Ingredients

• CAKE
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 cup (8 oz.) unsalted butter, softened, plus more for greasing pans
• 4 large eggs
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 3 ½ cups (about 14 7/8 oz.) all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting pans
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon table salt
• ¾ cup half-and-half
• 1 cup finely chopped fresh strawberries (about 7 oz.)
• ½ teaspoon red liquid food coloring
• STRAWBERRY BUTTERCREAM FROSTING
• 1 ½ cups (12 oz.) unsalted butter, softened
• 8 cups (about 2 lb.) powdered sugar
• 1 cup finely chopped fresh strawberries (about 7 oz.)
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice (from 1 lemon)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon table salt

Two-Minute Microwave Fudge

Directions

• Step 1Prepare the Cake: Preheat oven to 350°F. Beat sugar and butter with a heavy-duty electric stand mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time; beat on low speed just until incorporated after each addition. Stir in vanilla.
• Step 2Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Add to sugar mixture alternately with half-and-half, beginning and ending with flour mixture; beat on low speed just until combined after each addition. Fold in strawberries and red food coloring.
• Step 3Divide batter evenly among 3 greased and floured 8-inch round cake pans. Bake in preheated oven until a wooden pick inserted in center of cakes comes out clean, about 20 minutes.
• Step 4Cool cakes in pans on wire racks until cool enough to handle, about 20 minutes. Invert cakes onto wire racks to cool completely, about 1 hour.
• Step 5Prepare the Strawberry Buttercream Frosting: Beat butter with a heavy-duty electric stand mixer on medium speed until smooth, about 1 minute. Add powdered sugar, and beat until fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add strawberries, lemon juice, vanilla, and salt; beat just until smooth.
• Step 6Assemble the Cake: Place 1 cake layer on a cake plate; spread with an even layer of Strawberry Buttercream Frosting. Repeat 2 times with 2 cake layers and frosting. Spread top and sides of cake with remaining frosting.

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