Strawberry Confetti Cake

Strawberry Confetti Cake with Tahitian Vanilla Bean Swiss Buttercream
Strawberry Confetti Cake with Tahitian Vanilla Bean Swiss Buttercream

You probably know by now that my heart beats for confetti cakes, and if you’re not convinced, I urge you to look here, here, here and here. This strawberry version may be my favorite yet!

Strawberry Confetti Cake with Tahitian Vanilla Bean Swiss Buttercream

I used Tahitian vanilla beans for the buttercream. They really made the frosting on this cake something special. Just having the split vanilla beans on the counter top made the entire kitchen smell dreamy. Another product that I love is vanilla bean powder. I used just a smidgen in my morning coffee, and now I’m hooked! I can’t wait to use it in pie crusts and cookies.

Strawberry Confetti Cake with Tahitian Vanilla Bean Swiss Buttercream
Strawberry Confetti Cake with Tahitian Vanilla Bean Swiss Buttercream
Strawberry Confetti Cake with Tahitian Vanilla Bean Swiss Buttercream

This cake is filled with wonderful strawberry flavor, thanks to the duo of strawberry puree and strawberry gelatin (the powdered, sweetened kind). It’s absolutely speckled with sprinkles inside, and the Swiss meringue buttercream makes it really special. Use vanilla beans if you have them, but if you don’t vanilla extract will work just fine.

Strawberry Confetti Cake with Tahitian Vanilla Bean Swiss Buttercream

The first time I made this cake I followed the ingredients to the letter and when I tasted it, the lack of salt in the batter was evident. Even a very small amount can make a big difference in baked goods, so please, don’t forget the salt! It really rounds out the flavor of this cake. If you’re measuring the ingredients in cups, be sure to sift the cake flour before measuring. You’ll be rewarded with a fluffier cake. I added a little red food color to the batter to ensure the cake retains a beautiful pink interior; this is optional. Lining the pans with parchment paper is key. Some of the confetti sprinkles will float to the bottom of the pan and melt against pan’s surface as it bakes. This can cause sticking, and parchment lining ensures flawless removal. Inevitably, someone will ask if the amount of butter is correct in the Swiss meringue buttercream. The answer is yes indeed! 1 pound of butter is correct. They don’t call it buttercream for nothin’!
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 12

Ingredients
 
 

Cake

  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 3 oz. package strawberry flavored gelatin
  • 1 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 4 large eggs
  • 2 3/4 cups sifted cake flour
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup whole milk room temperature
  • 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup fresh strawberry puree
  • 1/4 teaspoon red gel food color
  • 1 cup confetti sprinkles

Tahitian vanilla bean Swiss meringue buttercream

  • 5 egg whites
  • 1 cup sugar
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1 pound unsalted butter, cubed, at room temperature
  • Seeds of 1 Tahitian vanilla bean
  • Confetti sprinkles for decorating
  • White chocolate-covered strawberries for garnish

Instructions
 

Cake

  • Preheat the oven to 350F/175C.
  • Grease two 9-inch cake pans or three 7-inch cake pans with vegetable shortening. Line the bottoms and sides of the pans with parchment paper. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, cream together the butter, sugar and dry strawberry gelatin until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; stir into the batter alternately with the milk. Blend in vanilla extract and strawberry puree. Add the food color, if using, and mix again until consistently pink. Fold the confetti sprinkles into the batter and immediately divide the batter between the prepared pans.
  • Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow the cakes to cool in the pans for 10 minutes before turning them out to cool completely.

Tahitian vanilla bean Swiss meringue buttercream

  • Whisk together the egg whites, sugar, and salt in a large heatproof bowl. Set over the simmering water and whisk until the mixture is hot to the touch and the sugar has dissolved.
  • Transfer the mixture to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment.
  • Beat on low speed for 2 minutes. Increase to medium-high until stiff peaks are formed.
  • Continue beating at medium-high speed until the mixture is fluffy and has cooled (the mixing bowl should feel cool to the touch).
  • Turn the mixer off and switch from the whisk attachment to the paddle. Turn the mixer on medium-low and add the butter, a few cubes at a time, beating until well incorporated before the next addition. The egg whites will deflate and thin with the first few additions – don’t let this discourage you – keep going. It may also look curdled, but don’t fret. Beat on high speed when all the butter has been added. The mixture will thicken and become smooth after several minutes of beating. Beat in the vanilla bean seeds.
  • Transfer about 3/4 cup frosting to a piping bag fitted with a large open star tip. Fill and frost the cake layers. I used about 2/3 cup to fill each 7-inch cake layer, or use 1 1/3 cups to fill a 9-inch layer.
  • To decorate the bottom of the cake with confetti sprinkles, place the cake (on the cake stand/serving plate) inside a large baking pan. Toss a handful of sprinkles onto the cake allowing the excess to fall back into the baking pan. Repeat process around the entire lower circumference of the cake. Brush excess sprinkles off the bottom of the cake plate with a pastry brush. Pipe stars around the top edge of the cake with the reserved frosting in the piping bag. Pipe one large frosting swirl in the center of the cake and garnish with a white chocolate-covered strawberry half.
  • Store the cake in the refrigerator loosely covered in plastic wrap. Bring to room temperature before serving.
Keyword strawberry confetti cake, swiss meringue buttercream, Tahitian Vanilla
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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Anonymous
Anonymous
9 years ago

I'd like to try a vanilla pudding. wanda72 (at) aol (dot) com

ashley - baker by nature
ashley - baker by nature
9 years ago

This cake is b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l!!! My niece is turning 3 this weekend and I've been wondering what cake to make her! Ding ding ding! We have a winner 🙂

Anonymous
Anonymous
9 years ago

Cupcakes!

Bryn
Bryn
9 years ago

Vanilla ice cream

Veronica LaChance
Veronica LaChance
9 years ago

This cake is absolutely gorgeous! And if I win I would love to make a homemade vanilla cake or pudding… Yum! Thanks for the giveaway!

Kim
Kim
9 years ago

Funfetti is the best!

Ellen S
Ellen S
9 years ago

I'd love to make vanilla bean cupcakes with a vanilla bean frosting!

Unknown
Unknown
9 years ago

I would use it for all my baking 🙂

Molly
Molly
9 years ago

I would love to make a vanilla cake.

Melanie
Melanie
9 years ago

I'm going to have to make this recipe, it looks amazing!!!

Katie
Katie
9 years ago

I would use it to flavor the marshmallows I'm making for homemade Easter Peeps!

Unknown
Unknown
9 years ago

I would make wonderful vanilla flavored anything!

Suburban prep
Suburban prep
9 years ago

I would love to make Zucchini bread. My nephew (who is not a big veggie fan at all) love zucchini bread and the recipe I use to make it calls for a few tsp of vanilla.
Vanilla just makes most recipes pop.

Unknown
Unknown
9 years ago

I finally read open worldwide and that got me excited 😀 This cake looks awesome! All the Sprinkles <3
I guess I would try some Vanilla Cupcakes with sprinkles(of course) and a Vanilla Frosting. Keep it simple to get the whole flavor.

Anonymous
Anonymous
9 years ago

I'm going to make my marshmallows!!

Heather || Heather's Dish
Heather || Heather's Dish
9 years ago

I would totally make some ROCKING vanilla bean ice cream!!!

kelli
kelli
9 years ago

French macarons. Mmmm.

Michelle
Michelle
9 years ago

The ultimate vanilla cupcakes!

Natalie R
Natalie R
9 years ago

Looks delicious! Cupcakes would taste amazing with this vanilla

SuzyMcQ
SuzyMcQ
9 years ago

The cake, the writing, the styling….PERFECTION! What a wonderful way to start my day!

Mostly Food and Crafts
Mostly Food and Crafts
9 years ago

I love adding it to my oatmeal!

Becs
Becs
9 years ago

Wow, the description of how nicely scented they are has me craving some vanilla! I would use this in some creme brulee – so delicious!

Unknown
Unknown
9 years ago

I love vanilla cake! I also love adding a bit of extra vanilla to my banana bread.

Dea
Dea
9 years ago

I'd like to use it on everything vanilla-licious baked goodies 😉

Unknown
Unknown
9 years ago

Pancakes!

Bria
Bria
9 years ago

So I had a bride on sunday ask me to make her a strawberry cake for her wedding, because she loves duncan hines pink strawberry cake. My first thought was 'I bet Sprinkle Bakes has a good pink strawberry cake recipe'. It is like you read my mind. Thanks so much for the recipe, Ill give it a go this week, and hope it lives up to her boxed cake mix expectations (if not I might just have to cave and buy the stuff instead of making it from scratch). Pastry cream is always better with vanilla beans, but I… Read more »

Nicole
Nicole
9 years ago

I wouldn't even know where to start! I would use it in all my baking. 😀

LeAnn
LeAnn
9 years ago

Vanilla pudding and ice cream!

Rebecca Holcombe
Rebecca Holcombe
9 years ago

Can't wait to try this cake out!!! So fun!

LeAnn
LeAnn
9 years ago

Vanilla pudding and ice cream,

MEK
MEK
9 years ago

This cake looks amazing, growing up my mom made all the kids strawberry cake on their bday and this would be a great upgrade! I would use the vanilla to try this recipe!

Danielle
Danielle
9 years ago

If the vanilla will help me make a cake as pretty as this one, sign me up! What kid (or adult!) wouldn't squeal to get a cake like that?! 🙂 I'd use it the vanilla to make a white cake for my coworker's birthday.

captainsara
captainsara
9 years ago

My sister would love this! Question is, do I wait for her birthday in September or make one this weekend? This weekend, for sure.

Jessica
Jessica
9 years ago

I'd make cream puffs filled with vanilla pastry cream. Yum!

Lija
Lija
9 years ago

I would use my vanilla to make the ultimate vanilla cupcakes. Fluffy vanilla cake with vanilla bean buttercream:)

Unknown
Unknown
9 years ago

Meringues

LadyWild
LadyWild
9 years ago

Ice Cream

Unknown
Unknown
9 years ago

angel food cake

Indian Khana
Indian Khana
9 years ago

Lovely ….just so amazing the cake looks

Pam
Pam
9 years ago

This is going to be an homemade Ice Cream year for me

April
April
9 years ago

Homemade vanilla!

'Red'
'Red'
9 years ago

I ♡ strawberries! My youngest turned 16 and wanted something not chocolate, this will be his!

Teresa @ Aurea's Kitchen
Teresa @ Aurea's Kitchen
9 years ago

Thanks for this yummy giveaway!!!

Teresa @ Aurea's Kitchen
Teresa @ Aurea's Kitchen
9 years ago

I would love to use the vainilla in some chocolate bundt cake!!!

Cecília Almeida
Cecília Almeida
9 years ago

My kids favorite treat: vanilla cake!

Unknown
Unknown
9 years ago

I would use the vanilla in a classic buttercream to give it a flavour boost!

Anna Wallace
Anna Wallace
9 years ago

This cake couldn't get any better if it tried!

I'd make meringues with the vanilla, I'm obsessed with those light melty lovelies!

Rebecca
Rebecca
9 years ago

Something that really showcases the vanilla itself. Ice cream? Pudding? Not sure!

Liz @ Tip Top Shape
Liz @ Tip Top Shape
9 years ago

This combines all of my favorite things! Love it!!!

Cake Creations by Trish
Cake Creations by Trish
9 years ago

Still in search of THEE perfect vanilla cake. I would definitely use it into the recipe.