Vanilla Cake w/ Whipped Cream Frosting

Happy Birthday Tammy!  Today is my roommate's birthday so, I decided to make her a birthday cake.  This cake was very light and yet full of flavor.  Made with fresh fruit and whipped cream, who could resist eating just one slice?!

Because strawberries and kiwis are just so good together, I decided to use them in the cake.  You can replace the kiwis and strawberries with any fruit you like.  For example, you can use berries, or canned peaches, you can even use melons like cantaloupe or honeydew.  

The cake was pretty simple to make.  The cake as a whole, was made by alternating layers of cake, cream, and fruit.  The center of the cake was filled with whipped cream mixed with diced kiwis and strawberries.  I also crumbed the outside of the cake with the leftover cake that I had after leveling the layers.

Vanilla Cake Recipe

Ingredients:

• 5 egg whites, room temperature
• 1 cup whole milk, room temperature
• 3 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 3/4 cups cake flour sifted
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 1/2 tablespoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 stick butter, soften, cubed

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit.  Grease and lightly flour two 8-inch round cake pans.
2. In a medium mixing bowl, combine egg whites, milk, and vanilla.  Stir and set aside.
3. With a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine a cake flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.  Mix together on low for 30 seconds.
4. Add in butter and continue to mix on medium-low until the mixture is crumbly.
5. On medium - high speed, add in half of the egg mixture.  Continue mixing for 30 seconds to 1 minute.  Add in the second half of the egg mixture and mix until the batter is smooth.
6. Divide and pour the batter into the greased and floured cake pans.
7. Bake for 40 - 45 minutes
8. Remove from oven and let cake cool in pan for 15 -20 minutes.  Transfer cake gently out of cake pan onto a cooling rack and let cool completely before continuing to the assembling.

Whipped Cream Recipe

• 3 cups heavy whipping cream 
• 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup powdered sugar

1. Add all ingredients to a mixing bowl
2. Starting at a low speed beat cream mixture until it starts to thicken. Beat on high until stiff peaks are formed. 
3. Refrigerate 

Pastry Cream Recipe

Ingredients:

• 5 egg yolks
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cup milk
• 1/4 cup  (1/2 stick) butter

Directions:

1. In a pot, bring butter and milk to a boil.
2. Meanwhile, in a small mixing bowl with a whisk, mix together egg yolks, sugar, vanilla, and flour until it forms a thick smooth paste.
3. Pour half of the milk mixture into the egg mixture, stir, and return egg and milk mixture back into the pot of milk mixture.
4. Cook on medium high heat, continuously stirring with the whisk until the cream thickens (about 5 minutes), 
5. Let cool.

Center whipped cream and fruit layer

1 cup whipped cream
1 kiwi, diced 
5 strawberries, diced

Assembling the cake

1. With a serrated knife, cut both cakes in half to create four layers of cake.
2. Lay the first layer of cake down, spread half of the pastry cream on, covering the whole layer of cake evenly.
3. Put on the second layer of cake.
4. Spread the whipped cream and fruit mixture on, spread evenly and top with another cake layer.
5. Spread the second half of the pastry cream on and top with final layer of cake.
6. Frost cake with remaining whipped cream frosting and top with fresh fruit.