Strawberry cake

Strawberry cake is a cake that uses strawberry as a primary ingredient. Strawberries may be used in the cake batter, atop the cake, and in the frosting. Strawberry cakes are typically served cold.

Overview
Strawberry cakes may be prepared with strawberries in the batter, with strawberries atop them, with strawberries or a strawberry filling in between the layers of a layer cake, and in any combination thereof. Some are prepared with strawberries incorporated into a frosting. Fresh or frozen strawberries may be used. However, using cooked strawberries tends to lose its flavor and turn brown while frozen strawberries are mostly sweeter and riper. Some may utilize strawberry-flavored gelatin as an ingredient, which can give the cake a pink color when it is mixed in with the batter. A garnish of strawberries is used on some strawberry cakes. Strawberry cake may be prepared as a gluten-free dish. The cake can be served with icing on top and sides of the cake.

Some versions are served chilled, and some are frozen and then served in a partially frozen state. Strawberry cake is sometimes prepared using a prepared cake mix as a base, such as a white cake mix, upon which additional ingredients are added to the batter or atop the cake. It is sometimes prepared and served as a dish on Valentine's Day.

Ingredients
Typical ingredients for a strawberry cake are unsalted butter, sugar, eggs,vanilla extract, flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and milk. The strawberries can be fresh or frozen. While raspberries or sliced peaches can be used as an alternative, strawberries were the primary ingredient for this cake. For the frosting, Whipped cream can be used or an icing which is made by mixing egg whites and powdered sugar. Other ingredients include Jell-O to maintain it's pinkish color of the cake. Also, Ricotta cheese is sometimes used as an ingredient in the cake batter or as a topping.

Nutrients
A 100 gram reference serving of commercially served Strawberry cake has 444 calories, 11% fat, 64% carbohydrates,and 4% protein. The product contains no micronutrients and minerals.

History
In pre-colonial days, Wild strawberries were abundant in North America. Native Americans often ate fresh and dried strawberries. Native Americans would create strawberry bread by mashing wild strawberries and adding cornmeal as a primary ingredient. Around 1607, Strawberry bread became popular with the early settlers. Besides Native Americans, Europeans discovered how wild strawberries are better in North America than in Europe due to its bigger size and its exquisite flavor.

Growth of strawberries marked the end of winter for Native Americans. Europeans have combined their version and created strawberry shortcake

One of the earliest references of a strawberry cake recipe can be found in the journal Ohio Cultivator in 1845. In 1847, the same recipe appears in the book Lady's Receipt-Book by Eliza Leslie.

Philippines
La Trinidad, Benguet Strawberry Festival

On March 20, 2004 at the Strawberry Festival in the La Trinidad, Benguet municipality of the Philippines, the world's largest strawberry shortcake was prepared and confirmed by Guinness World Records. The cake was prepared by several bakers and weighed a total of 21,213.40 lb (9,622.23 kg).

In March 2015 at the La Trinidad Strawberry Festival, 6,000 slices of strawberry cake were served as part of the events. The cakes for the slices were prepared using fresh strawberries. Additional foods served at the event included strawberry cupcakes, strawberry kutsinta (a steamed rice cake) and strawberry wine. Some bakeries and restaurants purvey strawberry cake as a part of their fare.

Japan
In early 20th century, Fujii Rin'emo travelled to United States to study Westerned styled food. When he returned to Japan, he made his own version of strawberry cake by using primary ingredients like strawberry, whipped cream, and sponge cakes. It is popular tradition to eat Strawberry Cake during Christmas season.