Description
This Strawberry cute Cake features layers of soft sponge cake filled with fresh strawberries and creamy diplomat filling, all decorated with adorable Totoro designs made from fondant. It’s a whimsical, delicious dessert perfect for birthdays, themed parties, or any celebration with Studio Ghibli fans.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup milk
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups fresh strawberries, sliced
- 1 cup diplomat cream (pastry cream mixed with whipped cream)
- Fondant in various colors (gray, white, black, pink) for Totoro decorations
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare two 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper and a light greasing.
- Cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
- Beat in eggs one at a time, then add vanilla extract.
- Mix flour and baking powder in a separate bowl. Alternate adding this mixture and milk to the batter, starting and ending with the dry ingredients.
- Divide batter evenly between pans and bake for 25–30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Let cakes cool completely on wire racks.
- Spread a layer of diplomat cream on one cake layer, then arrange sliced strawberries over it.
- Add the second layer of cake and cover the entire cake with a thin coat of diplomat cream.
- Roll out fondant and shape it into Totoro characters and accents. Decorate the top and sides of the cake as desired.
- Chill slightly before serving for the cleanest slices.
Notes
- Make sure the cake is fully cooled before assembling to keep the cream stable.
- You can enhance the strawberry flavor by macerating them in sugar for 10 minutes before using.
- Use store-bought fondant for ease, or make your own marshmallow fondant for a softer texture.
- A piping bag helps with detailed decorating like Totoro’s belly and eyes.
Nutrition
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 25g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
