Strawberry Creme Cake

I made this Strawberry Creme cake on Thursday for my seventh wedding Anniversary celebration. 

It's a Genoise based sponge cake layered with strawberries and fresh cream. Unlike other cakes this is a much light cake and perfect after a heavy meal.  

The last time I posted a cake with whipped cream, I had a few concerned women who said they are not very savvy with the piping bag or piping designs onto a cake like me. Some said they did not have the time to do the extra frills.
First, you do not need to really be good at piping to do simple things such as these. 

Second, you do not always need to use the piping bags, you could do something much simpler such as this and the cake will look beautiful.
Third, this looks so fancy but you could do a lot of it ahead and the decorating really doesn't take long. 

Personally, I would prefer to pipe a fancy border; but, today in response to those comments on piping bags and fancy tools - I made this one, I have not used any fancy tools, no piping bags just a teaspoon. This is plain, simple and easy. 

So, let's get started

Here's what you will need. 

Cake - You could use a Genoise based cake such as this one I am using or a Strawberry Jello cake which is very popular with the kids 

For the decorations.

1/2 cup Simple Syrup or Strawberry syrup.

500 ml whipped cream + 6 tbsp sugar

300 to 400 grams (1 lbs) fresh strawberries. 

Simple Syrup - heat 1/2 cup sugar in 1/2 cup water until dissolved. Cool before use.

Strawberry Syrup - heat 1/2 cup strawberries, 4 tbsp sugar in 1/4 cup water until the strawberries are mush. Seive and cool before use.

Method: 

Here you can see all the ingredients.
Bake the cake, cool completely before decorating.
The cake is best made a day ahead.
If you baked one single cake - cut the layers horizontally into two layers.

Whip the cream.
You could just whip the cream with the sugar in an electric mixer.
If you plan to make the cake a day ahead I suggest you stabilize the whipped cream so it holds up better in the fridge.
Here is how you stabilize the whipped cream

Prepare the Strawberries. 
Choose about 8 firm and similar size strawberries to decorate the top and slice the rest. 

Decorate the cake.
Place one layer of the cake on a serving platter.
Add a few spoons of the simple syrup or strawberry syrup.

Spread a dollop of whipped cream.
Place the sliced strawberries on top ( you don't need to be so neat) 

I prefer another dollop of cream over the strawberries. 

Place the second layer of cake on top of the strawberries and cream.

 Spread more whipped cream on the top and sides of the cake with a spatula or knife.

 Now use the left over whipped cream to decorate.
You could put it in the piping bag and pipe a simple design OR

 Use the back of a spoon and make deep lines straight or at an angle. Nothing fancy - just take the back of your spoon press into the cream and pull upwards.

Use the same spoon and drop spoon fulls of cream on the top.
Since you have eight strawberries make eight such dollops.

Then place the strawberries on each dollop.
I placed the balance sliced pieces of strawberry in the center too.

Place a tbsp of powder sugar in a sieve and dust the top with powder sugar.

That's it. NO fancy tools and yet looks delicious and luxurious. Doesn't it?
Go ahead - give it a try.. Strawberries are now in season. 

Thanks for stopping by.