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Neapolitan Cake

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Neapolitan Cake combines the classic trio of chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla into one beautiful and delicious dessert. With moist, tender cake layers and rich buttercream frostings, it’s perfect for birthdays, family gatherings, or any special celebration.

  • Author: Tina
  • Prep Time: 35 minutes
  • Cook Time: 35 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
  • Yield: 10 servings
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup granulated sugar

1/4 tsp baking soda (heaping)

1 tsp baking powder (heaping)

3/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

3 egg whites

1/2 cup sour cream, room temperature

1/2 cup milk, room temperature

2 tbsp cocoa powder

6 oz strawberries, sliced, reduced, and strained

3 tbsp lemon juice

2 tbsp vanilla extract

3 lb confectioners’ sugar

1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

1/4 cup cocoa powder

2 tbsp strained strawberry preserves

Pink food coloring

Splash of whole milk

Instructions

  1. Make the strawberry reduction: Add strawberries and lemon juice to a saucepan over medium heat. Mash, then simmer for about 10 minutes. Strain, cover, and chill for 10–15 minutes.
  2. Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and flour three 6-inch cake pans.
  3. Sift together flour, sugar, baking soda, and baking powder in a large bowl. Mix sour cream, egg whites, milk, and butter in another bowl. Combine wet and dry ingredients until just mixed.
  4. Divide batter into 3 bowls. Add cocoa powder to one bowl, strawberry reduction to another, and leave the third plain for vanilla.
  5. Pour each batter into separate pans. Bake for about 30 minutes, testing with a toothpick. The strawberry layer may take 5–10 minutes longer. Let cool completely.
  6. Make the buttercream: Beat butter for 5 minutes until fluffy. Add confectioners’ sugar gradually. Mix in vanilla and a splash of milk until smooth. Divide into three portions.
  7. For chocolate buttercream: Mix cocoa powder into one portion.
  8. For strawberry buttercream: Mix in strawberry preserves and a few drops of pink food coloring.
  9. Assemble the cake: Alternate layers of chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla cake, piping different buttercreams between each layer. Apply a crumb coat, then decorate with piped petals or your preferred design.

Notes

  • Use a kitchen scale to evenly divide batter between pans for consistent layers.
  • The strawberry layer may require slightly longer baking time than the others.
  • Bake layers ahead of time and freeze for easy assembly later.
  • Halve the buttercream recipe if you don’t need elaborate piping decorations.
  • Decorate with sprinkles, shaved chocolate, or fresh fruit for an extra touch.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://cheftinaskitchen.com/neapolitan-cake/