Indulge in a Decadent Champagne Cake Recipe
As a sommelier, I have tasted different types of wine and champagne from all over the world. Today, I am excited to share with you a delightful recipe that perfectly pairs two of my favorite things: deliciously moist cake and the bubbly richness of champagne. This champagne cake with fresh strawberries will transport your taste buds to a world of decadent flavors.
Imagine biting into a fluffy champagne cake layered with juicy and sweet fresh strawberries. This recipe incorporates strawberry champagne filling and strawberry buttercream frosting to produce a luscious texture that will leave your mouth watering. The aroma of vanilla from the French vanilla instant pudding beautifully blends with the sweetness of the strawberries, creating an experience that is both sweet and refreshing.
What I love about this particular recipe is it’s easy to make, meaning it can be whipped up in no time for any occasion, birthday parties or family reunions alike. Whether you are hosting an elegant get-together or simply want to spoil yourself after a long week of work, this champagne cake with fresh strawberries is the perfect treat.
So why not give in to your senses and indulge in this heavenly dessert? Trust me; you won’t regret it! Let’s dive into this recipe, shall we?
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
If you are a dessert lover, then this strawberry champagne cake recipe is one that you certainly need to try. It’s the perfect combination of soft, fluffy champagne cake layered between fresh strawberries and strawberry buttercream frosting that will leave your taste buds dancing with joy.
One of the key factors that makes this cake so wonderful is the use of real champagne. The dry champagne used in this recipe adds a subtle yet delicious flavor to the cake that can’t be found in other cakes. And these champagne strawberries help keep the cake moist and soft, while also providing a fabulous contrast in texture.
You’ll love this recipe for its versatility too. It can be served as an elegant dessert during a special occasion, or as a treat for any regular day as it’s easy to make at home. If you’re short on time or just don’t enjoy spending hours in the kitchen, then this recipe has got you covered. You can use cake mix to quickly make the base for your champagne cake and add fresh strawberries and strawberry cream cheese frosting for added richness.
If you’re looking for ways to switch things up with this recipe, there are plenty of variations and substitutions that you can do such as using pink champagne instead of dry champagne or adding white chocolate to complete the taste. You can get creative with what you put into your cake!
Overall, it’s impossible not to fall in love with this mouth-watering strawberry champagne cake recipe. It’s light, refreshing, flavorful, and absolutely gorgeous. The perfect confectionery treat for any occasion!
Ingredient List
- Champagne Cake Mix: To make the Champagne Cake, I recommend using a white cake mix and adding champagne instead of water. However, there are cake mixes specifically for making Champagne Cakes that you can buy.
- Fresh Strawberries: What is a Strawberry Champagne Cake without strawberries? You will need fresh strawberries to make the filling and topping.
- French Vanilla Instant Pudding: This adds a lot of flavor and moistness to the Champagne Cake. If you cannot find French Vanilla, you can use regular vanilla pudding mix.
- Half-and-Half: Adding cream or half-and-half to the mixture helps create a fluffy Champagne Cake.
- Vanilla Extract: A little bit of vanilla extract goes a long way. This ingredient will add flavor to your cake mix.
- Egg Whites: You don’t want egg yolk in your Champagne Cake because it can turn your cake soggy. Egg whites will help achieve that fluffy texture and light color for which this cake is known.
- Granulated Sugar: You’ll be adding sugar to your whipped egg whites, so they become stiff and beautiful.
- All-Purpose Flour: This ingredient creates structure in the cake mix. I recommend sifting it before mixing it with other ingredients to remove any lumps or bumps.
- Baking Powder: This is what will help your cake rise and give it a beautiful texture.
- Baking Soda and Salt: These two add extra chemical reactions to help the cake rise and have an even better texture.
- White Chocolate Chips/Morsels: Optional ingredient if you prefer some chocolatey taste with your strawberry champagne delight!
The Recipe How-To
Now that you know the reason why this recipe is so special, it’s time to start making it. This Champagne Cake with Fresh Strawberries recipe is not complicated, and you’ll have a fabulous dessert to share with your loved ones in no time.
Gather Your Ingredients
Before starting this recipe, I always get all of my ingredients together. This way, there won’t be any surprises in the middle of baking or cooking. Here is what you’ll need for this Strawberry Champagne Cake:
- 1 box (16 ounces) white cake mix
- 3 cups cake flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup champagne, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup fresh strawberries, diced
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 4 large egg whites, at room temperature
- 1 tablespoon pink or red food coloring (optional)
Make the Cake Batter
Preheat your oven to 350 F (180 C). Grease and flour three 9-inch cake pans.
In a large mixing bowl, sift together the dry ingredients: the cake mix, cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir them with a whisk until fully combined.
Add the softened butter, vegetable oil and eggs to the dry ingredients. Mix them at medium speed with an electric mixer until thick and creamy.
Next, slowly add in the champagne, diced strawberries, and food coloring (if using) until fully incorporated into the batter.
Use a spatula to scrape down any stuck or unmixed contents from the sides.
Layer and Bake The Cake
Now that the cake batter is ready, divide it evenly among your three prepared baking pans.
Bake the cakes for about 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Take the cakes out of the oven and let them cool completely before layering and frosting.
Assemble Your Strawberry Champagne Cake
Place one cake layer on a plate or cake stand, add a generous amount of strawberry filling or champagne strawberries on top, and repeat for every layer.
To make the Strawberry Buttercream Frosting, mix 1 cup unsalted butter at room temperature with 4 cups powdered sugar, 1/2 cup half-and-half, and some fresh strawberry puree (you can use leftover diced strawberries from earlier). Once smooth and creamy, use it to frost the entire cake.
Finally, drizzle champagne syrup over each cake layer with a pastry brush or spoon.
Cut slices of this delicious, moist, and fluffy Champagne Cake with Fresh Strawberries, and serve your masterpiece. Cheers!
Substitutions and Variations
There are a lot of ways to customize this cake recipe and make it your very own creation. Here are some variations and substitutions you can try:
– Vanilla Cake Mix: If you can’t find white cake mix, you can use vanilla or French vanilla instant pudding mix instead. Your cake batter might have a slightly yellow-ish color, but the taste will still be terrific.
– Strawberries: While fresh strawberries work best for the filling, if they are not in season, you may also use frozen ones. You can thaw them and cook them down with some sugar to create a delicious strawberry sauce.
РChampagne: You can swap champagne with other sparkling wines, such as prosecco, cava or sparkling ros̩. Just make sure that the type of bubbly you choose complements the flavor of the strawberries and the overall taste of your cake.
– Frosting: Instead of using vanilla frosting, you can make a strawberry buttercream with fresh or freeze-dried strawberries mixed into softened butter and powdered sugar. For a fancier touch, you can also try champagne frosting by incorporating champagne into a simple buttercream recipe.
– Cake Layers: This recipe calls for 3 cake layers, but if you prefer thinner layers or just want to make two layers, adjust the ingredients accordingly. You could also use a different shape of pan to make it more interesting.
– Chocolate-covered Strawberries: Broaden your horizon by making chocolate-covered strawberries ahead of time to decorate your cake creatively.
Overall, feel free to experiment with what suits your palate and preferences—there are no hard and fast rules!
Serving and Pairing
The champagne cake with fresh strawberries is a dessert that deserves to be the star of any dinner party or celebration. Not only is it delicious, but it also looks stunning with its fluffy champagne frosting and ruby-red strawberry filling.
To serve this cake, I recommend slicing it into thin pieces, so each guest can have a taste without feeling too full. Serve along with a generous amount of fresh strawberries on top. If you’d like, you can even drizzle some more champagne syrup over the top for extra indulgence.
As for pairing, the best match for this champagne cake would be a glass of pink champagne or sparkling wine. The sweetness of the cake and the dryness of the Champagne complement each other beautifully.
If you’re looking for something non-alcoholic, a cup of fragrant vanilla bean tea or even freshly brewed coffee would be perfect. The calmness and warmth from these beverages make them an incredible complement to this decadent dessert.
Overall, this heavenly champagne cake can be served at almost any occasion – from weddings to birthdays and everything in between. Its versatility ensures a fantastic taste bud experience no matter what the occasion may be.
Make-Ahead, Storing and Reheating
This champagne cake with fresh strawberries is best served fresh but if you need to make it ahead of time or want to store leftovers, here are some tips for you.
To make this recipe ahead of time, I recommend baking the cake layers and preparing the strawberry filling and champagne frosting ahead of time. You can wrap the individual cake layers in plastic wrap and store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days. The strawberry filling and champagne frosting can be stored in separate containers in the refrigerator for up to two days as well.
If you have leftover cake, you can store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. When reheating the cake, allow it to come to room temperature before consuming. You can reheat the cake in the oven at 350°F for about 10 minutes or until it’s warmed through.
When storing or reheating the champagne cake with fresh strawberries, keep in mind that excess moisture can make the cake soggy. To avoid this, keep the cake layers and filling separate until ready to serve. Only assemble the cake when ready to eat.
With these tips, you can enjoy this delicious champagne cake with fresh strawberries anytime!
Tips for Perfect Results
To make sure your strawberry champagne cake comes out perfectly every time, be sure to follow these tips:
First, make sure all of your ingredients are at room temperature before you begin. This will help ensure that everything mixes well and that your cake comes out moist and fluffy.
When making the cake batter, be sure to mix it thoroughly but gently. Overmixing can cause the cake to become tough and dry.
To prevent your cake from sticking to the pan, be sure to grease your pans generously with butter or cooking spray, and line them with parchment paper. This will also help you remove your cakes from the pan without damaging them.
When baking your cakes, be sure not to overbake them. Check them frequently after about 20 minutes in the oven by inserting a toothpick in the center of each cake; if it comes out clean, then the cake is done. If there’s still some batter on the toothpick, leave the cakes in the oven for a few more minutes.
When decorating your cake with frosting, be sure to wait until the cakes are completely cool before applying any frostings or decorations. If you try to frost a warm cake, it may crumble or make your frosting slide off.
Finally, when serving your strawberry champagne cake with fresh strawberries, be sure to wash and slice your berries just before serving. This will keep them fresh and looking their best atop your beautiful cake. Enjoy!
FAQ
Before we move onto the conclusion, let’s address some frequently asked questions about this delicious strawberry champagne cake recipe.
What champagne is good with strawberries?
When it comes to pairing wine with berries, many sommeliers suggest opting for a Champagne, particularly a “demi-sec” variety for the best match. These types of Champagne are sweeter compared to the more frequently consumed “brut” that has a dry taste.
Will strawberries make cake soggy?
Incorporating strawberry filling into your cake recipe will not result in a soggy texture. Instead, it will contribute to the cake’s overall moisture level.
Bottom Line
I hope you enjoyed reading about this delightful Strawberry Champagne Cake recipe as much as I enjoyed sharing it with you. This cake is a perfect choice for any celebratory occasion, it’s simple to make, light and fluffy in texture, and bursting with the sweet and tangy flavors of fresh strawberries and champagne.
Whether you’re looking for a new cake recipe to add to your collection or an elegant dessert to impress your guests, this cake is sure to do the trick. So why not give it a try the next time you need something special? Trust me, you won’t regret it.
And if you’re feeling adventurous, why stop at just making this cake? Try experimenting with other delicious flavors like raspberry or white chocolate or even creating your own unique combination. The possibilities are endless!
In the end, the most important thing is to have fun and enjoy the process. And when you take that first bite of your Strawberry Champagne Cake, let yourself savor every moment because after all, life is worth celebrating.
Cheers to good food, great company and unforgettable memories!
Champagne Cake With Fresh Strawberries Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 (18 ounce) box white cake mix (NO PUDDING if possible)
- 3 egg whites (or as called for by your cake mix)
- 1/3 cup oil (or as called for by your cake mix)
- 1/2-1 1/2 cup champagne (I've found that Asti is best)
- 1 (3 1/2 ounce) package vanilla or (3 1/2 ounce) package French vanilla instant pudding
- 1 cup half-and-half
- 1 cup whipping cream
- 3 tablespoons champagne
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- fresh sliced strawberry (raspberries work well too)
Instructions
- Follow directions on cake box, substituting champagne in place of water (add vegetable oil and eggs as the recipe asks for, only omit the water). The amount of champagne you add will depend on the brand of cake mix you buy, but it always turns out great! You can also add food coloring in this step if desired for a more festive effect. The most common is a "pink" champagne cake.
- Bake according to the directions on the box. A layered cake (two 8" or 9" rounds) is best for this recipe!
- While cake is baking, combine pudding, half-and-half, whipping cream, 3 tbsp champagne, and vanilla together and beat with a mixer until thickened.
- Refrigerate until you're ready to frost the cake.
- Once cake is completely cooled, put a layer of frosting on top of one of the cakes, and top with fresh strawberries.
- Place other cake on top of strawberries, and frost the whole thing.
- Refrigerate until eating.