Bombshell Baking: Happy Birthday (cake), Angela!

When someone in my life has a birthday, it is automatically assumed that I will be making a cake (duh). When my dear friend Angela turned 26 in January, my first question was, of course, “what kind of cake do you want?” At her request, I found a light, fluffy white cake recipe and paired it with a whipped cream frosting and fresh strawberries. Not only was this recipe loved by the birthday girl and all of her guests, but it also marked the first time I successfully got stiff peaks in my egg whites (I was ridiculously excited)!

Recipe and more pictures after the jump…

Heavenly White Cake (from All Recipes)

What you need…

• 2 3/4 cups sifted cake flour

• 4 teaspoons baking powder

• 3/4 teaspoon salt

• 4 egg whites

• 1 1/2 cups white sugar

• 3/4 cup butter

• 1 cup milk

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1 teaspoon almond extract

What to do…

Measure sifted flour, baking powder, and salt; sift together three times.

In a mixing bowl, beat egg whites until foamy. Add 1/2 cup sugar gradually, and continue beating only until meringue will hold up in soft peaks.

Cream butter. Gradually add remaining 1 cup sugar, and cream together until light and fluffy. Add sifted ingredients alternately with milk a small amount at a time, beating after each addition until smooth. Mix in flavorings. Add meringue, and beat thoroughly into batter. Spread batter in a 15 x 10 x 1 inch pan which has been lined on the bottom with parchment paper.

Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30 to 35 minutes. Cool cake in pan 10 minutes, then remove from pan and transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling. This cake may also be baked in two 9 inch round pans for 30 to 35 minutes, or in three 8 inch round pans for 25 to 30 minutes.

Whipped Cream (from All Recipes)

What you need…

• 1 cup heavy cream

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar

What to do…

In a large bowl, whip cream until stiff peaks are just about to form. Beat in vanilla and sugar until peaks form. Make sure not to over-beat, cream will then become lumpy and butter-like

To assemble…

Top first layer of cake with generous layer of whipped cream. Top whipped cream with sliced strawberries (I sliced mine into little circles). Add next layer of cake and top with rest of whipped cream. Garnish with a fanned strawberry.