got a camera fund started by my friends. I am almost ready to shop for a DSLR!! I can’t wait.
Here are the step-by-step directions on how to make this cake. If you don’t want the pictures, feel free to skip to the end for the recipe.
Let’s start by gathering your cake ingredients. Always measure them too. Butter is cubed up and best cold.
You whisk the dry ingredients together and then add in the butter until it breaks up into pea-sized.
Add in the liquid ingredients in several additions and mix after each to incorporate into the batter.
Transfer to your cake pans and then bake.
While the cake cools, let’s make the strawberry lavender compote.
Combine the strawberries, sugar, and lavender. Cook until a compote is thick.
Let this cool, and let’s make the vanilla whipped cream filling. I know many parts, but they are all so good and worth the wait!
Whisk it all until stiff peaks form.
Finally, let’s make the frosting!!
This is a regular American buttercream. But we do steep the lavender flowers into the milk.
The rest is assembly! Layer the cooled cake layers with whipped cream and the strawberry compote.
Finish it up with the pretty purple buttercream and some pretty edible flowers.
I hope you give this a try when you need an amazing cake! Treat yourself and enjoy.
Recipe: From Sweetapolita
– The only change I made was adding mascarpone cheese (1/3 cup) to the vanilla whipped cream filling at the end.
Here is a look at the aftermath of this beauty.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Beautiful job on the frosting, so smooth!
Love that cake stand!
Totally know what you mean about birthdays, love ’em and hate ’em!
I once baked with lavender…it was good…I need to find that jar of lavender, now that I think about it I have no idea where it is! oops!
xx M
Thanks Molly!! Birthdays stress me out..love celebrating others but not mine lol! And man, I love lavender now!! Find your jar and use it soon ๐
Happy birthday, Zainab! And your cake looks like sheer perfection. I can’t wait to hear more about your DSLR adventure ๐
Thanks Amy! I’d love any suggestions on cameras if you have any.
Happy Birthday! What a BEAUTIFUL cake. I love the favor combinations you have going on here.
Thanks Jamie!
Happy birthday, Zainab, and what a beautiful cake! You’ve done a bakery style decorating job here — just gorgeous. The way you describe that cake, I’d love a great big slice! Have a great day.
Marcie thank you so much! It’s a great cake too. Loved how it turned out.
HAPPIEST OF BIRTHDAYS ZAINAB!!
I’m totally with you on not being a big fan of birthdays… at least not mine! I love to celebrate everyone else’s but I pretend mine doesn’t exist…
And I say you can make your own birthday cake. Boo to anyone that says differently!! You did a beautiful job on this cake!!
Thank you Emily!! I know…can we just celebrate others? Lol!!
First of all, Happy Birthday!! ๐ This cake is so beautiful! You are awesome ๐
Thanks Ty!
This cake is gorgeous! I can never get my buttercream that smooth. Happy Birthday!!
Thanks Meghan. I’m trying to get it smoother ๐
HAPPY birthday to you,
happy BIRTHDAY to you,
happy birthday DEAR Zainab!
happy birthday to Y O U ! ! !
Hope your birthday was every bit as lovely as your beautiful cake!! … It looks wonderful! What a “sweet” way to celebrate! ๐
Brenda, thanks!!
Happy birthday sweet friend!! I think making your own birthday cake is genius….but, you can make mine too okay?! ๐
xoxo
Alex thank you very much!! I’d love to make your cake ๐
happy birthday!! i hope you had a great day ๐ and i don’t see why you couldn’t bake your own cake either, especially when the result looks this good!
I know right? Lol! Thanks D!
Your cake looks beautiful, I love the shade of the icing. The flavours sound lovely. Visiting from Tuesday’s Talent Show.
Thanks dear!
I really enjoyed your post. I just found you over at The Scoop and would love for you to come share at my From the Farm Blog Hop! It’s a fun party that’s just getting started for this week.
http://www.fresh-eggs-daily.com/2013/08/from-farm-blog-hop.html
Lisa
Fresh Eggs Daily
http://www.fresh-eggs-daily.com
Lisa, thank your for visiting!
Oh yum!
Mel
Mel’s Corner
Oooh! Loving all these refreshing summer flavors! Slice me up a piece!!
Coming right up!!
Happy birthday! I feel the exact same way about birthday parties — I find it awkward to be the center of attention! I was 6 at my last birthday party and I think I cried the whole time haha. Nonetheless, I always bake myself a cake for my birthday, cakes are so much fun to make!
Hhahah, I think my last real party party was when I was 10 and it was not fun.
Happy Birthday to you!!
It’s a stunning cake
Thanks Winnie!
Happy Happy Happy Birthday!!! (I’d sing but there are laws against that – something about glass breaking and cats howling) Hope your day was amazing and that cake – LOVE IT! Such a chic combo of flavors ๐
Hahha I’d love to hear it either way ๐ Thanks Aly!
Happy birthday! This cake is gorgeous. It belongs on a cover of a cake magazine!
Tina at http://www.tinaschic.com
You are too kind Tina!
Looks absolutely delish!! Hope you had a wonderful birthday! Visiting from the blog hop! x
Thanks for visiting ๐
Oh, man. This sounds divine! And beautifully done by the way. ๐
๐
happy birthday! what a pretty cake!!
Thanks Michelle!!
I am super speechless. All I can think of when looking at that cake is – I want, I want, I want.
Thanks Bintu!!
Happy Birthday! I love your cake its so pretty!!!
Thanks Shamene.
I love your blog, I am your newest like on fb, can you check out my page and like me back? Thanks! https://www.facebook.com/bakersRus123
Hope you had a great birthday, you sure had a beautiful cake!
I did Sandra. Thanks for the wishes!
This cake is just beautiful!!
Good for you! And happy birthday! This cake is so pretty. ๐ Found you through #SITSSHAREFEST and pinned you, too!
Thanks for stopping by and sharing too!
Happy Birthday!!!! I always bake my own cakes, and I hate birthday celebrations as well! Thank you so much for joining us and sharing at Best of the Weekend! Pinning to our party board. Enjoy a happy weekend and please join us next Friday ๐
Thanks Lisa!!
Happy Birthday! This cake is so lovely – almost too pretty to eat! Saw you at Super Saturday Show & Tell!
Would love for you to come over and link up to Super Sunday at Who Needs a Cape! ๐ http://whoneedsacape.com/2013/08/super-sunday-link-party-10/
Gorgeous cake! Looks like you had a tasty birthday ๐ Thanks for sharing at Sweet & Savory Saturdays #25!
~Amber @ Dessert Now, Dinner Later!
http://www.dessertnowdinnerlater.com
Happy birthday!! This is a gorgeous and delicious looking cake!!
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This cake is fine, Zainab!!
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