Ingredients

CAKE

9 tablespoons Demerara or Turbinado sugar

1 1/2 cups Land O Lakes® European Style Butter, softened

1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened

2 1/4 cups sugar

6 large Land O Lakes® Eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon almond extract

3 cups cake flour

1 teaspoon salt

BERRIES

5 cups sliced strawberries

3 tablespoons sugar

FROSTING

6 ounces cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 vanilla bean*, seeds scraped from inside bean

2 cups Land O Lakes® Heavy Whipping Cream

*Substitute an additional 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract.

Directions

Heat oven to 325°F. Butter 2 (9-inch) cake pans; sprinkle with 3 tablespoons Demerara sugar each. Shake to coat evenly. Set aside.

Combine butter, cream cheese, and sugar in large bowl until light and creamy, about 3 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, scraping bowl often, until thoroughly mixed. Mix in vanilla and almond extract.

Combine cake flour and salt together in another bowl. Slowly add to butter mixture; mix until fully combined. Divide batter into thirds, pouring one-third into each prepared pan and smoothing tops evenly. Place remaining batter into refrigerator until ready to use. Bake 28-30 minutes or until lightly browned and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean (top may not look completely done). Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to cooling rack. Cool completely. Clean one pan; butter and sugar pan. Bake and cool final cake layer as directed above.

Combine strawberries and sugar together in bowl; toss to coat. Let stand 30 minutes or until juices form.

Meanwhile, combine cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla, and vanilla beans in large bowl until creamy. Slowly add whipping cream; beat until stiff peaks form.

Place 1 cake layer onto cake plate or pedestal. Prick top with fork all over. Place about 1 1/2 cups strawberries on top, using slotted spoon, spreading to cover top surface. Dollop about 3/4 cup frosting on top of berries, spread evenly to cover berries. Place second cake layer on top, repeating process of berries and frosting. Place final layer on top; spread remaining frosting on top of cake and top with remaining berries and juice.

Recipe Tip

Make and store cake no more than 2 hours in advance of serving. The sugar edges lose their crunch over time. Store any leftover cake, covered, in refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Serving this cake can be a little challenging. We suggest using a long, serrated knife to cut the cake.