Strawberry Shortcake Jungle Cake

This was a really fun cake to make for my friends jungle/garden birthday party. I love strawberry shortcake and this recipe by foodduchess.com is amazingly easy. let’s get baking!

INGREDIENTS FOR CAKE: 

• 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
• 1 1/4 cups cups granulated sugar
• 4 large eggs (Room temp.)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt

INGREDIENTS FOR WHIPPED CREAM:

• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease two 6 in. or 8 in. with my homemade cake release. 
2. Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium sized bowl.
3. Beat butter and sugar until light until fluffy with a hand mixer or stand mixer.
4. Add in eggs one at a time  and beat well. Mix in vanilla.
5. now add in the flour mixture slowly. mix just until flour has disappeared, making sure not to over mix.
6. Evenly divide batter between the pans.I ended up making three layers 🙂
7. Bake for 20-25 min. or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Allow to cool completely.  

FOR THE WHIPED CREAM:

1. First take your mixing bowl and attachment and put it in the fridge to make sure it’s nice and cold. You will want to refrigerate it for at least 20 minutes for the best result.
2. Now add all your ingredients to your chilled bowl  and mix with the whisk attachment. keep increasing the speed. This step should take at least 2 to 3 minutes.
3. Next, you want to watch for the texture. The texture should look light and fluffy, not runny.

ASSEMBLY:

1. level off cake layers. Spread on top and then place on sliced strawberries. Repeat until you reach the top. 
2. Make my go-to buttercream frosting recipe. Spread a thin layer of frosting around and on top of the cake.
3. Fill 6 piping bags. 2 bags fitted with number 2 tips, dyed different green colors. the next one fitted with a number 21 tip, dyed brown. A number 12 tip, dyed a purple color with yellow down the middle of the bag. 2 bags fitted with 67 tips, dyed different green colors. And lastly a bag fitted with a number 1 tip for the name (optional).
4. First, pipe the birthday girls/boy’s name on the top edge of the cake. Use tip 21 as branches or vines. Pipe that around some of the cake. use both of the piping bag fitted with the 67 tips to attach leaves to the branches/vines.
5. Pipe little rossets with the number 12 tip. You could also place little pearl sprinkles if you want.get creative and pipe leaves and whatever you want. Remember that mine is just an example. You can use different colors too.
6. Serve right away and enjoy!

Thanks for baking with me!

~ Natalie