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Fresh Strawberry Lemon Cake

This single layer cake is so simple to make but fancy enough for just about any special occasion.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Dessert
Servings 8 to 12 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup cut fresh strawberries, about ½ inch pieces
  • 1 cup plus 1 tablespoons sugar
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon lemon zest
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¾ cup buttermilk
  • ½ cup avocado or vegetable oil
  • 2 large eggs

Glaze

  • 1 cup sifted powder sugar
  • 2-4 teaspoons lemon juice or more as needed
  • Reserved strawberry-sugar liquid

Topping

  • Fresh strawberries, stems removed, halved and quartered
  • Lemon Zest

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350ºF. Generously grease a 9-inch round cake pan with butter, oil or non-stick cooking spray.
  • Combine strawberries and 1 tablespoon sugar in a bowl, stir to coat berries and set aside.
  • Stir together flour, remaining 1 cup sugar, lemon zest, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large mixing bowl. Stir together buttermilk, oil and eggs until blended. Make a well in the dry ingredients and pour in liquid mixture; stir gently but thoroughly until well mixed. Remove the strawberries with a spoon from the small bowl, reserving the liquid that collects in the bottom. Fold the strawberries into the batter until evenly incorporated.
  • Pour batter into prepared baking pan and bake in the center of the preheated oven until toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean, 45-50 minutes. Remove cake to wire rack and let cool slightly in pan until cool enough to handle, 15-20 minutes. Slide a sharp knife around the edge of the pan if cake is sticking. Invert cake onto wire rack and give a good tap to remove cake from pan. Cool cake completely.
  • To make glaze: stir reserved strawberry-sugar liquid (you should have about 1 tablespoon) and 2 teaspoons lemon juice into sifted powder sugar. Add more lemon juice to achieve desired consistency. Drizzle cake with glaze and decorate center with strawberries. Garnish with lemon zest if desired.
  • Makes 8 to 12 servings.