Praise the heavens! I got a new cookbook! I think I was in a cookbook rut. I found myself relying on the same two cookbooks day after day for my baking indulgence. Granted, they’re great cookbooks- charming, attractive and funny- but I had heard all their stories, seem all of their dress shirts, and laughed at all their jokes. I needed something new.
Just when I was about to accept my circumstance, a charming new love came into my life. Sweets by Patty Pinner is my new darling. This book is more than just a collection of recipes. Sweets is a gathering of family memories. In my life food is all about family and memories, so this book has quickly become so so dear to my heart.
Sweets is a southern style cookbook. The recipes are extremely approachable. Some of the cakes are made with (gasp!) cake mix, and then fancied up with additional ingredients. The family pictures are utterly charming and the stories that go along with each recipe are really touching. I read this book, cover to cover on an airplane, like a novel. I just love it!
Let me tell you about this strawberry cake. First things first- it’s sweet and moist and covered in cream cheese frosting and pink tinted coconut. The best part? It’s pink on the inside. Pink! Come on! Who doesn’t like pink cake? This is the kind of dessert that needs to be presented on your prettiest cake platter, under the spot light in your china cabinet. It’s a show cake. But it’s also really delicious. And… with the fabulous presentation of the cake, and the inevitable oooohs and aaaaahs you’ll get from guests, you’ll NEVER have to tell anyone just how easy it was to make. It’ll be our little secret.
Southern Style Strawberry Cake
from: Sweets
1 (18.5 ounce) box white cake mix (without pudding)
1 (3 ounce) package strawberry jello
1 Tablespoon self rising flour
4 teaspoons granulated sugar
3/4 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
1/2 cup water
1/3 cup fresh strawberries, finely diced.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
To make the cake, combine to cake mix, Jello, flour and sugar in a large bowl. Mix well. Add the oil. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition Add the water and strawberries and mix well. Divide the batter evenly into three 8-inch round baking pans that have been oiled and floured. Bake for 25-35 minutes, or until a tooth pick inserted into the center of the cakes comes out clean and the layers pull away from the sides of the pan.
Transfer the layers from the oven to wire racks. Let them cool, still in their pans, for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, run a knife around the inside edge of each pan, then unmold each layer onto the racks to cool completely.
Cream Cheese Frosting
1 (8 ounce) block cream cheese, softened
2 sticks (8 ounces) unsalted butter, softened
2 (1 pound) boxes powdered sugar
pinch of salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
pink food coloring
4 sliced strawberries
To make the frosting, in a bowl combine the cream cheese and butter. Beat until soft and pliable and no lumps remain. Add one box of the powdered sugar, salt and vanilla extract. Beat until incorporated. Add the second box of sugar and mix until incorporated. If you would like a smoother consistency, and a slash of milk. If you would like a thicker consistency, and a bit more powdered sugar until the desired consistency is achieved.
Put the coconut in a small bowl and sprinkle with two or three drops of pink die. Mix with hands to distribute the color and wash hands immediately. Once the cake is frosted, decorate the top of the cake with the shredded coconut and sliced strawberries. Enjoy! Happy Strawberry Summer!
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Hi Joy, This recipe looks amazing, and I am planning on making it for my fiancé’s birthday in a few weeks as he LOVES strawberry cake! Would you recommend spreading some of the frosting between layers? I didn’t see anything about that and just wanted to clarify. Thanks!
I made this for my mom’s bday yesterday, it was definitely a hit. Thanks for posting this recipe!
I am going to make these for a work picnic friday! I think I might make it into mini cupcakes and a few regular sized cupcakes. I can’t wait.
What a delicious looking cake!
Was wondering if it can be baked in a 9 X 12 X 2 inch sheet pan with success instead of round layer pans?
Please reapond sonn as I need to bake it :)
TIA to anyone who responds
Great site!!!
I think you should be fine baking this cake in a 9 x 12 x 2 pan. You may have a bit extra batter. It’s hard for me to know. Since this cake is made with cake mix, check the cake mix box to see their pan options and cooking times. They should line up with this cake recipe close enough.
I have a recipe that my mother made for Stawberry Cake. I an not home but wanted to make one for a friend. I saw your recipe it is a bit different from hers but the picture was beautiful. I printed it out to take back home and I am going to bake it her for my friend. I think I found a great change for cake I loved my mother to make. Thank you!!!
Could I use a 11x15x2 inch deep pan? If so what would be your suggestions on chanding the baking time?
I made this for a coworkers birthday and it was soooo good! I had to leave off the coconut because of an allergy BUT still yummy!!
I love this book! I had taken it out of the library a few years? back. The story is just wonderful. Cookbooks with some family history and celebration of life are the best! I was skeptical of the jello and cake mixes in the recipes but I decided that it is family heirlooms that make this book special and the recipes are really, really good.
Hi Joy! I was wondering if I could use 1 Tablespoon of regular all purpose flour instead of self rising?
sure! but just also throw in a generous pinch of baking soda along with it.
I am so happy I found this! I am getting ready to make it for my 7 year olds Birthday! She loves Strawberries AND the color pink! This cake seems so simple to make, yet looks so frilly! If anything, she will love it because “it’s pink”! Thank you for posting! :) BTW..I love your blog! Will keep coming back.
Joy!
I made this cake on Sunday for Mother’s Day!! I have to say I was skeptical on the fact it used cake mix and jello, but I knew if you dug it, I’d love it.
It was a pure hit at my in-laws!! What a fantastic cake, and I was like a giddy schoolgirl when I finally got to cut into it and experience the PINK!
Check out my cake!!
http://fraichebeets.com/2010/05/09/southern-style-strawberry-cake/
Thanks again, you are a continual inspiration, and I’m obsessed with baking your recipes!
-Z
Made this cake for Mother’s Day 2010. Just loved it. Got rave reviews. It was pretty and pink and lovely for my special mom, who has beat breast cancer twice! Take that cancer! Even when you fight like a girl, you still like pink girlie things.
Dear Joy,
Thanks for not being afraid to use a cake mix when it’s yummy and it works.
I am going to make this into cupcakes for my little one’s First birthday next week! I have been searching for the perfect PINK cake recipe for a month… I should have turned to you right from the beginning.
P.S. Her first finger food was your Oatmeal Applesauce Blueberry Muffins. You’re the best!!!
-Cynthia
such a yummy cake….mine was definitely not that pink though! :( next time i will try it with some food coloring.
thanks joy, such a winner cake
Joy,
I have had this book for some time…brought it on sale.
There has been so much praise at my house for the cakes that come from this recipe book. The only thing I can say is – Thank God for the Sisters who created these recipes.
I made this recipe last weekend. It really takes self control not to eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Its amazing.
I am going to try this thursday nite will let u know!
I am thinking about making this for my daughter princess birthday party. I like the idea of a pink cake. I have a question about the presentation. I would like to wrap a bow around the cake, but I don’t like fondant. Would you recommend sprinkling the coconut around the cake to tie the bow? ANY and ALL ideas would be greatly appreciated!!! TIA!
I found your blog, possibly through Smitten Kitchen? I ended up making this. Loved it. Will be back for more!! Probably often. Thanks so much!
I made this, and it came out beautifully! I love how pink and super-strawberry flavored this is, and how very very easy! Thank you! Now I will go back to lurking on your site, which is so awesome.
Uh-oh. Looks like I commented, forgot I commented, and commented again. I’m going to chalk that up to how good the cake is. Sorry!
Well, I made this cake exactly as written and it was too too sweet!! I guess that what I get for following a recipe that was in the cookbook “SWEETS!” I only had a few bites as did my guests. Most of the cake was thrown away. It did taste good, but the sweetness was just too overpowering. :(
Hi Joy ~my family LOVES this cake! I’ve made it several times & it has turned out perfectly. But we’ve since moved to the Denver area, and now I’m having problems with the cakes sinking in the middle due, My 4 yr old has requested this cake for her birthday party. So before I tackle it once again tomorrow I was wondering if you have any tips for this recipe regarding the high altitude. Thanks!
Les,
I make this cake every year for my daughter’s birthday. I live near Denver and have tried everything to not have it sink in the middle. I have given the recipe to friends that bake hoping for suggestions. I have tried everything….hotter temp for shorter time, you name it. My daughter’s birthday party is Saturday and I just made it again and substituted regular flour for the self rising, since I don’t want it to rise quickly and I left out the sugar. The good news is that only one of the layers sank! I hope it tastes as good w/o the extra sugar. I hope that someone will have a real answer for our problem.
Nancy
PS. I made it for her birthday last year when we were in South Carolina and it was the tallest, most beautiful cake!
How many people does this cake serve?
this cake serves about 8-10 people.
Almost two years later, and I’m back to get the web address to pass on to another who loves the cake and frosting. Glad it’s still here!
Hello Joy
I ran across you website looking for a Strawberry Cake recipe. My question is What cake mix do you use? I am having a hard time finding “Puddingless Cake Mixes”. Also how do you get the inside of your cake so pink?
my sonsing a cake mix? us girlfriend can’t have cakemix due to the bleached flour, how would i make this NOT
How old are you? Two? You don’t have to make it if you don’t want to. Good Grief.
This is a great recipe. I made them as cupcakes and it turned out great! :) Would make again for sure. Especially the icing!! I just added a little mike to loosen it up so I could use a bag and tip to decorate. Thanks!!
This is now my husband’s new favorite cake!! He is pretty hard to please. Thanks for posting. I’ve got the cookbook in my Amazon cart awaiting payday! I love your site. Thanks so much!
OMG!!!! i just stumbled upon your Blog, so glad I did!!! This cake will be perfect for us, my daughter is 9 and has just started baking, and has been looking for Bday cake recipes for me. (moms Bday in July) this one is simple yet elegant!! Thank-you
Bobbie P
Hi there,
This cake looks delicious! I am planning on baking it for my daughter’s first birthday, but I have one question. This may sound really silly, but I was hoping you could tell me if by “jello” in the ingredients you meant pudding or the gel kind. It seems silly, but I don’t want to make it wrong.
Thanks! :)
Leslie
i haven’t made this cake in a long time… and i’m pretty sure i mean Jello… not pudding.
Well Joy it’s all YOUR fault !
After following your blog not only have we set up one of our own we have even started baking ! Do you have any comprehension of what you have started !! Please take a moment to see our latest cake
http://ahintofgarlic.wordpress.com/2011/10/03/ultimate-victoria-sponge/
as we would love to have your comments ( no need to apologise as we love what you’ve done to us really ) Keep up the great work with the blog you really are an inspiration
This looks delish! I’m thinking of making this for a cake auction at my daughter’s school. Does it need to be refrigerated?
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