Ingredients

• 2 cups white sugar
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 (3 oz) pkg strawberry flavored gelatin
• 4 large eggs (room temperature)
• 2 ¾ cups sifted cake flour
• 2 ½ tsp baking powder
• 1 cup whole milk, room temperature
• ½ cup strawberry puree made from frozen sweetened strawberries
• 1 Tbs vanilla extract

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
2. Beat sugar, butter, and dry strawberry gelatin together in a large bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
3. Combine flour and baking powder in a large bowl; stir into butter mixture alternately with milk.
4. Blend in strawberry puree and vanilla.
5. Divide batter evenly between the prepared pans.
6. Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 25 to 30 minutes. Cool cakes on a wire rack for 10 minutes; run a table knife around the edges to loosen. Invert carefully onto a serving plate or cooling rack to cool completely.

Real Strawberry Frosting

Ingredients

• 1 cup fresh strawberries
• 1 cup butter
• 3 ½ cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted, divided
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions

1. Place strawberries in a blender; purée until smooth.
2. Transfer strawberry purée to a saucepan over medium heat; bring to a boil, stirring often, until reduced by at least half, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat and cool completely.
3. Beat butter with an electric mixer in a bowl until light and fluffy. Beat in 1 cup confectioners’ sugar until combined. Beat 2 tablespoons cooled strawberry purée and vanilla extract into butter mixture until just blended.
4. Beat in 1 cup confectioners’ sugar until combined, followed by 2 tablespoons strawberry purée. Repeat this step once more.