Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Strawberry Buttermilk Cake

Strawberry Buttermilk Cake

First I saw it on Smitten Kitchen. Then Mary the Food Librarian did a variation of it. The other day I was instant messaging with a friend of mine and he mentioned it too. It was only a matter of time before I made a version of the famed buttermilk cake found in the most recent issue of Gourmet magazine. I got home about ten minutes earlier than normal last night so I decided it would be the perfect time to make this cake. I had an especially light farmers market outing this week, but I did manage to pick up some strawberries which were some of the best strawberries I have ever had. I'm not sure if it's because I waited a couple of days to use them or because it was an especially great crop. Either way, they were bursting with juicy sweetness and I have plenty left over to snack on. This cake is super deluxe easy to make and since I made a small batch, I think it's easier mixed by hand. All you need are a couple of bowls and a whisk. Even though this is such a simple combination of flavors, it is one outstanding outcome. I am about to have the rest of this for breakfast this morning, but what a treat it was to have a slice of this last night. As I was pouring the batter into the cake pan, I thought about how nice it would be to mix some lemon zest into the batter which I will try the next time I make this. As suggested in the magazine, this batter would be great with any summer berry. I'm thinking blackberries will be the choice for the next go-round. Anyway, I highly recommend this cake and since it is such a simple pleasure, I think you will enjoy it a lot.

Strawberry Buttermilk Cake Slice

Strawberry Buttermilk Cake
(Adapted from Gourmet, June 2009)

*A couple of notes, I used slightly less sugar called for than what I wrote here. Also, I checked my cake at the 20 minute mark and it was just about done so I didn't keep it in the oven for too much longer. The pick came out clean although in the picture, there appears to be batter in the center of the slice. For this small batch, it is probably easier to do the mixing by hand with a whisk. This cake is best slightly warm on the day it's made.

Makes 1 4.5-inch cake

1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoon butter, softened
1/3 cup plus 1 teaspoon sugar, divided
1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 egg
1/4 cup well-shaken buttermilk
1/2 cup fresh strawberries, halved

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees with rack in the middle. Butter and flour a 4.5-inch round cake pan.

Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

Beat butter and 1/3 cup sugar with an electric mixer at medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 2 minutes, then beat in vanilla. Add egg and beat well.

At low speed, mix in flour mixture in three batches, alternating with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour, and mixing until just combined.

Spoon batter into cake pan, smoothing top. Scatter the strawberries evenly over the top and sprinkle with the remaining sugar.

Bake until the cake is golden and a wooden pick inserted into center comes out clean, 20-30 minutes. Cool in the pan 10 minutes, then turn out onto a rack to cool to warm, 10 more minutes.

Printable Recipe

Strawberry Buttermilk Cake Slice

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22 comments:

Maria said...

I am SO making this cake, maybe even tonight. I might do strawberry rhubarb? Blackberry would be good too! Love it!

The Food Librarian said...

Yummy! I could eat this every day!

Erica said...

Perfect for a summer party. Hows work treating you?

Mary Bergfeld said...

This just looks lovely and mouthwatering. It's perfect for summer entertaining.

Diana said...

My mouth literally starting watering when I read your description of the strawberries. Darn it, Esi, now I want strawberries! And cake! Might just have to make this one for Father's Day...

Justin said...

why is anything with buttermilk in it automatically yummy? just the sound of this gets me excited.

helen said...

Beautiful! Love the simple ingredient list. I'm definitely adding this to my repertoire!

Ciao Chow Linda said...

This looks like a keeper.

unconfidentialcook said...

I have armfuls of strawberries, and I am so going to make this. I hope it comes out as beautifully as yours did--looks so moist!

daxphillips said...

Looks like you got a sweet tooth. Everything looks delicious.

Heather said...

ah! i was planning on making this sunday night!! i'm so glad you gave it a rave review!! looks super yummy!

Reeni said...

This looks scrumptious!! What a nice breakfast to wake up to!!

Donna-FFW said...

Absolutely something I would love. It looks gorgeous and sounds so easy to make!

Sara said...

I saw this on Smitten Kitchen too and was thinking about making it. Yours looks great!

angela@spinachtiger said...

Oh, I opened this and wish it were sitting in front of me at breakfast time, in bed with milk and my laptop. You dished up a fruit and comfort delight.

Esi said...

Maria, this would be great with rhubarb!

Erica, work is going just ok...

Diana and Heather, I think you will love this.

Thank you everyone!

Evan said...

You had me at cake.

Alicia Foodycat said...

That's a beautiful cake! Yum!

Juliana said...

This cake looks so yummie, moist...I can have a bite right now. Great pictures as well.

The Blonde Duck said...

This looks like a cake I'd adore!

Marta said...

Oh gosh, I think I need to make this now! It looks so moist and delicious! Great job!
I bet it got even juicier the next wday, when the strawberry melted into the batter... yumms!

Jaan-Alejandra Lalwani said...

I think I am going to make this for valentines day!