This Strawberry Margarita Cake is sweet fruity layered cake is bursting with the flavors of your favorite margarita!
It’s fresh strawberry season in the south. Spring is my favorite season and all the fresh produce warms my heart. I couldn’t wait to find some uses for our first batch of strawberries. I got excited and made some strawberry puree to make this delicious Strawberry Margarita cake. It’s the perfect mix of my favorite drink mixed with moist cake! You can’t find a better combination than that.
Do I have to use tequila for this Strawberry Margarita cake?
If you are looking to make this cake alcohol free you do not have to use tequila. I would suggest replacing the tequila with equal amounts of apple juice or apple cider. This will slightly change the taste of the cake but I have used this substitution myself.and it still turns out delicious. Since the tequila is in the cake mix the alcohol will cook out in the oven.
Can I use bottled lime juice instead of fresh for strawberry margarita cake?
Yes, you can use bottled lime juice but you still need the zest from a lime for the punch of flavor. The zest of limes really have a concentrated flavor and it makes a huge flavor profile difference in this recipe. I typically use the juice of the lime that I am planning to to zest.
If you don’t know how to juice a lime, I have found that it’s easier if you take the palm of your hand and roll the lime back and forth on a hard surface like a cutting board or counter a few times. This helps to loosen up the juice instead to make it come out easier when you squeeze the lime. Then you will just squeeze your lime over a small bowl. Make sure no seeds get into your cake. You do not need a special juicer you can just use your hands for your limes.
What is strawberry puree?
Strawberry puree is a blend of strawberries and sugar. It makes a thick syrup like sauce that you add to this Strawberry Margarita Cake. You can buy strawberry puree though it’s usually available at more specialty baking shops. It’s not very hard to make your own though. You can even use frozen strawberries to make the puree but I would recommend thawing them before you use them. To make my own strawberry puree I usually slice fresh strawberries, add in sugar and allow them to sit together to make a delicious syrup. After they have mingled together for a few hours I put the mixture into my food processor and blend. The result is a delicious strawberry puree.
Where do I buy cake boards and what are they?
Cake boards are pieces of cardboard and are typically slightly bigger than the cake that you are working with. They are used to make decorating this Strawberry Margarita Cake a lot easier. Cake boards also make it easier to remove cakes from pans without the worry of the cake breaking or cracking. I purchase my cake boards from a local restaurant supply store. You can find them in local craft stores on the baking aisle. Sometimes I purchase them from online retailers if you are an online shopper like I tend to be!
You may also be interested in these other recipes:
Strawberry Margarita Cake
Equipment
- Three- Nine inch cake pans
- One round 10 inch cake board
- Cake Leveler
- large piping bag fitted with star tip
Ingredients
- 6 C flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 3 ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 3 C unsalted sweet cream butter softened
- 4 C sugar
- 4 large egg whites
- 3 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 ½ C Whole milk
- ½ C lime juice
- 1 C tequila
- 4 tablespoon lime zest
- Lime slices for decorating
- Lime zest for decorating
Strawberry Lime Frosting
- 3 C unsalted sweet cream butter softened
- 3 C shortening
- 12 C powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoon grated lime zest
- 1 C strawberry puree
- 6 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- Lime and strawberry slices for decor
- Sugar sprinkles for decor
Instructions
- Preheat and grease cake pans with pam baking spray, set aside
- In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt
- Using a standing mixer, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy
- Beat together the egg whites and vanilla until combined
- Gradually beat in the flour ingredients until combined
- Beat in the lime juice, tequila, and lime zest until combined
- Divide the batter between the 3 cake pans
- Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes or until a tooth pick comes out clean
- Allow the cakes to cool completely
Frosting Directions
- Using a standing mixer, combine all ingredients into the mixer and
- beat until combined, smooth and stiff with peaks
- Scoop 1 C of frosting into the piping bag and set aside
Decorating Directions
- Using the cake leveler, remove the domes from the cakes to level them out
- Place one cake round onto the cake board
- Scoop 1 C of frosting onto the cake and smooth evenly
- Place the second cake round onto the top of the frosting
- Scoop 1 C of frosting onto the second cake layer and smooth evenly
- Place the last cake round onto the top of the frosting
- Using the remaining frosting, frost entire cake
- Pipe dollops of frosting onto the top of the cake
- Place Lime and strawberry slices onto the frosting
- Zest a lime all over the top of the cake
- Place into the fridge for an hour to allow the frosting to harden up a bit
- Cut into slices and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
