I love Trader Joe’s baking mixes. I find the Vanilla Cake and Baking Mix to be their most versatile. I’ve used it for making coffee cakes, trifles and most recently, a frosted strawberry cake. With strawberries being at their juicy best right now, I wanted to bake something that would showcase their flavor. Since I still have a lot of Meyer lemons hanging on my tree (and a bottle of Limoncello in my freezer), I decided to use one of my favorite frosting recipes that I’ve previously posted. (You might still be able to find a few stray Meyer lemons at TJ’s, but if not, go ahead and substitute regular lemons). At least you should have no trouble finding Limoncello in their liquor section.

Don’t worry about the lemon flavor competing for attention with the strawberries in this recipe. The lemon actually enhances the strawberry flavor, making it taste like a mouthful of springtime. The vanilla cake creates a pleasantly neutral base that allows the fruit flavors to combine into a treat for the taste buds. I also appreciate the little vanilla specks that are visible throughout the cake, giving it an old–fashioned, home–baked appeal. No one will ever suspect this cake came from a box!

WI wine recommendation: A Champagne or sparkling wine pairs well with this cake, or just enjoy it with more Limoncello.
 

 
Strawberry Vanilla Cake with Limoncello Cream Cheese Frosting
 
Cake:
1 box TJ’s Vanilla Cake & Baking Mix
(plus ingredients listed on box to complete recipe)
2 tablespoons Limoncello

Frosting:
16 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
1/2 stick (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter
4 cups confectioners’ sugar
1–1/2 tablespoons freshly grated lemon zest (preferably Meyer lemon)
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons Limoncello
Fresh strawberries (as many as you like), hulled and chopped
 
Cake:
Mix cake mix and other ingredients listed on box together with the Limoncello. Pour into a well–greased pan and bake according to directions on box.

Remove baked (and cooled) cake from pan and place on serving platter. Using a long, serrated knife, carefully split the cake into two layers. Frost the cut side of the bottom layer.

Layer desired amount of chopped strawberries onto the frosted layer. Place the other cake layer (cut side down) on top of the strawberries.

Continue frosting the entire cake. Or, finish by frosting just the top of the cake for a more rustic look. Add a strawberry fan on top for decoration and you’re done! Note: This cake should be refrigerated (due to the cream cheese in the frosting).

Frosting:
Beat the cream cheese and butter together with an electric mixer until softened. Add the sugar (one cup at a time), zest, juice and Limoncello and continue beating until creamy, about 3 minutes.

 |  Comment RSS
Filed Under: Blogs, Food, TJ's Tuesday