Each year I look forward to my little strawberry patch, this season I had a pretty good bounty and was able to freeze some berries. The taste of a strawberry is perfection and I love baking with them as well as eating them right of the garden. It's a short and special few weeks to enjoy these fresh berries.
The garden strawberry is closely related to roses, belonging to the Rosaceae family which also includes pears, apples, plums, peaches, apricots, raspberries, and cherries. The connection is a sensory delight and a delicious way to celebrate the beauty of summer. Ripening berries and harvest time is the reason we call June's full moon the 'Strawberry Moon', according to Native American tribes. Coinciding this year before the summer solstice, the moon will appear lower in the sky due to the "lunistice", or lunar standstill, a point at which the moon is at its most tilted position in orbit. The moon's path is a slow moving cycle, this lower moon rise and larger moon illusion won't appear again until 2043.
To savor this momentary season, my go to dessert recipe has been a 'Summer Strawberry Cake'.
It's quick, easy to prep, and bakes under an hour, perfect for any summer party or gathering.
I'll share the recipe below, let me know if you try it!
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
With a hand mixer, blend 3 eggs and 1 cup of sugar for 1-2 minutes until light and fluffy. Add in 1 cup of milk of your choice, 1/4 cup avocado oil, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla, rose, or almond extract. In a separate bowl, combine 2 cups of sifted flour, 1 tablespoon of baking powder, and 1 teaspoon of sea salt. Whisk to combine and then slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients until fully combined. Set the cake mixture aside and prep the strawberries. Wash and hull 1 - 1 1/2 cups of freshly picked strawberries and cut into thin slices. Some may have a heart shape to them:-)
Press down a sheet of parchment paper in a 9x13 pan, then pour half the batter into the prepared pan. Layer half the strawberry slices to the batter, then pour the rest of the cake batter on top. Add the last of the sliced strawberries to the cake batter in any arrangement and sprinkle generously with sugar.
Bake at 375 degrees for 40-45 minutes or until center is done.
The sugar creates a nice crust, but for more sweetness, add a dollop of ice cream, strawberry jam, or whipped cream on top.
Cool, cut, and enjoy a delicious hunk of this summer strawberry cake.
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