I put too much strawberry in this cake... (worth it!)
🍓 Strawberry Jam
18 oz (500 g) strawberries (fresh or frozen)
1/4 cup (50 g) sugar
1 tbsp water
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🍫 Chocolate Sponge Cake
1 1/2 cups (190 g) all-purpose flour
2/3 cup (75 g) natural cocoa powder
1 tsp (5 g) baking powder
1/2 tsp (2–3 g) baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 stick (115 g) butter, melted
1/3 cup + 1 tbsp (100 g) vegetable oil
1/2 cup (100 g) sugar
1/2 cup (100 g) brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/3 cups (330 g) milk
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🍓 Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting
1 package / 8 oz (230 g) cream cheese
1 stick (115 g) butter
1/2 cup (100 g) powdered sugar
1/4 cup (70 g) strawberry jam
1 tsp vanilla extract
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🍓 Filling & Decoration
7 oz (200 g) finely chopped strawberries
7 whole strawberries, halved
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🍰 Cake Details
Use two 6-inch (15 cm) cake pans
Bake at 350°F (175°C) for about 40–45 minutes
Check doneness with a toothpick — it should come out clean and dry
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📝 Notes & Tips
Cream ingredients must be at room temperature.
Cream cheese and butter should be soft but not melted.
Too cold → frosting may curdle or become lumpy
Too warm → frosting becomes too runny
Cook the jam for 15–20 minutes.
Time depends on strawberry juiciness and heat level — focus on consistency.
How to check jam readiness:
Run a spatula through it and lift — it should fall slowly in a thick drop, not like syrup. It will thicken more after cooling.
Chill the frosting before use (optional).
Refrigerate for about 1 hour after whipping to make it firmer and easier to work with.
Chill the cake after crumb coating.
Refrigerate for 10–15 minutes to stabilize the frosting before final coating.
No soaking needed.
The strawberry jam makes the cake naturally moist and tender.
Storage:
Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
Freezing:
Can be frozen for up to 1 month. Thaw slowly in the refrigerator (not at room temperature).
If cake layers dome:
Level them with a knife or cake leveler after completely cooling.
Do not remove cakes immediately from pans.
Let them rest for 20-30 minutes — this helps structure set and prevents breaking.