Eggless Strawberry Cake - Strawberry Birthday Cake

 Two week's ago was my little one's 6th Birthday and even before one month, she requested me, to bake her birthday cake.  I dint have any confusion to select strawberry cake as it's her favorite fruit. The only thing that concerned me was, how to present it as a birthday cake. It should be simple for me and yet appealing. Having done butter cream frosting and cream cheese frosting , i got the confidence to try whipped cream frosting for the whole cake.

I took the basic vanilla cake recipe and done a few changes to get it to a strawberry cake.  I made 2 cakes to get it tall as a birthday cake, and kept one light pink and another bit darker. I went with that kiddy decorations to get a party mood.
Altogether it was a surprise to Mithu and as a mother i really relished those moments. Now on to the cake..

Strawberry cake - Birthday cake Recipe  - Ingredients:
Preparation time: 1 hr | Baking time: 20 - 25 mins | Recipe Category: Cakes

All purpose flour - 1 cup
Corn flour - 3 tbsp
Baking soda - 1/2 tsp
Baking powder - 1 tsp
Salt  - a pinch
Butter/Oil  -  1/4 cup
Condensed milk - 1/2 cup +2 tbsp
Water  - 1/2 cup
Vinegar  - 1 tbsp
Strawberry essence  - 1tsp
Red/pink color - a drop

For Frosting:
Whipping powder - 3 packets (i used whipping powder)
           or
Whipped cream  - 3 cups
Cold water or milk  - 1/2 cup for each packet
For Decoration:
Strawberries - 5 sliced
Wafer biscuits
Candies or gems.

Method:
1. Preheat the oven at 180 deg C for 10 mins.
2. Sift the dry ingredients -(flour, corn flour, soda, baking powder and salt).

3. Mix the melted butter/oil  and condensed milk together  and beat with a whisk well.

4. Now add water, vinegar, essence and color and mix well.

5. Make a dent in the flour and pour the wet mixture and combine together without any lumps.

6. Pour the batter into a greased baking tin and gently tap once to remove any air bubbles.

7. Bake in the preheated  for 20-25 mins at 180 deg C or until a tooth pick inserted comes out clean.

8. Cool on the wire rack and invert carefully.
I prepared 2 cakes for a bit taller b'day cake. You can also bake single cake and divide into two layers.

Once the cake has completely cooled down start preparing frosting.

For the Frosting:

1. Before whisking  keep the wide bowl and hand whisk in the freezer for 10 -15 mins.
2. Now take the wide bowl with the 1 packet of  whipping powder and add 1/2 cup water/milk little by little and keep whisking continuously fast upto 3 mins. ( If using electric mixer, whisk on high speed upto 3 mins.)

3. By now it would have turned fluffy and soft peaks will be formed.

4. Continue the same for rest of the packets still soft peaks form and store in the fridge until use.

For Assembling and decorating:
1. Take the two cakes and using a wide knife cut a thin layer from top,on each cake.

2. Apply about 1 cup of whipped cream on top of one cake and spread evenly.

3. Place the other cake on top of it and use another 1 cup cream to give thin coat all around the cake. This is called as crumb coat.

4. Place in the fridge for 15 mins to set.
5. Take it out and apply another 1/2 cup cream on top and sides and give a thick coat and place it in the fridge for 15 mins.

6. To the rest 1/2 cup add a little pink color. Decorate the cake by piping out swirls or any design of your choice.

8. Finally slice the strawberries and place on the sides and top of cake and decorate with candies,wafers, gems or any kids favorite chocolates.

Place it on a cake board or use a plate covered with foil. Place in the fridge until party starts. Use a knife dipped in warm water and cut the cake.

Note:

• I used whipping powder as it is mess free and can be easily whipped. 
• Use any metal/steel bowl to whip the cream.
• After each coat place the cake in the fridge to set so it will be firm.
• You can also use 'cake turntable' while applying frosting to get it neat. 
• Prepare a day ahead and store in the fridge.