The Legacy of the Strawberry Cake

It's funny how a certain food can evoke good memories and in one bite, bring back times long gone.  Yes, one whiff or bite of that certain food and the sweet times come flowing back to the senses; taste, touch, smell.  The tastes of love are etched in many foods but in my family it is perhaps, strawberry cake that takes us back into the arms of loved ones gone on.

I  remember my Mama baking and serving her famous strawberry cake from her warm little house on Copeland Street.  Most often, Mama baked cakes just because she loved to bake and because she loved us.  The strawberry cake was special because, she always baked my cousin, Debbie, a strawberry cake for her birthday in May.  I remember many years ago calling my Mama one afternoon only to find that she and Debbie were in her kitchen baking her special cake.   I was miles away and the thought of them being in Mama's cozy kitchen together made me long to be there.  Strawberry cake was and still is synonymous with Mama's love. 

A few years ago, I decided to make Mama's cake.  The recipe was nowhere to be found.  I talked to my Momma and Debbie about how Mama made her cake.  Each of them had their own memories of how the cake was made but no exact recipe was to be found or remembered.  So, I came up with a recipe that has to be very close to Mama's.  One thing is for sure, it is a family favorite, loved and asked for by young and old.  In fact, not too long ago, my four year old granddaughter, Laurel, put her little arm around me, looked straight into my eyes, and said; "Nana, I sure do love your strawberry cake."  Oh and did I mention where we were?  We were right smack in the middle of Disney World.  I guess even Disney can't compete with that very special strawberry cake!

Recently, on a trip to my father's house, I taught my fourteen year old granddaugher, Anna, how to make the strawberry cake.  You see, it's Daddy's favorite cake, too. We happily worked side by side as Daddy sat and watched his daughter and great granddaughter making memories and continuing the legacy.  After supper, we all enjoyed our effort...more memories and more happy family time enjoying the soft, sweet, pink cake covered in cream cheese frosting and made with love.

So, here's the recipe.  I hope you enjoy it!  


Strawberry Cake (as pictured)
1 box yellow cake mix
3 oz package strawberry jello
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 large eggs
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 cup milk
1/3 cup mashed strawberries

Combine cake mix and dry jello.  Add milk and oil and mix.  Add eggs, one at a time.  Add vanilla extract and mashed strawberries.  Mix well.  Preheat oven to 350.  Spray 3 round 8 or 9 inch pans with nonstick spray.  Divide batter evenly into each pan.  Bake until cake pulls away from pans (about 20 minutes).  Cool well before frosting.

Frosting for Strawberry Cake
1 lb confectioners sugar
8 oz cream cheese (softened)
1 stick salted butter (softened)
3 or 4 fresh strawberries 

Cream butter and cream cheese together well.  Slowly add confectioners sugar and mix well.  Add 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.  Mash the strawberries and add a little at a time into frosting and mix well.  Frosting should be fairly stiff.

Frost cake.  Using a pastry bag, pipe frosting around edges and then garnish with fresh berries.