• Home
  • About
    • About Olivia
    • The Pastry Diaries
    • Privacy & Disclosure
  • eBooks
  • Recipes
    • Cakes
      • Birthday Cakes
      • Bundt Cakes
      • Chocolate Cakes
      • Christmas Cakes
      • Classic Cakes
      • Drip Cakes
      • Easter Cakes
      • Fruity Cakes
      • Halloween Cakes
      • Naked Cakes
      • Thanksgiving Cakes
      • Valentine’s Cakes
      • Vanilla Cakes
    • Cookie Cups
    • Cookies
    • Frostings & Fillings
    • Holiday Desserts
  • Shop
  • Tutorials

Subscribe for the latest recipes:

Liv for Cake

Classic Cake Recipes with a Modern Twist

  • Home
  • About
    • About Olivia
    • The Pastry Diaries
    • Privacy & Disclosure
  • eBooks
  • Recipes
    • Cakes
      • Birthday Cakes
      • Bundt Cakes
      • Chocolate Cakes
      • Christmas Cakes
      • Classic Cakes
      • Drip Cakes
      • Easter Cakes
      • Fruity Cakes
      • Halloween Cakes
      • Naked Cakes
      • Thanksgiving Cakes
      • Valentine’s Cakes
      • Vanilla Cakes
    • Cookie Cups
    • Cookies
    • Frostings & Fillings
    • Holiday Desserts
  • Shop
  • Tutorials

Home » Cakes » Chocolate Strawberry Cake

Chocolate Strawberry Cake

By Olivia, 215 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my full Disclosure Policy for details.
Jump to Recipe

Take chocolate dipped strawberries to the next level with this dreamy Chocolate Strawberry Cake!

A cake sitting on top of a table

Being a blogger is strange sometimes. When I started this blog, I intended it to be a journal of sorts, tied in with whatever I had baked for the week. Somewhere along the way it evolved into covering the recipe of the day and the issues that I ran into when making it. Which isn’t a bad thing – it works – it’s just not exactly what I intended. As such, I don’t often share too much of what’s going on in my personal life unless I’m weeks into being sick or ranting about something or other. Or maybe it’s just that my life isn’t as exciting as I thought it was?

This week, I’m feeling like I really just need to get some things off my chest, and in the spirit of my original vision for this blog, I’d like to use this post to do so. If you’d rather not read my ramblings, feel free to scroll down to the recipe!

Angled shot showing the ganache drip.

The day before I was meant to finish and shoot this cake, I got a call from my mom telling me that my aunt had just months to live. She has been sick since last year and underwent extensive cancer treatment last winter for a very treatable, though late-stage, cancer. She was given the all-clear in early 2016, but seemed to have ongoing issues and doctor appointments. Very recently she had an MRI done for something unrelated. It revealed that the cancer had spread rapidly to her spine, and that there was no cure.

The Ultimate Cake Collection

Over 50 of my very favorite cake recipes all in one place! From Classic Cakes to Holiday favorites and everything in between.

Get your copy today!

SO. MANY. QUESTIONS.

Close up of the top of the cake.

Why the hell was this not found earlier? What were the doctors even doing for the past year?? They knew there was a chance of it spreading, so why didn’t they find it sooner? Why wasn’t the MRI (or other tests) done months ago??

I am so pissed off.

I’m not going to go into how much the medical system in Canada sucks (it does, don’t believe the hype) and how shitty so many of the doctors are, or how long you have to wait for treatment (months, sometimes years), or how many times my aunt got sent home from emergency last year (before she was diagnosed) with a shrug and no proper tests or treatment.

Realistically, even if they found this new cancer early enough I still don’t think it could have been treated, but at least everyone would have known sooner. There’s a lot of things that could have/should have been done differently, but they weren’t and here we are.

Cake on top of a mint green cake stand.

Two days after getting that call, my mom and I were on a plane back to Edmonton to see my aunt (another thing that sucks in Canada? Airfare prices). I still had to finish this cake before we went, but it seemed so trivial with everything going on.

It would be an understatement to say that it was literally the last thing I wanted to do. Not caring about something and being a perfectionist leads to a bit of a conflict, so it’s no surprise that I am not 100% happy with this cake or these pictures, but it is what it is.

Slice of cake on a plate.

Forcing yourself to do something you don’t want to do builds character, right? So I forced myself to finish this cake, knowing it would partly help take my mind off of everything. I packed up some of this cake and next week’s cake and took it to Edmonton for my aunt and cousin. They loved it, and I’m glad I had the chance to have them try some of my baking. I won’t go into the details of the visit, but it was good. As good as it could be under the circumstances. Sigh.

A slice of cake on a plate

Anyhow, if you’ve gotten through this whole post, thanks for listening to me ramble!

Now, this Chocolate Strawberry Cake… it’s seriously delicious. I made it into a 6 layer cake because, well, I wanted to. You can leave it as a 3 layer cake, but you’ll have some frosting left over. The 6 layers is a great ratio in my opinion! The cake is my usual chocolate cake recipe and the strawberry buttercream is my favourite Swiss meringue with some fresh pureed strawberries thrown in. All topped off with a simple chocolate ganache and fresh strawberries!

Notes & tips for this Chocolate Strawberry Cake:

  • Some people have had issues with the frosting curdling once the strawberries are added — this is due to excess water in the berries. You can either strain your chopped berries or press them in a paper towel to remove excess water. Alternatively you can use strawberry jam instead of fresh strawberries or, ideally, freeze-dried strawberry powder.
  • You can use any kid of berry you prefer for the frosting.
  • To enhance the chocolate flavour of the cake, you can use strong hot coffee instead of hot water.
  • For the ganache, I let mine set overnight (with plastic wrap placed directly on the surface). It will be too thick at this point, so I microwave it for 10 secs and stir it until it’s the right consistency.
  • The drip technique works best on a chilled cake so that the drips set quickly.
  • Be sure to check my Swiss Meringue Buttercream post for tips and troubleshooting.
  • To help ensure your cake layers bake up nice and flat, see my Flat Top Cakes post.
 

A cake sitting on top of a table
Print Rate
4.66 from 44 votes

Chocolate Strawberry Cake

Take chocolate dipped strawberries to the next level with this dreamy Chocolate Strawberry Cake!
Course Dessert
Cuisine Cake
Prep Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 2 hours
Servings 14
Calories 544kcal
Author Olivia

Ingredients

Cake:

  • 1 1/2 cup all purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
  • 3/4 cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder sifted
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 3/4 cup buttermilk room temperature
  • 3/4 cup hot strong brewed coffee or hot water
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 tsp vanilla

Strawberry Buttercream:

  • 6 large egg whites
  • 1 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 cups unsalted butter cubed, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup pureed strawberries (about 1 cup whole strawberries - stemmed, hulled, and pureed)

Ganache:

  • 2 oz semi-sweet chocolate finely chopped
  • 2 oz heavy whipping cream
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Cake:

  • Preheat oven to 350F, grease three 6" round baking pans and dust with cocoa powder. Line bottoms with parchment.
  • Place all dry ingredients into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Stir to combine.
  • In a medium bowl whisk all wet ingredients (pour coffee/water in slowly as not to cook the eggs if very hot).
  • Add wet ingredients to dry and mix on medium for 2-3 mins. Batter will be very thin.
  • Pour evenly into prepared pans. I used a kitchen scale to ensure the batter is evenly distributed.
  • Bake until a cake tester comes out mostly clean. A total of 30-35mins.
  • Cool 10minutes in the pans then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely. Once cooled, cut each layer in half horizontally to get 6 layers.

Strawberry Buttercream:

  • Place egg whites and sugar into the bowl of a stand mixer, whisk until combined.*
  • Place bowl over a hot water bath on the stove and whisk constantly until the mixture is no longer grainy to the touch (approx. 3mins).
  • Place bowl on your stand mixer and whisk on med-high until the meringue is stiff and cooled (the bowl is no longer warm to the touch (approx. 5-10mins)).
  • Switch to paddle attachment. Slowly add cubed butter and mix until smooth.
  • Add strawberry puree and whip until smooth.**

Ganache:

  • Place chopped chocolate and cream into a microwave safe bowl. Stir to combine. Microwave for 20 seconds, stir. Microwave in 10 second intervals, stirring in between, until ganache is smooth and silky. Set aside to cool completely and thicken slightly before using on cake.

Assembly:

  • Place one layer of cake on a cake stand or serving dish. Top with about 2/3 cup buttercream. Repeat with remaining layers. Frost and smooth the outside with a thin crumb coat. Chill for 20mins.
  • Frost the cake. Using a small spoon, place dollops of ganache around the top edges of the cooled cake, allowing some to drip down. Fill in the top of the cake with more ganache and spread evenly with an offset spatula.***
  • Top with decorative dollops of frosting (I used Ateco tip 847), whole strawberries, and a pearl border (using Wilton tip 12).

Recipes You May Like

  • A large chocolate cake sitting on top of a table
    Chocolate Truffle Cake
  • Cake on a glass cake stand.
    Chocolate Orange Cake
  • Chocolate cake with honeycomb shards on the top.
    Dark Chocolate Honeycomb Cake
  • A decorated cake on a cake stand
    Chocolate Gingerbread Cake

Notes

* Ensure there is NO trace of egg yolks in your whites and that your mixer bowl and whisk is completely grease free or your meringue won't stiffen.
** The buttercream may look like it's curdled at some point. Keep mixing until it is completely smooth. Some people have had issues with the frosting curdling once the strawberries are added -- this is due to excess water in the berries. You can either strain your chopped berries or press them in a paper towel to remove excess water. Alternatively you can use strawberry jam instead of fresh strawberries.
*** You may have some ganache left over.
Calories: 544kcalCarbohydrates: 59gProtein: 5gFat: 33gSaturated Fat: 21gCholesterol: 97mgSodium: 354mgPotassium: 215mgFiber: 2gSugar: 45gVitamin A: 870IUVitamin C: 3.1mgCalcium: 54mgIron: 1.7mg
The nutritional information and metric conversions are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee the accuracy of this data. If this important to you, please verify with your favourite nutrition calculator and/or metric conversion tool.

Photo collage.

Learn How to Bake the Perfect Cake!

Tips, techniques, and troubleshooting to help ensure your cakes come out perfect every single time!

Get your copy today!

Hungry for more?

Join our Baking community on Facebook!
Follow Liv for Cake on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter
Or sign up to get free recipes by email!

Subscribe for the latest recipes

February 5, 2017

Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




  1. Erica Slason says

    March 4, 2021 at 4:44 PM

    5 stars
    I just wanted to that, as someone with celiac disease, I substituted Gluten Free All purpose Baking Flour and this was the best chocolate cake that I have eaten since my diagnosis. This will be our go-to chocolate cake recipe moving forward.

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      March 5, 2021 at 10:33 AM

      Hi Erica! I am so happy you loved it. Thanks so much for your tips!!

      Reply
  2. Anna Cole says

    February 23, 2021 at 9:15 AM

    I’m planning on making this as a surprise for my parents 25th anniversary, and am so excited about it! I’m curious, what are your recommendations on storing the cakes and the frosting? Can I make them the day before and then assemble them the day of (If so, how long should each sit out before using?), or do you recommend making and assembling the same day? Thank you so much for sharing this recipe 🙂

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      February 23, 2021 at 9:56 AM

      Hi Anna! Here are my tips for baking in advance. I recommend adding the strawberries to the buttercream just before frosting the cake.

      If it’s just a day in advance you can leave both at room temp (wrapped/covered in plastic wrap). The buttercream will need to be rewhipped before use to fluff it up again.

      Otherwise, if making further in advance:
      For the Cake: Cool the layers, double wrap in plastic wrap, freeze for up to 3 months. Take out 2-3 hours before assembly.
      For the Buttercream: Place in an airtight container and refrigerate for 1 week for freeze for 3 months. Bring to room temperature and rewhip before using.

      Reply
      • Anna Cole says

        February 23, 2021 at 1:32 PM

        thank you so much! I really appreciate your advice, can’t wait to see how it turns out 🙂

        Reply
  3. uzma says

    February 9, 2021 at 8:30 PM

    for the strawberry puree in the frosting, i read there are two methods to pureeing. the first one cooks them on the lowest heat setting for fifteen minutes and then blends them and the second method is directly blending them after washing the strawberries. i read the stove method allows a better flavor of strawberries to come out. what do you recommend i do? here’s the post if you don’t mind double checking, i’d truly appreciate it 🙂
    https://www.healthylittlefoodies.com/strawberry-puree/

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      February 11, 2021 at 10:20 AM

      Hi Uzma! I would recommend cooking them down a bit to get rid of some of the moisture. Be sure to cool it completely before adding to the frosting.

      Reply
      • uzma @tracesofsugar says

        February 11, 2021 at 12:24 PM

        thank you so much, liv! i can’t wait to try this out! 🤍

        Reply
  4. Jeremy says

    January 15, 2021 at 1:54 PM

    How difficult would you say this would be for a beginner baker?

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      January 15, 2021 at 4:13 PM

      Hi Jeremy! The chocolate cake is probably one of the easier cakes you can make. Mix the dry, mix the wet, combine the two together and bake. The batter will be very thin and rises a lot so don’t fill the pans more than half full.

      The frosting is more of a challenge. If you’re up for it you can see my detailed tutorial here: https://livforcake.com/swiss-meringue-buttercream-recipe/ Otherwise I’d recommend an American buttercream (the easiest of the buttercreams): https://livforcake.com/simple-vanilla-buttercream/ That recipe should be enough to frost and fill this cake. Instead of fresh strawberries in the buttercream, I would recommend either freeze dried strawberry powder (ideal) or strawberry jam. The fresh ones can add too much moisture and break the buttercream.

      I hope you give it a try. Let me know if you do!! 🙂

      Reply
  5. Robin Johnson says

    December 28, 2020 at 8:08 PM

    5 stars
    Perfect!! I can’t wait to take this to work tomorrow for a coworkers birthday! I did add strawberry preserves and used three eight inch pans for a three layer cake since I had to transport it. I dipped the strawberries in the ganache and it looks amazing! Thank you for such a detailed recipe!

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      December 29, 2020 at 9:57 AM

      Hi Robin! Yay! I hope you (and they) love it. Thanks for your tips!

      Reply
  6. Pam says

    December 18, 2020 at 4:40 AM

    Hi Olivia,

    I read your whole post and had to reply because something similar happened to my aunt in May (we are also in Canada). She wasn’t feeling well, went in to see the doctor, had some tests done, found out she had cancer for the second time and passed away 13 days later. It really sucks!

    Now about the cake. It was my daughters birthday yesterday and she wanted a chocolate strawberry cake. I tried your recipe. The cake turned out great. Something is a little off with my icing so I will check out your post on Swiss meringue buttercream to see if that solves it for me.

    Thank you!

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      December 18, 2020 at 2:29 PM

      Hi Pam! Thanks for your comment <3 So glad you liked the cake! Did the frosting split after adding the strawberries? It's possible if they had too much juice. Otherwise, take a look at this post for a detailed tutorial on this kind of buttercream: https://livforcake.com/swiss-meringue-buttercream-recipe/

      Reply
      • Pam says

        December 31, 2020 at 5:59 AM

        No, it split after I added the butter and before I added the strawberries. From the video on Swiss meringue buttercream I’m thinking that I may have let the butter sit out too long? It was definitely room temperature and mixed in within seconds, the icing looked good, but I wanted to mix it a little longer before I added the strawberries, then seconds later it had split.

        Reply
        • Olivia says

          December 31, 2020 at 9:14 AM

          Hi Pam! If it split once you added the butter it’s likely the butter was still a bit too cold. You should add the butter slowly over time and if it curdles you can keep whipping it and it will come together or heat it a little bit. That link I posted above has all the tips and troubleshooting you’ll need!

          Reply
  7. Mary Martin says

    September 17, 2020 at 2:38 PM

    4 stars
    Hello. I made this today. I used 8 inches baking pan and made 2 batches. I have notice the baking powder is only 1 teaspoon compare to 1 and half teaspoon baking soda, I reversed the amount. The salt is also quiet high so I reduced it to 1/2 teaspoon. It comes out perfect. Takes 1 hour and 15 mins to bake in gas mark 4 because it is very thick. Thanks for the recipe. Looking forward to try your other cakes.

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      September 19, 2020 at 3:37 PM

      Hi Mary! The baking soda/powder amounts are correct but I’m glad you enjoyed how the cake turned out!

      Reply
  8. Fozia Rashid says

    September 15, 2020 at 6:10 AM

    Can I get 6layers out of this batter in three 6inch tins ?

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      September 15, 2020 at 10:58 AM

      Hi Fozia! Yes, that’s what I used — three 6″ tins and then I cut each in half.

      Reply
  9. Rachel says

    September 1, 2020 at 8:59 AM

    I am going to make this cake this weekend. It seems like in many recipes you can sub three 6″ layers with two 8″ layers – would that also be the case here, since you are halving three 6″ layers?

    I am thinking I could make two 8″ layers and just half those for a 4 layer cake.

    What do you think??

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      September 1, 2020 at 9:16 AM

      Hi Rachel! I think that would work fine. The layers will be a bit thinner in the 8″ pans though.

      Reply
  10. Jeff says

    August 3, 2020 at 5:20 AM

    1 star
    Let me start off by saying this. I’ve been baking from scratch for over 30 years. My wife wanted to try something different for her birthday. She printed this recipe and asked me to make it for her. I have to say… I’m definitely not impressed. The cake came out of the oven smelling good but absolutely did not rise. The cake was cooked all the way through but felt like a brick when I went to turn it over on the rack. I guess this was just a lesson learned.

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      August 5, 2020 at 10:48 AM

      Hi Jeff! Sorry to hear you didn’t love this one. The cake batter should actually rise a LOT — double in size. Is it possible your baking powder/soda are expired?

      Reply
  11. Sue says

    July 24, 2020 at 9:06 PM

    5 stars
    I am making this cake for my daughters birthday this weekend. I made the plain buttercream tonight (it worked! I was so worried!) but tomorrow when I am ready to frost the cake I take it out of the fridge, I should bring to room temp and “rewhip” using which attachment? The whisk attachment or the paddle? And which attachment should I use when I add the strawberry jam? Thanks in advance, I am so excited to see how this turns out!

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      July 25, 2020 at 2:32 PM

      Hi Sue! I use the paddle attachment to rewhip the frosting, but make sure it is completely at room temperature or it will separate. If so it can be fixed by warming it up a bit. See this post for details! https://livforcake.com/swiss-meringue-buttercream-recipe/

      Reply
  12. Mary T says

    July 6, 2020 at 7:48 AM

    5 stars
    I made this cake for a friends birthday and it turned out amazing and was a hit if the party! I am planning on making it for my husbands upcoming birthday, but will need to make it about a week ahead, Can I make the cake and frosting ahead and then either store them in the refrigerator or freezer and then frost them the day of the birthday? Which is the best way to do this?

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      July 6, 2020 at 9:43 AM

      Hi Mary! So happy to hear you loved this one! To make it in advance:

      For the Cake: Cool the layers, double wrap in plastic wrap, freeze for up to 3 mos. Take out 2-3 hours before assembly.
      For the Buttercream: Place in an airtight container and refrigerate for 1 week for freeze for 3 mos. Bring to room temp and rewhip before using.

      For the frosting though, make it plain and then add the strawberries the day you plan to frost. They might release too much water if frozen/thawed and ruin the frosting.

      Reply
      • Mary T says

        July 6, 2020 at 6:16 PM

        Thank you!!

        Reply
  13. Zuri J says

    June 27, 2020 at 10:27 AM

    Would it make a difference if I used a 7” or 8” cake pan? because I have a big family and to us it looks quite small. Do you think it will affect the cake, should I stick with the 6” cake pan?

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      June 29, 2020 at 9:06 AM

      Hi Zuri! I would 1.5x the recipe and make it in three 8″ pans.

      Reply
  14. Franky says

    June 25, 2020 at 9:00 AM

    This cake looks absolutely amazing! I’m going to give it a go for my husband’s birthday. Please could you let me know what the cup is in grams so I can convert measurements accurately. Many thanks.

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      June 25, 2020 at 10:04 AM

      Hi Franky! There is a metric converter below the list of ingredients.

      Reply
  15. Z says

    June 19, 2020 at 8:38 AM

    5 stars
    So good! Let my start by saying, about half of my family is a fan of chocolate cake, and the other half is not, but literally everyone in my family appreciated and enjoyed this one. I followed some of the comments and cooked the strawberry puree for about 15 (maybe 20) minutes, then let it sit while I was completing other steps. That seemed to help my buttercream a lot. The only tweak I would make to the recipe would be to completely abandon the chocolate ganache, I, and some of my siblings, didn’t think it tasted good/suited the rest of the cake. Would definitely recommend making this recipe.

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      June 19, 2020 at 9:49 AM

      Hi Z! So happy you loved it and thank you for all your tips!

      Reply
  16. Tiffany Jamison says

    June 14, 2020 at 4:45 PM

    Hey! Just made this for my moms birthday tomorrow. Wondering if I should leave it on the counter overnight or refrigerate?

    I had to put put my icing in the fridge for a while before I I ed the cake and noticed when it was drawing it got curdled ish until I whipped it. In worried this will happen to my iced cake if I refrigerate it? But in also afraid it might melt if I keep it out until tomorrow. Help! 🙂

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      June 15, 2020 at 10:01 AM

      Hi Tiffany! I tend to refrigerate my cakes, but if it’s just overnight it should be fine on the counter. The frosting is very temperature sensitive and might need rewhipping if it’s sitting out for a bit of if it’s been in the fridge. It should always be at room temperature though before you rewhip it because it can curdle. Once you frost the cake though, you’re safe!

      Reply
  17. Margie says

    June 11, 2020 at 7:48 AM

    Hi. I thought I would use the fresh strawberry jam I just made. How much would you use as a substitute for the fresh berries? BTW: I love your cakes!

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      June 11, 2020 at 9:52 AM

      Hi Margie! I think the jam would be a better way to go. I would start with 1/4 cup and add more to taste. But just add 1 Tbsp at a time.

      Reply
      • Margie says

        June 11, 2020 at 5:55 PM

        Thanks Olivia. I am making the cake for my son’s birthday on Sunday. I am sure it will be fabulous. You have really upped my cake game!

        Reply
        • Olivia says

          June 12, 2020 at 1:45 PM

          So happy to hear that! Please let me know how it turns out 🙂

          Reply
  18. Lauren says

    May 29, 2020 at 8:12 AM

    5 stars
    Thank you so much for this recipe! I am a complete novice baker but your detailed method was so easy to understand and the cake turned out perfectly! I slightly changed the recipe for the strawberry purée as I was worried about it curdling, so instead I used half purée and half jam which worked out great. Thank you again!

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      May 29, 2020 at 9:36 AM

      Hi Lauren! I am so happy to hear that!! Glad it worked out for you 😀

      Reply
      • Lynne says

        August 23, 2020 at 11:14 AM

        5 stars
        My friend has just made this cake and given me some… delish. Can it be frozen once made?

        Reply
        • Olivia says

          August 24, 2020 at 10:55 AM

          Hi Lynne! Yes, you can freeze it. So glad you liked it! 🙂

          Reply
  19. Kavi says

    May 26, 2020 at 9:37 PM

    Hi, can we make strawberry ABC instead of SMBC? If yes, what will be the ingredients quantity?

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      May 27, 2020 at 8:47 AM

      Hi Kavi! Yes, that would be fine! For best results, I would use this ABC recipe and add freeze-dried strawberry powder to it.

      Reply
  20. Nadine says

    May 25, 2020 at 4:33 PM

    Oh my gosh, this was so delicious!!!! It’s been years since I have baked a fancy cake and this turned out so awesome! I am thrilled, even though I need to practice my decorating skills I was able to cover up the booboos with macrons, strawberries and raspberries! Making this brought back my love for baking, thanks so much for this recipe!

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      May 26, 2020 at 8:41 AM

      Hi Nadine! I’m so happy you loved it and that it brought back your love for baking. I hope you try more of my recipes 🙂

      Reply
  21. Mona says

    May 16, 2020 at 7:37 AM

    Hi! I’m just attempting to make this cake and as a beginner it’s not going too well. I kept poking at the batter to see if it’s cooked and it kept coming out clean after 30 minutes but when i flipped it the bottom was all raw.. not sure how I couldn’t find that out after poking it through. It also sunk in the middle probably due to not cooking enough? The taste isn’t too great either it tastes mostly like flour and cocoa powder :/ I wonder what I’m doing wrong.

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      May 16, 2020 at 3:42 PM

      Hi Mona! Definitely sounds like the cake was underbaked if it sank in the middle. How long did you bake the layers for? And did you make any changes to the recipe or pan size?

      Reply
  22. Nicole says

    May 6, 2020 at 5:29 AM

    5 stars
    I made this for my son’s fourth birthday — he requested a chocolate strawberry cake. It turned out so well, and I wanted to thank you for posting such a thorough, well-written and thought-out recipe. After reading the comments, I decided to cook down the strawberry puree a bit. I blended 250 grams fresh strawberries in the food processor and cooked them over medium-low heat for probably 10-15 minutes until the color was deeper and the puree was a little thicker. This added great strawberry flavor and color to the frosting. I also followed the tip on refrigerating the iced cake overnight and did the chocolate ganache drips on a cold cake — it worked so well. I felt like a pro! I dipped the strawberries for the top in the extra ganache which worked out really nicely too. I also invested in 6″ pans which I didn’t have previously and am so glad I did. The combo of a tall skinny cake was so striking! Thanks again!

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      May 6, 2020 at 10:10 AM

      Hi Nicole! Thank you for the amazing feedback and for taking the time to read through the post and comments for tips! Thanks also fo including your tips on the strawberry puree. I’m so happy you loved the cake!

      Reply
    • Emily S says

      May 30, 2020 at 1:41 PM

      My daughter requested the same cake for her birthday tomorrow! Strawberry cake with chocolate icing.

      Reply
  23. Lu-Anne Cox says

    May 3, 2020 at 3:52 PM

    Going to make this Tues. It is good to vent. Peace.

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      May 4, 2020 at 10:04 AM

      Thanks Lu-Anne! I hope you love it 🙂

      Reply
  24. Kimberly says

    February 1, 2020 at 12:11 PM

    5 stars
    Super happy about how this recipe turned out!! I literally just made it for the 3rd time, and the 3rd time was the charm for me with the buttercream! Instead of fresh fruit, I made a puréed strawberry reduction and used that in the buttercream ! Turned out GREAT!! Literally I’m impressed with myself for making it 😂😍 Thank you so much!!

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      February 3, 2020 at 9:17 AM

      Hi Kimberly! So happy to hear that. You are awesome! I think a reduction is the better way to go, honestly. Safer and shouldn’t split the buttercream. I plan to update this recipe at some point to add that, so thank you!

      Reply
    • Samantha says

      April 12, 2020 at 12:20 PM

      How can I turn this into a 3-layer cake? Half the recipe and then bake the layers into 2 6″x2″ round pans, with 1 filled to the top and the other filled halfway?

      Reply
      • Olivia says

        April 12, 2020 at 2:53 PM

        Hi Samantha! This recipe is for a three layer cake — each of the layers is cut in half to make 6 thinner layers but you can skip that part. If you want three thin layers, then yes, halve the recipe but still bake in three 6″ pans (but for less time). Do not fill the pans to the top, the batter will overflow, and make sure the pans are filled equally so they bake at the same time.

        Reply
  25. Joy says

    January 2, 2020 at 2:08 PM

    Hi! I was wondering if you use 2″ tall or 3″ tall pans for your recipes? I have been reading lots of info online that says that it could make a difference in how your cakes turn out. I appreciate any advice!

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      January 4, 2020 at 11:35 AM

      Hi Joy! All of mine are 2″ tall, but 3″ would work fine too.

      Reply
  26. Riley says

    December 31, 2019 at 6:44 PM

    I followed this recipe exactly but the frosting tastes so buttery, is it supposed to be that way?

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      January 1, 2020 at 10:57 AM

      Hi Riley! The frosting is more buttery tasting than an American buttercream, but it should not taste like you’re eating a stick of butter. See this post for tips: https://livforcake.com/swiss-meringue-buttercream-recipe/

      Reply
  27. Lana says

    October 13, 2019 at 6:18 PM

    5 stars
    I just made the frosting, I had previously baked vanilla cake that needed some strawberry.
    Loved it.
    Eveything turned out great. I even heated egg whites to pasteurization temperature of 140. Took me a bit longer to whip because of that.
    The frosting tastes amazing.
    Question: is it OK to add less sugar or it will impact the frosting recipie?

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      October 15, 2019 at 9:55 AM

      Hi Lana! So happy you loved it! You can reduce the sugar slightly, but too much and you’ll affect the structure of the meringue.

      Reply
  28. Kelsey Maynard says

    August 18, 2019 at 12:57 PM

    5 stars
    I had the problem with the curdling buttercream. I strained and squeezed the strawberries but it still happened. I did a quick YouTube search and found a video where a chef took a blow dryer to his frosting in the mixer and it smoothed out. I grabbed my wife’s blow dryer, set the stand mixer at #2, and hit it with the blow dryer. It took about 7 minutes and the frosting came out perfectly smooth. Thought I’d share the tip.

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      August 19, 2019 at 10:02 AM

      Hi Kelsey! It’s amazing what a blow dryer can do! This is one of my recommendations on saving Swiss meringue buttercream. If it’s curdled it just needs a bit of heat to warm it up so it comes together. Thanks for sharing! 🙂 https://livforcake.com/swiss-meringue-buttercream-recipe/

      Reply
  29. Jessyca says

    June 20, 2019 at 9:05 AM

    5 stars
    Hi ,

    Would I triple this recipe to make 2-10in round pans, 3in deep?

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      June 21, 2019 at 9:56 AM

      Hi Jessyca! Converting pan sizes is always tricky. Here’s a site I use as a guideline: http://www.joyofbaking.com/PanSizes.html

      Reply
  30. Lora says

    June 10, 2019 at 2:25 PM

    Quick question…when using freeze dried strawberries, how much do you use?

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      June 12, 2019 at 10:18 AM

      Hi Lora! I mostly add it to taste — anywhere from 4-6 Tbsp of the powder.

      Reply
  31. Tina says

    June 3, 2019 at 6:46 AM

    Can you refrigerate the frosting overnight?

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      June 3, 2019 at 2:37 PM

      Hi Tina! Yes, just thaw to room temp and rewhip before using.

      Reply
  32. Donna says

    June 2, 2019 at 12:55 AM

    Ah this looks so good! My drip never works out, I think I need to use more cream. Practicing is always fun though!

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      June 3, 2019 at 2:32 PM

      Hi Donna! If your ganache is too thick you can also just warm it a bit in the microwave 🙂

      Reply
  33. Marjoleine says

    May 27, 2019 at 8:23 AM

    Perhaps its already mentioned in the avond trail, but i just wanted to say that reduced strawberry purée also works in the buttercream. I used approx 250 grams of strawberries and made them purée in the blender. After that I put the pure in a little cooking pot and brought it to boiling point and subsequently let it simmer for Approx 45 minutes on a very low heat (I used an old fashioned heat diffuser on the stove to even temper the heat more). The result was a more concentrated and firm purée with way less water.

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      May 28, 2019 at 9:43 AM

      Hi Marjoleine! Thank you so much for the tip with the puree!

      Reply
  34. Natalie says

    January 29, 2019 at 2:28 PM

    Hi going to test this recipe this weekend but I was wondering how the chocolate cake recipe would convert into cupcakes?

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      January 30, 2019 at 4:31 PM

      Hi Natalie! It should work fine, just reduce the baking time — start checking at 15mins or so. The batter is very thin though so don’t fill the liners more than half full.

      Reply
  35. tyler says

    November 12, 2018 at 1:04 PM

    5 stars
    Let me start by saying that in no way shape or form am I a baker. However my daughter asked for a “strawberry cake” for her 3rd birthday so i made it happen. I happened upon this recipe via pinterest and read through all the comments…twice and I was very nervous… especially about the frosting. I also have NO cake tools… just my mixer.
    At any rate it took me all day with two kids to complete but it was great.
    I made it in 3 9inch rounds so I had to double the cake and the frosting.
    I opted for the hot coffee over water and the cake it self was super moist with a great flavor.
    For the frosting i used the fresh strawberries i had that looked the least ripe to avoid any excessive moisture i also threw in a few handfuls of freeze dried ones to help as well. The only other tweak i made was I dipped a few strawberries in the ganache and used them for the topping. this was all done day before party and it did fine overnight in the fridge. I took it out about 2 hours before cutting it.

    great recipe!

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      November 13, 2018 at 2:09 PM

      Hi Tyler! Thanks for the great feedback, glad you liked the recipe! I wish I had dipped my strawberries in chocolate too, next time!

      Reply
      • Angela R King says

        December 5, 2018 at 3:42 PM

        3 stars
        OMG I just made this cake and the frosting is like water! What can I do?

        Reply
        • Olivia says

          December 5, 2018 at 4:59 PM

          Hi Angela! Sorry to hear you’re having trouble with this. Can you give me a bit more info? Have you added the strawberry puree? What was the consistency of the buttercream before that?

          Reply
          • Miranda says

            December 6, 2019 at 11:53 PM

            This happened to me too when I added the butter. Before that the meringue looked perfect.

          • Olivia says

            December 7, 2019 at 11:35 AM

            Hi Miranda! It sounds like your butter and/or meringue were not at the right temperature. If it was soupy it just needs some time in the fridge and a rewhip. If it was curdled it needs to be warmed a bit. I talk about all my tips and trick here: https://livforcake.com/swiss-meringue-buttercream-recipe/

  36. Terri Lynn says

    November 6, 2018 at 4:07 PM

    Hi Liv! I may try this one, or the Mint chocolate chip cake, for my bday (yes! I’m making my own cake lol). I’m just wondering: could I use a strawberry extract (one of the actual ones, like strong ones, not just a flavouring), instead of fresh strawberries? And what would you recommend for the amount? Thanks so much, really excited to make another one of your cakes 🙂

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      November 7, 2018 at 2:06 PM

      Hi Terri! I think that would work fine — just add it to taste (I’ve never used it before). Or you can use strawberry jam or preserves too.

      Reply
  37. Paula says

    September 5, 2018 at 1:54 PM

    5 stars
    Hi Olivia,

    I made your delicious strawberry cake recipe that uses freeze dried strawberries and I frosted the cake with your Swiss meringue recipe from this post for chocolate strawberry cake. The strawberry cake that uses freeze dried strawberries is genius. But when I made the Swiss meringue with pureed fresh strawberries I ran into trouble. I blended past the curdled stage (as I always do for Swiss meringue) to smooth out the frosting, but when I added 1/2 cup pureed strawberries the frosting broke badly. The more I beat the frosting the more it separated. I still assembled the cake using your method for very berry cake which has a short cake look. This assembly masked the broken frosting somewhat and it tastes incredibly strawberry but the frosting has a mouth-feel that is noticeably a broken frosting. Maybe I should have used a traditional buttercream instead?? I really prefer Swiss meringue for all the reasons you do as well. I love your blog!!

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      September 6, 2018 at 10:42 AM

      Oh no! I wonder if your strawberries had more water than mine 🙁 Did you add it all at once? I think I added slowly (I’ll update the instructions). These days I prefer to use freeze-dried fruit over fresh fruit as it’s just easier to work with and doesn’t cause as many potential issues 🙁

      Reply
      • Angela says

        September 7, 2018 at 12:46 PM

        5 stars
        Same issue, think you are right about juicy strawberries being the culprit. Definitely going to try it again sometime with the freeze dried! Tastes great though 🙂 I had great luck with meringue powder!

        Reply
        • Olivia says

          September 10, 2018 at 3:44 PM

          Good to know!! Thank you 🙂

          Reply
          • Brenda says

            September 19, 2018 at 4:12 PM

            5 stars
            Hello so I had the same issue with pureed strawberries, I’m not sure how to use the freeze dried berries? Do I make a puree out of those instead? Your help is greatly appreciated! 😀

          • Olivia says

            September 20, 2018 at 2:27 PM

            Hi Brenda! I much prefer using freeze-dried (not dehydrated) berries (https://amzn.to/2xDVq1n) these days as it doesn’t affect the consistency of the frosting. You can buy the berries whole and grind them up or you can buy the powder. I used them in this recipe here: https://livforcake.com/strawberry-cake-mascarpone-buttercream/

      • Kat says

        November 4, 2018 at 5:20 AM

        My frosting looked like it was sweating strawberry juice. I’m thinking next time I’m just going to cook strawberry bits with a little sugar on my stovetop to make a jam and cook off the excess water content. Please update recipe.

        Reply
  38. Sara says

    August 30, 2018 at 5:47 PM

    5 stars
    Hello! I’m making this cake for a friend but wanted to do in steps so I’m not rushed the day of. Can you freeze the frosting? And If is what do I do with after it defrost.

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      September 4, 2018 at 3:14 PM

      Hi Sara! Yes you can freeze the frosting. Bring it back to room temperature and rewhip before using.

      Reply
  39. Nancy says

    August 28, 2018 at 9:07 AM

    I’m attempting to bake this cake for my daughter’s 7th birthday this weekend. After reading all the comments, I’m a little nervous now. Olivia, please give me some advice about what are the possible problems I may run into when I’m making this cake and how I should remedy them. Thank you very much.

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      August 28, 2018 at 4:31 PM

      Hi Nancy! Is it the buttercream that you’re nervous about? If so, be sure to wipe your mixer bowl and whisk down with lemon juice or vinegar to make sure it is completely grease free and make sure there is no trace of yolk in your whites or your meringue will not stiffen. The buttercream may look like it’s curdled at some point. Keep whipping until it is completely smooth. If it looks soupy, place it in the fridge for 20mins and rewhip. Add the strawberry puree slowly and make sure it’s not too watery. I hope that helps!

      Reply
      • Nancy says

        September 4, 2018 at 8:48 AM

        5 stars
        I made the cake and it came out perfect (phew). It tasted really good. Making the buttercream was kind of tricky, at least for me. At first, it was very soupy and I refrigerated it 2 times in between whipping and re-whipping. At my last attempt of re-whipping, the cream started to curdle and it started to stiffen up and came out with perfect consistency (took me about an hour). Overall, I’m very happy with the result and I can’t wait to try your other cake recipes. Thank you.

        Reply
        • Olivia says

          September 4, 2018 at 3:28 PM

          Hi Nancy! Wow, that is a long time for the buttercream to come together, but I’m so glad it did! Next time, maybe try it with butter thats still just slightly cold and firm (just slightly) and make sure that meringue is completely cool.

          Reply
  40. Aukai Borges says

    July 15, 2018 at 4:13 PM

    Hey. I want to try this for my brothers birthday. Cant get the round pans in my neck of Hawaii. I do have a 9×11 would i have to double or triple the recipie to make the cake?

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      July 18, 2018 at 8:19 AM

      Hi Aukai! Converting pan sizes is always tricky. Here’s a site I use as a guideline: http://www.joyofbaking.com/PanSizes.html

      Reply
  41. Kay,a says

    June 8, 2018 at 3:13 PM

    5 stars
    I made this cake for an auction benefiting the school I teach at. It turned out BEAUTIFULLY! It also brought $1,300 dollars!!! Thank you for the awesome tips and recipe!

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      June 11, 2018 at 1:40 PM

      So happy to hear that!

      Reply
  42. Suzanne says

    May 31, 2018 at 12:20 PM

    HI I would like to make this using 3 9″ cake pans. If I double the recipe for everything will that work?? Thank you.

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      June 5, 2018 at 4:06 PM

      Hi Suzanne! Converting pan sizes is always tricky. Here’s a site I use as a guideline: http://www.joyofbaking.com/PanSizes.html With three 9″ pans your layers will be thinner — it depends on if you care 🙂 Ideally doubled would work for three 8″ pans.

      Reply
  43. Pamela says

    May 13, 2018 at 6:16 PM

    5 stars
    Hi Olivia!

    I just made this cake for Mother’s day. Although i doubled it because I have 8″ pans. The cake is very chocolatey even though I just used hot water.

    When I made the buttercream it did look curdled but I continued to whip it just as you told others and eventually it smoothed out (I’m guessing but I think it took 15 minutes after adding the strawberry puree.)

    Anyway, I want to know if I can freeze the cake as there was only 4 people at dinner and even after sending some of it home with my parents I still have about 2/3 of the cake left.

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      May 17, 2018 at 2:59 PM

      Hi Pamela! So happy to hear that the cake and buttercream worked out for you!! You can totally freeze the cake. I freeze all of mine. Portion it up, wrap each slice in plastic wrap, and stick them in a freezer bag 🙂

      Reply
  44. Amy K says

    April 4, 2018 at 5:32 PM

    Hi!

    I am not much a baker, but I’m giving this a go for my hubby’s bday. Only question so far is, what does “crumb coating” mean when you frost the outside of the cake? I know from my past trials I always have a mess with this part. Any advice?

    Thanks!!

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      April 5, 2018 at 4:40 PM

      Hi Amy! Crumb coating is just doing a very thin layer of frosting all over the cake to lock in the crumbs. Then you chill it for a bit before doing the final coat and it should go much smoother!

      Reply
  45. Nia Cypress says

    April 1, 2018 at 6:09 PM

    4 stars
    I don’t know what I did wrong with the buttercream everything was fine then I add the strawberry then it got grainy and running and unusable?

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      April 2, 2018 at 3:20 PM

      Hi Nia! Was the buttercream completely smooth and fluffy before you added the strawberry puree? It sounds like it might just have needed more whipping. Meringue buttercreams are notorious for curdling, but it’s just a stage they go through.

      Reply
  46. Jermallony says

    February 19, 2018 at 2:14 PM

    5 stars
    Hi Olivia!
    I am making this cake for my daughter’s first birthday 🙂
    I have my cake frosted with the crumb coat in the fridge.
    I found the buttercream to be a bit too sweet for my taste.
    Would the buttercream be okay if I take out sugar next time?
    Could I substitute the final frosting for something else?

    Thank you <3!

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      February 19, 2018 at 4:55 PM

      Hi Jermallony! You can try reducing the sugar to 1 cup, but that could affect the meringue. You could try using a strawberry whipped cream instead if you prefer something less sweet!

      Reply
  47. Pegah says

    February 16, 2018 at 11:00 PM

    Hi Olivia

    I made this cake for a birthday and it turned out amazing. Your cake is delicious and holds really well while assembling. Thanks for the recipe.

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      February 18, 2018 at 4:00 PM

      So happy to hear you liked it Pegah! 🙂

      Reply
  48. Diana Wardlaw says

    January 27, 2018 at 2:16 PM

    Hi Olivia,

    How much will I need to adjust the cake recipe to make a 3 layer with 8 in pans?

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      January 29, 2018 at 1:51 PM

      Hi Diana! I would 1.5x the recipe. Let me know how it turns out!

      Reply
  49. Lisa says

    January 17, 2018 at 6:00 AM

    I mean in the white choc cake.

    Reply
  50. Lisa says

    January 16, 2018 at 5:43 AM

    Hi Olivia
    This cakes looks amazing and I was all set to make it for my nieces 13th birthday party …. but she doesn’t want chocolate (go figure). Is there an alternative for the cake part – white chocolate/vanilla?
    Thank you
    Lisa

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      January 16, 2018 at 2:11 PM

      Hi Lisa! You should check out my latest recipe, its for a strawberry cake that you could use with the strawberry frosting in this recipe if you prefer.
      https://livforcake.com/strawberry-cake-mascarpone-buttercream/

      As for white chocolate or vanilla, here are some ideas:
      https://livforcake.com/white-chocolate-candy-cane-cake/
      https://livforcake.com/vanilla-cake/

      All of these recipes will work in three 6″ pans or two 8″ pans. The layers in the 8″ will be a little bit thinner though.

      Let me know what you decide and how it turns out!

      Reply
      • Lisa says

        January 16, 2018 at 6:47 PM

        Awesome! They all look amazing and thanks for the fast reply (As I need to make this on Friday). I will ask her which flavour cake she would prefer – are all of them able to be tiered into 6 layers like the original chocolate recipe? I want to do that as it looks so effective and amazingly tall.
        Thank you
        Lisa
        X

        Reply
        • Lisa says

          January 16, 2018 at 11:11 PM

          Ok, she’s gone for white choc so can I just leave out the peppermint essence? And is this recipe enough to make this same cake i.e 6 layers?
          Thank you
          Lisa

          Reply
          • Lisa says

            January 17, 2018 at 5:58 AM

            Also ….. last question I swear. How come there is no buttermilk in this cake when you seem to add it in most of your other cakes?
            Lisa

          • Olivia says

            January 17, 2018 at 2:12 PM

            You can use either, but I think I prefer the texture of the cakes with milk vs buttermilk. I also always have milk on hand and can’t always be bothered trying to make buttermilk for recipes 🙂

          • Olivia says

            January 17, 2018 at 2:11 PM

            Yes to both!

        • Olivia says

          January 17, 2018 at 2:11 PM

          Yes, if you make them in 6″ pans they will be thick enough to cut into 6 layers 🙂

          Reply
  51. Gabbie says

    January 11, 2018 at 6:28 PM

    2 stars
    I did the whole cake with the help of my mother and I’m sorry but it actually turned out horrible. We had to make the frosting twice because it was so runny and we don’t even know what we did wrong. I havent got to taste it yet but it looks funny. The frosting wasn’t pipable at all either and just kinda fell apart. The butter we used definitely wasn’t too soft so it wasn’t that. We used the recipe exactly. I just hope it tastes good.

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      January 12, 2018 at 12:00 PM

      Hi Gabbie, I’m sorry you had trouble with this one. The frosting will be runny if your meringue doesn’t whip properly due to egg yolk or grease or if you add the butter while the meringue is still too warm. If it’s the latter it can be saved by popping the whole thing in the fridge for 20mins and whipping again.

      Reply
  52. Nakia Smith says

    November 15, 2017 at 3:48 PM

    I just made this cake, it was an epic fail for me. I didn’t like the taste of the cake and the icing turned out to be more like butter, I don’t know what I did wrong, either I should have lowered the butter content and the strawberry puree. I am going to try again, but I am sad right now.

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      November 15, 2017 at 5:40 PM

      Noooo, I’m so sorry to hear that Nakia! Let me see if I can help. What didn’t you like about the flavour of the cake? You can try using hot water instead of coffee and decreasing salt to 1/2 tsp.

      As for the buttercream — it is definitely more buttery than typical American buttercreams, but it should not taste like you’re eating a stick of butter. Was your meringue nice and stiff before you added the butter? If not, that’s likely the culprit. You can certainly decrease the butter amount too if you like, to 1 1/2 cups or even 1 cup, though then you’ll have less frosting to work with.

      I hope the next attempt works out better for you. Let me know how it goes!

      Reply
  53. Elisa says

    October 14, 2017 at 3:21 AM

    3 stars
    Hi,
    I’m making the frosting nog but it totally curdled up…
    I tried fixing it by adding:
    – powder sugar
    – yoghurt
    – cream cheese
    – cream

    … it got better and tastes great…
    But it doesn’t have the right consistenty

    Please help x

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      October 14, 2017 at 1:46 PM

      Hi Elisa! I mention in the notes that the buttercream will look curdled at some point, so you just have to keep whipping it. I would not recommend adding any of those things as it won’t fix it. You just need to whip it until it reaches the right consistency.

      Reply
  54. Caroline says

    October 1, 2017 at 6:40 PM

    5 stars
    I just made this cake for my mom’s birthday! She was very excited about the frosting and the coffee infused chocolate cake. It took me about 2 1/2 hours in total, and the cake turned out great! The chocolate cake has so much flavor and it was very moist. The frosting was a nice addition, however the consistency was a little bit off, even after passing the curdled stage. Overall I would defidently recommend this cake recipe, my family loved it and so did I.

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      October 2, 2017 at 4:38 PM

      Hi Caroline! So glad you guys liked it!! What was off with the consistency??

      Reply
  55. Paulina says

    September 26, 2017 at 6:28 AM

    5 stars
    How big the baking pan must be??

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      September 28, 2017 at 1:41 PM

      Hi Paulina! You can make this cake in three 6″ pans or two 8″ pans.

      Reply
    • Natalia says

      October 23, 2019 at 6:10 AM

      Any strawberry filling that you will recommend to go in one of the layers ?

      Reply
      • Olivia says

        October 28, 2019 at 9:40 AM

        Hi Natalia! You could use a strawberry jam or compote as a filling.

        Reply
  56. Scal says

    September 24, 2017 at 3:52 AM

    I’m sorry about your aunt.

    I’m actually planning on baking this cake for a friend that is throwing herself a party after beating breast cancer. She requested a chocolate cake with pink strawberry frosting. Does this frosting come out a nice pink in real life? It looks pretty on my phone/but thought I would double check before making a big batch of frosting. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      September 25, 2017 at 4:06 PM

      Thank you <3 The frosting is a very very light pink after adding the strawberries. I added a bit of fuschia color gel to make it a bit bolder. Let me know how it turns out!

      Reply
  57. Signe Gro Jensen says

    September 7, 2017 at 8:53 PM

    Hi Olivia

    This cake looks amazing! Would you say that the cake would still be delicious if it is made 1 day in advance? I would like to do the cake for an upcoming party but for practical reasons it would be convenient to do the day before. Also, I find that some layered cakes almost becomes better from settling a little in the fridge before eating but 1 full day may be too much?

    Thank you 🙂

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      September 8, 2017 at 4:46 PM

      Hi Signe! The cake will be totally fine after a day 🙂 Just make sure to refrigerate it and then bring it to room temperature before serving (which takes about 2-3 hours). Let me know how it goes!

      Reply
  58. Lisa says

    July 9, 2017 at 6:22 PM

    Hi Oliva, This cake looks amazing. I’m going to make it for my son’s 21st birthday. Wish me luck. The combination of chocolate and strawberries will be so good. So sorry to hear about your aunt. well wishes to all.

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      July 10, 2017 at 10:07 AM

      Hi Lisa! Thank you for your kind words. Good luck and I hope you guys like this cake!!

      Reply
  59. Patricia says

    July 2, 2017 at 1:40 AM

    4 stars
    Hi Olivia!
    This cake looks absolutely beautiful! I’m looking at maybe making it for my boyfriend’s 21st birthday – do you think it would be able to be covered with a fondant or white buttercream so i could *hopefully* do some decorating? I’m not sure how much he’ll love the pink strawberry frosting 😂

    Any suggestions/ help would be much appreciated – Thankyou ☺️

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      July 3, 2017 at 8:58 AM

      Hi Patricia! Yep, you could totally cover the cake in fondant or use a white buttercream instead. Just be sure to chill the cake so that the frosting is firm before covering with fondant. I hope that helps!

      Reply
      • Patricia Fallon says

        October 9, 2017 at 3:30 PM

        5 stars
        I ended up making it, as is and it turned out pretty well!!

        Had a little bit of a scary moment with the buttercream, but managed to save it! It was so delicious, i’m not much of a cake girl, but I get cravings for this all the time – So i’m going to make it again on Friday for my 21st cake!! 😍

        I added slices of fresh strawberries between the layers last time, and this was such a nice touch, the tartiness of the fresh strawberries went so well with the sweet and rich cake!!

        Thankyou for such a good recipe!!

        Reply
        • Olivia says

          October 10, 2017 at 10:13 AM

          Yay! I’m so glad you liked it 🙂 I love the addition of the fresh strawberries between the layers, I’ll have to try that next time!

          Reply
  60. Tracy says

    June 10, 2017 at 3:10 PM

    5 stars
    I have made this cake twice now, first time for valentine’s day and the second time for my daughter’s first birthday. It is so good! I love the icing so much better then regular buttercream. Thank you for a great recipe 🍰

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      June 11, 2017 at 10:19 AM

      Hi Tracy! I love meringue buttercreams. They are a bit more work, but I think worth the effort 🙂 I’m happy to hear you liked this one!

      Reply
  61. Kristin says

    May 28, 2017 at 4:54 PM

    Hi! I noticed most of your recipes call for buttermilk. Can you replace that with whole milk or would it mess up the cake?

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      May 30, 2017 at 8:33 AM

      Hi Kristin! I haven’t tried using whole milk in place of buttermilk in my chocolate cake recipes, but I have in my white/vanilla cakes. For the white/vanilla ones it should work fine. I would stick with buttermilk for the chocolate ones since the baking soda needs the acid to activate properly. If you use regular cocoa instead of Dutch-processed (Dutch has has acid stripped from it) it might work ok with whole milk, but I can’t guarantee the results. Let me know if you try it!

      Reply
  62. DeeDee Bryans says

    May 8, 2017 at 6:58 AM

    Gorgeous cake! Can’t wait to make this for my sisters birthday. Once again, I will need a larger cake. If I doubled this recipe, would you use 8 or 9 inch pans? I still want some height. Thinking 3-8″ ??? Thank you so much!

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      May 8, 2017 at 8:32 AM

      Hi DeeDee! Yep, double the recipe for three 8″ pans and you’ll be good. 9″ pans would yield thinner layers. Let me know how you like it! 🙂

      Reply
      • DeeDee says

        May 8, 2017 at 12:19 PM

        Thank so much!

        Reply
      • DeeDee Bryans says

        May 15, 2017 at 9:59 AM

        5 stars
        Yea! It turned out awesome! Even making a few adjustments due to our altitude couldn’t stop this cake from being a hit! It was a huge cake but you can never have too much cake! That’s 2 for2. They are officially in our favorites! Thanks Olivia!

        Reply
        • Olivia says

          May 15, 2017 at 2:39 PM

          Yay! So glad to hear it 😀 I can’t wait to hear what you try next!

          Reply
  63. Melissa says

    April 15, 2017 at 5:39 PM

    Hi all the way from Australia. I stumbled across your blog, website & amazing cakes a few weeks ago & spent a good few hours drooling over the amazing looking cakes. I have chosen three of your cakes to make for my Grandmothers 80th birthday which is in a few weeks & I am trailing this particular cake today for Easter as desert tonight, can’t wait to put it all together. xx

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      April 16, 2017 at 5:06 PM

      Hi Melissa! I love Australia. My sister lives in Sydney so I visit as often as I can :). Which other ones are you planning to make?? Good luck, I hope you like them 🙂

      Reply
  64. Emma says

    April 4, 2017 at 10:34 PM

    I’d love to make this but I need an 8 inch cake. How much batter do you think I’d need for a 4 layer 8 inch cake?

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      April 5, 2017 at 9:13 AM

      Hi Emma! Do you mean 4 layers after each layer has been cut in half or before? If you double the current recipe it will work for three 8″ cakes (to be cut into 6 layers total). Otherwise you can try using the recipe as is in two 8″ cake rounds and cut them into 4 layers. I hope that helps!

      Reply
      • Emma says

        April 5, 2017 at 8:34 PM

        It does, thank you so much! I’m excited to make it!

        Reply
        • Olivia says

          April 6, 2017 at 9:38 AM

          Let me know how you like it! 😀

          Reply
  65. Anna says

    March 30, 2017 at 1:49 PM

    Hello,

    How can I convert this to a 3 layer 8-9 inch cake?

    It looks wonderfu!

    Thank you

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      March 31, 2017 at 8:44 AM

      Hi Anna! If you double the recipe it will work as a 3-layer 8″ cake. It would also work as a 9″ but the layers would be a bit thinner. Let me know how you like it!

      Reply
  66. Ellen says

    March 19, 2017 at 9:57 AM

    Hi Olivia – I’m in the middle of making this beautiful cake. I just made the frosting, which seems a little runny. I’ve put it in the refrigerator to thicken and harden. Or, should I be whipping it more until it thickens enough to frost?

    Thanks for your help!

    Ellen

    P.S. I think I also used a little more of the strawberry puree than called for so that might be the problem.

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      March 19, 2017 at 10:03 AM

      Hi Ellen! Hmm, it should not be runny :\ Sometimes it curdles once adding the butter but you just need to keep whipping it at that point. Was the meringue quite stiff before you added the butter? If so then it could be the extra puree. You could try to keep whipping it (maybe for 5 mins) but if it’s still runny then sticking it in the fridge should help! You may want to rewhip it a bit once you take it out. Let me know how it goes!

      Reply
      • Ellen says

        March 19, 2017 at 12:14 PM

        Thanks so much for your quick reply! Yes, the meringue was quite stiff when I added the butter, which was very, very soft. It got firm enough for me to frost the cake but was softening quickly while I was working with it. It’s back in the frig now. I’m hoping that it’ll harden again. Now I’m debating about whether or not to add the ganache. I’m afraid that the frosting won’t hold up against it.

        Ellen

        Reply
        • Olivia says

          March 19, 2017 at 12:43 PM

          Ahh it sounds like maybe the butter was a bit too soft when you added it in. Regarding the ganache, I would chill the frosted cake for 30mins or so before adding the ganache — I do that anyhow, it helps the ganache set. The frosting should be pretty firm at that point. 😊

          Reply
          • Ellen Wu says

            March 20, 2017 at 8:27 PM

            Thanks Olivia! It’s definitely likely that the butter was too soft. Sadly, I didn’t have time to chill the cake and make the ganache before I had to head off for the party. But, my friend made roses from strawberries which we used to decorate the cake. It was beautiful and everyone loved the cake! (It was for my boyfriend’s niece’s 18th birthday.)

            Thanks again for all of the help!

            Ellen

          • Olivia says

            March 21, 2017 at 9:01 AM

            No problem! Glad it still tasted delicious 🙂

  67. Tiah says

    March 14, 2017 at 4:30 AM

    This looks beautiful! I am planning on making this cake for someone who is allergic to eggs – could I replace the meringue buttercream with regular American buttercream?

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      March 14, 2017 at 12:03 PM

      Hi Tiah! The flavour and texture will be slightly different, but it should still be delicious!

      Reply
  68. Cindy Rodriguez says

    March 8, 2017 at 2:18 PM

    I’m so sorry to hear about your Aunt. I want to commend you on finishing the gorgeous cake as it seemed almost like a cathartic experience for you. I totally understand that as a fellow baker and food lover. Cheers to you!

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      March 8, 2017 at 2:41 PM

      Thanks so much Cindy. Big hugs to you! <3

      Reply
  69. Adrie says

    February 26, 2017 at 9:05 PM

    5 stars
    Hi olivia !! I love this recipe the cake is so delicious, everything was going great for me until i try to do the buttercream, when added the butter and strawberries i saw disaster.. i looked horrible all apart.. 😩i know it’s not the recipe.. i don’t really know what i did wrong.. im not a pro baker but loove to try .. i ended up doing another recipe, but really would like to work on yours!!! Blessings to you & fam. & all you do❤️

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      February 26, 2017 at 9:55 PM

      Hi Adrie! The buttercream may look like it’s curdled at some point (broken apart) after you add the butter. You just need to keep mixing until it is completely smooth! I hope you try it again :).

      Reply
  70. Fatema says

    February 24, 2017 at 9:51 PM

    5 stars
    Hello,
    Your cakes look amazing and the flavors you are creating are amazing.
    Can i ask you if the butter cream is safe for pregnant women since it contains egg whites? Is whisking it over hot water enough for the egg whites to be cooked ?

    Thanks a lot

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      February 25, 2017 at 2:33 AM

      Hi Fatema! Yes, you are cooking the egg whites during that process. To be safe though, heat the egg mixture until it registers 160F on a candy thermometer.

      Reply
  71. Marilyn says

    February 20, 2017 at 7:48 PM

    I just noticed the time of your comment to the previous res-ponder and it’s 2:17 AM. Good heavens girl, what time do you go to bed?? It must be a lot ;of work to keep up with a blog, but I hope you start getting some shut-eye as we need you to stay well. Your family has been hit with a terrible illness, and it is a blow to hear that someone you love is dying. Your writing about it just keeps it real for those of us who usually only see the cake & cookie side of your life in your blog, and life is just not that beautiful all the time. Blessings to you. Thank you for your dedication and the scrumptious cakes.

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      February 21, 2017 at 3:38 AM

      Thank you so much Marylin, you are the sweetest!! I’m glad the personal post came through ok, I wasn’t sure how people would feel about it but it was good to get it off my chest. <3

      Reply
  72. Livi Fisher says

    February 9, 2017 at 11:51 AM

    5 stars
    Hello!
    Would this recipe work to make cupcakes? Is the buttercream pipeable?
    Thank you!

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      February 10, 2017 at 2:17 AM

      Hi Livi! I’ve never tried cupcakes with it, but I don’t see why not. But note that the cake batter is quite thin before baking. The buttercream is pipeable! It’s what I used for the rosettes on top 🙂

      Reply
  73. Roy M. Van Voorhees aka Roy From Texas says

    February 9, 2017 at 11:36 AM

    Hi and good afternoon. I am so sorry to bother you, but I can’t find a ***on the above how to.

    Under the Assembly Part, Number 2 has at the end of the sentence *** stars.

    When you get to the Notes, there are notes for the 1(*) and the 2(**), but I don’t see anything for the 3(***)

    I am sure it is me…..

    I have to let you know that you have the most fab cakes…..I have been following you on FaceBook and see so many get looking photos and really want to try and make some of your goodies.

    I don’t know if I will be able to get back to this page again, so if I could trouble you, could I ask that you please send your answer to my e-mail which is – [email protected].

    Thanks so much for your help on this and so sorry to be a “PIA”

    Carpe Diem
    Roy Marcus (FaceBook)
    texasroy2016#yahoo.com

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      February 10, 2017 at 2:15 AM

      Hi Roy! Thanks for catching that. It was simply a note that you may have leftover ganache. I’ve updated the recipe 🙂

      Reply
  74. ann marie whitten ( Murray) says

    February 9, 2017 at 2:02 AM

    4 stars
    HI Liv

    I understand your frustration and let us say bewilderment. My mother was diagnosed 14 years ago. At time of diagnosis, they determined she had it for possibly 8-10yrs. She regularly saw her doctor , had her physical every year etc….but it was never noticed by her family G.P. I know now that once she reached the age of 50 she should have been having certain tests conducted regularly. At the time of diagnosis, we had less than a year to spend with mom. Mom did not make it to 60. Things that will keep you up at night, questions that will never be answered. you will come to a time when you accept…because you must so you do not drive yourself crazy. Hugs to you xo

    Baking question, for your 6 inch cake, what if I wanted to make this bigger to feed more people? I have yet to “deviate” from one of your recipes so I am not sure how to make a recipe different than what you have listed. if I wanted to take your 6 inch and make it three layers and big enough to feed 30 for example

    Thanks
    Ann marie “Murray”

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      February 10, 2017 at 2:08 AM

      Hi Anne Marie! I am so sorry to hear about your mom — that is a crazy long time to have it and not know, ugh. I just don’t understand how these things can go unnoticed. I am so sorry for your loss 🙁 Hugs to you.
      For your cake question, hmmm — to feed 30 people it would need to be quite large. You can double the recipe and use three 8″ pans, but that would maybe feed 16 or so? Depending on how large the pieces are ;). I guess you could make two cakes and that should be enough? I hope that helps!

      Reply
      • Aubrey says

        May 24, 2017 at 12:27 PM

        Hi Olivia, I’m so excited to make this cake for my daughter’s first birthday. I’ve looked for 6″ cake pans and can’t seem to find them anywhere. However, I do have three 8″ cake pans, so was hoping I could use those instead. I should be able to use the original receipe plus half. Correct?

        Thanks so much!
        Aubrey

        Reply
        • Olivia says

          May 24, 2017 at 4:48 PM

          Hi Aubrey! I would double the recipe for three 8″ pans. Or use the recipe as-is in two 8″ pans. Let me know how it turns out!

          Reply
  75. Janet Welte says

    February 7, 2017 at 4:37 PM

    5 stars
    Wow, lady, you never fail to amaze me, your inner strength and perseverance is to be admired! So sorry about all the tragedy of the medical community, I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers!

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      February 7, 2017 at 8:47 PM

      Thanks so much for your kind words Janet! 💕😊

      Reply
  76. Nancy says

    February 6, 2017 at 7:10 PM

    I don’t know how you could possibly not be happy with the way this cake looks, it is beautiful. I’m very sorry to hear about your Aunt. I had a similar experience with my Dad. He had a “cold” that lasted a year, the doctor just kept prescribing antibiotics! Turns out it was lung cancer and had spread, then came the false hope with radiation treatment… Ugh! Cancer sucks! My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family!

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      February 6, 2017 at 7:28 PM

      Omg Nancy, that is horrible! I’m so sorry to hear that. So frustrating how dismissive some doctors are 🙁 Thank you for your kinds words! <3

      Reply
  77. Karen Simon Peterson says

    February 6, 2017 at 1:08 PM

    I’m so sorry to hear about your aunt. We have the same medical issues in the US – so frustrating! This cake looks delicious – I doubt it would last two days at my house. My prayers for your family.

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      February 6, 2017 at 2:07 PM

      Thanks so much Karen!

      Reply
  78. Alexis Gill says

    February 6, 2017 at 11:38 AM

    5 stars
    Olivia, My heart goes out to you. So sorry to hear about your aunt, prayers and hopes sent her way.

    Your cake/s are beautiful masterpieces of confectionary delight. I am in awe of your cakes. Will make this one to celebrate my birthday this month…

    All my best to you and yours.

    Alexis

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      February 6, 2017 at 2:08 PM

      Thank you so much Alexis! I hope you like this cake, you’ll have to let me know how it turns out! Happy early Birthday 🙂

      Reply
  79. Maryann DeSorbo says

    February 6, 2017 at 11:33 AM

    I am very sorry to hear about your aunt. I can’t imagine how you had the interest in completing the cake after hearing such upsetting news, so I commend your commitment. The cake is beautiful. Sometimes doing something that you love can have a calming effect. I hope that in some small way sharing your thoughts in your blog helped you.

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      February 6, 2017 at 2:09 PM

      Thanks so much for your sweet comment Maryann. Writing about it certainly helped (a bit anyhow). xo

      Reply
  80. Deb says

    February 6, 2017 at 11:07 AM

    I’m so sorry to hear about your aunt. I will certainly keep your family in my thoughts and prayers. Your cake looks delicious and simply beautiful! Thanks for sharing the recipe!

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      February 6, 2017 at 2:09 PM

      Thanks so much for your kind words and prayers Deb! <3

      Reply
  81. Sandy C. says

    February 6, 2017 at 9:28 AM

    5 stars
    I am so sorry for you and your family. You rant and ramble as much as you want!!! Your cakes are always beautiful, this one included!!! Thanks so much.

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      February 6, 2017 at 9:36 AM

      Thanks so much Sandy! I appreciate your kind words! xo

      Reply
  82. Denise Zwit says

    February 6, 2017 at 9:23 AM

    5 stars
    Your cake looks stunningly beautiful and delicious. I have always had good results from your recipes. I can relate to the perfectionist issues – I always want my baking efforts to look spectacular and sometimes they don’t. Yours always do, although I’m not unaware that it requires a great deal of effort and skill. This just might be the next birthday cake I bake!

    So sorry about your aunt’s diagnosis and prognosis. I have heard similar comments from Canadians regarding health care. All of my extended family (aunts, uncles and cousins) live in Canada. My aunt was diagnosed with an aggressive strain of breast cancer several years ago, but was fortunate to received prompt and excellent treatment.

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      February 6, 2017 at 9:36 AM

      Thanks so much for your sweet comment Denise! Glad to hear about your aunt — it’s great that she was able to get the care she needed! I hope you do try this cake — you’ll have to let me know how you like it 🙂 xo

      Reply
  83. Shie Chau says

    February 6, 2017 at 9:19 AM

    5 stars
    I’m so sorry about your aunt. Nearly the same thing happened to my father in law many years ago. Now I’m finding the same thing happening to my step father. Cancer just sucks. I’m glad at least she had some of this yummy cake to take her mind off of things for a little bit. It’s really a beautiful cake.

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      February 6, 2017 at 9:32 AM

      Thanks so much Shie! So sorry to hear about your father-in-law and step-father 🙁 It’s horrible. Hugs to you.

      Reply
  84. Elizabeth says

    February 6, 2017 at 9:12 AM

    5 stars
    Byl pyszny i b. ladne zdjecia – jak zwykle

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      February 6, 2017 at 9:33 AM

      Thank you! <3 🙂

      Reply
  85. Elizabeth says

    February 6, 2017 at 9:09 AM

    5 stars
    Zjadlam , przepyszny 🙂

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      February 6, 2017 at 9:10 AM

      Yay! So glad you liked it 🙂 xo <3

      Reply
  86. Lauren says

    February 5, 2017 at 10:41 AM

    Hi Olivia!

    How long is this cake good for? Does it need to be refrigerated?

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      February 5, 2017 at 10:47 AM

      Hi Lauren! The cake is best eaten fresh (of course), but will last 2-3 days in the fridge. Take it out a couple of hours before serving so it can come to room temperature 🙂

      Reply
How To Bake The Perfect Cake

Learn How to Bake the Perfect Cake!

Tips, techniques, and troubleshooting to help ensure your cakes come out perfect every single time!

Get your copy today!

Featured Posts

Close up of an apple cookie cup

Apple Crisp Cookie Cups

Pina colada cake thumbnail.

Pina Colada Cake

Cookie cup with a bite taken out.

Oreo Cheesecake Cookie Cups

Naked style chocolate cake with a ganache drip on a white cake stand. Cookies in the background.

Cookie Dough Cake

Mocha cake close up

Chocolate Mocha Cake

A close up of a cookie cup with fruit on top of a wooden table.

Vanilla Custard Cookie Cups

featured
olivia

Welcome to liv for cake!

I'm Olivia, a professionally trained pastry chef, recipe developer, and photographer from Vancouver, BC. Creating classic cake recipes with a modern twist.
Read More

sig

Subscribe for the latest recipes:

Copyright © 2010 - 2021, Liv for Cake. All Rights Reserved. Privacy & Disclosure
Design by Pixel Me Designs