Fluffy Japanese Strawberry Cake Recipe

Quick & Fluffy Japanese Strawberry Cake Recipe

Delicate layers of sponge cake whisper elegance in this authentic Japanese strawberry cake recipe that melts hearts with its pristine beauty.

Soft, cloud-like textures promise a dessert experience beyond ordinary bakery treats.

Each slice reveals a delicate balance of sweetness and lightness cherished in Japanese pastry traditions.

Fresh strawberries nestle between gossamer-thin cake layers, creating a stunning visual symphony.

Whipped cream adds a luxurious touch that transforms simple ingredients into an extraordinary dessert.

Bakers seeking a show-stopping confection will find pure magic in these carefully crafted components.

This cake stands as a testament to the refined art of Japanese dessert making, waiting to become your next culinary masterpiece.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 30min

Cook Time: 1hr 30min

Total Time: 2hr

Calories: 218 kcal

Servings: 9

Japanese Strawberry Cake Ingredients

For Cake Base:
  • Cake Flour: Ultra-fine flour ensures a delicate, cloud-like texture with zero dense crumbs.
  • Eggs: Fresh eggs create rich, silky structure and provide essential binding for the cake's softness.
  • Milk: Adds moisture and creates tender crumb with luxurious smoothness.
  • Butter: Delivers rich flavor and contributes to the cake's delicate, melt-in-mouth quality.
For Sweetening and Moisture:
  • Granulated Sugar: Provides balanced sweetness and helps create glossy meringue with beautiful volume.
  • Hot Water: Helps dissolve sugar smoothly and enhances syrup's penetration into cake layers.
  • Strawberries: Brings natural sweetness, vibrant color, and fresh fruity essence to the dessert.
For Whipping and Stabilizing:
  • Heavy Cream: Creates light, airy texture with luxurious mouthfeel and elegant appearance.
  • Confectioners Sugar: Softens cream's texture and adds subtle sweetness without graininess.
  • Gelatin: Optional stabilizer that helps maintain whipped cream's structure during decoration and serving.

Tools for a Light Japanese Strawberry Cake

Equipment & Tools:
  • 8: Essential for baking the delicate sponge cake.
  • Parchment paper: Helps remove the cake easily and prevents sticking.
  • Foil: Useful for wrapping the pan to prevent water from seeping in.
  • Mixer: Crucial for beating egg whites to the perfect glossy texture.
  • Heatproof bowl: Needed for melting butter and milk.
  • Spatula: Great for gently folding ingredients without deflating the batter.
  • Sifter: Ensures smooth, lump-free cake flour.
  • Serrated knife: Perfect for cleanly slicing the cake into layers.
  • Whisk or electric mixer: Helps create fluffy whipped cream.
  • Measuring cups and spoons: Precise measurements are key to success.

Baking Instructions for Japanese Strawberry Cake

  • Cake Foundation

Soft, airy cake starts with precise temperature and careful preparation. Select an 8-inch round pan and create a cozy baking environment by wrapping exterior with protective foil.

  • Silky Batter Creation

Gently combine warm milk and butter, then fold in delicate cake flour. Separate egg whites and yolks, whipping whites into cloud-like peaks that will give the cake its signature lightness.

  • Baking Magic

Pour batter into prepared pan, tapping gently to release hidden air bubbles. Nestle pan into a warm water bath and bake until golden and perfectly set.

  • Strawberry Transformation

Slice ripe, vibrant strawberries and sprinkle with a touch of sweetness. Let them rest and develop a glossy, intense flavor that will complement the cake’s delicate texture.

  • Cream Clouds

Whip fresh cream into soft, billowy peaks. The cream should be light enough to float across the cake’s surface but sturdy enough to hold its shape.

  • Elegant Assembly

Carefully slice cake into two graceful layers. Brush each layer with sweet syrup, then alternate cream and strawberries. Cover entire cake in a smooth cream blanket, creating a stunning dessert that looks as beautiful as it tastes.

  • Final Touch

Arrange fresh strawberries on top, creating a stunning visual feast. Chill briefly to allow flavors to meld and cream to set perfectly.

Tips to Perfect Japanese Strawberry Cake

  • Choose ripe, vibrant red strawberries with no white or green tips for the most intense flavor and sweetest maceration.
  • Add a gelatin stabilizer to prevent whipped cream from deflating, ensuring your cake maintains its gorgeous appearance for hours.
  • Allow cake and ingredients to reach room temperature before mixing to guarantee smooth incorporation and optimal cake rise.
  • Experiment with strawberry placement by creating rosette patterns, alternating whole and sliced berries, or arranging berries in concentric circles for visual appeal.

Serving Suggestions for Japanese Strawberry Cake

  • Sweet Picnic Companion: Pack slices in a cute bento box for a delightful outdoor treat that brings summer vibes to any gathering.
  • Afternoon Tea Elegance: Serve alongside delicate china cups of green tea or light Earl Grey, creating a sophisticated dessert experience that feels both traditional and modern.
  • Celebration Centerpiece: Showcase this stunning cake at birthdays or bridal showers, where its light texture and beautiful strawberry decoration will wow guests and become a memorable highlight of the event.
  • Instagram-Worthy Presentation: Slice carefully to reveal the perfect layers, then garnish with fresh mint leaves or edible flowers for a photogenic dessert that's sure to impress social media followers.

Storage Guide for Japanese Strawberry Cake

  • Meal Planning & Storage Wisdom
  • Slice Strategy: Cut cake portions before refrigerating to maintain cream's pristine texture and prevent moisture buildup. Use a sharp, clean knife for neat slices.
  • Refrigeration Zone: Store cake in an airtight container within the refrigerator's main compartment. Consume within 2-3 days for optimal freshness and flavor intensity.
  • Temperature Timing: Remove cake from refrigerator 15-20 minutes prior to serving, allowing cream to soften and flavors to emerge beautifully at room temperature.
  • Freezing Finesse: Wrap individual cake slices in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil. Freeze up to 2 weeks. Thaw overnight in refrigerator for best results, keeping whipped cream's delicate structure intact.
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Fluffy Japanese Strawberry Cake Recipe

Fluffy Japanese Strawberry Cake Recipe


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4.7 from 29 reviews

  • Total Time: 2hr
  • Yield: 9 1x

Description

Delightful Japanese strawberry cake combines delicate sponge layers with fresh strawberries and whipped cream for an elegant dessert. Creamy, light, and beautifully garnished, this sweet treat offers pure indulgence you’ll adore.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 large egg whites
  • 4 large egg yolks
  • 75 g (½ cup + ½ tbsp) cake flour
  • 70 g (5 ½ tbsps) sugar
  • 80 g (⅓ cup) whole milk
  • 50 g (3 ½ tbsps) unsalted butter
  • 12 oz to 1 lb (340 g to 450 g) strawberries
  • 1 ½ tsp sugar
  • 280 g (10 oz) heavy whipping cream
  • 2 tbsps confectioners sugar
  • ¾ tsp gelatin (optional)
  • 2 tbsps cold water (optional)
  • 2 tbsps sugar
  • 3 tbsps hot water

Instructions

  1. Preparation: Line an 8-inch round cake pan with parchment paper, creating a smooth surface for easy cake removal.
  2. Water Bath Setup: Boil water to submerge one inch of the pan’s exterior, preparing for gentle baking.
  3. Batter Foundation: Warm milk and butter in a heatproof bowl until fully integrated, then sift cake flour and fold delicately to create a smooth mixture.
  4. Egg Integration: Incorporate egg yolks into the flour mixture, blending until achieving a silky, uniform consistency.
  5. Meringue Creation: Whip egg whites in a clean bowl, gradually adding sugar until glossy medium-stiff peaks form.
  6. Batter Finalization: Gently fold whipped egg whites into the yolk mixture, maintaining maximum airiness and preventing deflation.
  7. Baking Process: Pour batter into prepared pan, tap to remove air bubbles, then bake in a water bath at a consistent temperature for approximately 90 minutes until a skewer comes out clean.
  8. Cooling Technique: Remove cake from oven and cool completely on a wire rack, preserving its delicate texture.
  9. Strawberry Preparation: Slice strawberries and macerate with sugar, allowing them to develop a sweet, glossy essence.
  10. Cream and Syrup: Create a subtle sugar syrup and whip heavy cream with confectioners sugar until soft peaks form.
  11. Cake Assembly: Slice cake horizontally into two layers, brush each with sugar syrup, and layer with whipped cream and macerated strawberries.
  12. Finishing Touches: Cover entire cake with remaining whipped cream, garnish with fresh strawberries, and refrigerate briefly to set before serving.

Notes

  • Pristine Equipment Matters: Thoroughly clean all utensils and bowls to prevent fat or oil interference with egg white volume, ensuring a light, airy cake texture.
  • Master the Egg White Technique: Whip egg whites gradually and consistently, watching for glossy medium-stiff peaks that provide the cake’s signature soft, delicate structure.
  • Water Bath Precision: Use boiling water for the water bath, submerging the pan carefully to create even, gentle heat distribution that prevents cake cracking and promotes uniform baking.
  • Temperature and Timing Critical: Monitor baking time closely, aiming for a clean skewer test around 90 minutes, and allow complete cooling to maintain the cake’s delicate, soft crumb without moisture condensation.
  • Prep Time: 30min
  • Cook Time: 1hr 30min
  • Category: Desserts
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: Japanese

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 9
  • Calories: 218
  • Sugar: 14 g
  • Sodium: 50 mg
  • Fat: 10 g
  • Saturated Fat: 6 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 28 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 4 g
  • Cholesterol: 75 mg
Sophie Martin

Sophie Martin

Co-Founder & Content Creator

Expertise

  • Nutrition and Healthy Eating
  • Creating Balanced Recipes
  • Meal Planning
  • Food Safety
  • Teaching About Nutrition

Education

Stellenbosch University, South Africa

  • Degree: Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition
  • Focus: Studying how food affects health, learning about balanced diets, and understanding the nutritional needs of different people.

South African Chefs Academy, Cape Town

  • Program: Professional Culinary Arts Diploma
  • Focus: Practical cooking skills, focusing on healthy meal preparation and understanding various cooking methods.

Sophie Martin is the nutrition brain and feel-good foodie at Good Tasting Meals. With a degree in Human Nutrition from Stellenbosch University and chef training from the South African Chefs Academy, Sophie brings balance to the table, literally. She loves creating meals that are easy to make, great to eat, and good for your body too.

Her recipes are made for everyday living, with a little flair and a lot of heart. Sophie’s not here to count calories, she’s here to show you how fresh, simple food can fit into your life, taste amazing, and still be nourishing.

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