Description
Delight in this luscious Neapolitan Layer Cake, featuring three distinct yet harmonious flavors: classic vanilla, rich chocolate, and fresh strawberry. Perfect for celebrations or indulgent dessert moments, this cake layers moist, flavorful sponge with light whipped cream for a truly decadent treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake Batter
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3 large eggs
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Additional Layers & Frosting
- 1 cup strawberry puree
- 1 cup whipped cream
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure it reaches the right temperature for baking your cakes evenly.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together until the mixture is light, fluffy, and pale in color, incorporating air for a tender cake.
- Add Eggs: Add the eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition to create a smooth, homogeneous batter.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt to ensure even distribution of leavening and flavor.
- Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet batter, alternating with milk and vanilla extract, mixing gently to combine without overmixing.
- Divide and Flavor Batter: Split the batter evenly into three bowls. Leave one plain for the vanilla layer, stir strawberry puree into the second bowl for a fruity layer, and add extra cocoa powder to the third for a rich chocolate layer.
- Prepare Pans and Pour Batter: Grease three cake pans. Pour each flavored batter into its respective pan, spreading evenly for uniform layers.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of each cake comes out clean.
- Cool Cakes: Remove cakes from the oven and let them cool completely on wire racks to prevent soggy layers and prepare for frosting.
- Assemble and Frost: Layer the cooled cakes by spreading whipped cream between each layer, then cover the top and sides of the assembled cake with the remaining whipped cream to finish your Neapolitan masterpiece.
Notes
- Ensure the butter is softened, not melted, for optimal creaming.
- Be gentle when folding wet and dry ingredients to keep the cake tender.
- Use fresh strawberries for the puree to enhance flavor, or substitute with good-quality store-bought puree.
- Chill the cake for at least 1 hour before serving to let the flavors meld and whipped cream set.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator tightly covered for up to 3 days.
