Description

This Strawberry Purée Cake Filling is fresh, vibrant, and naturally sweet, made with real strawberries for the most beautiful fruity flavor. I cook down juicy strawberries, brighten them with lemon, and thicken the purée so it holds perfectly between cake layers without soaking the crumb. It’s smooth, glossy, and tastes like summer—ideal for vanilla, chocolate, or lemon cakes, cupcakes, macarons, and even spooned over yogurt or cheesecake.

Ingredients

Scale

2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and chopped (about 300g)
1/3 cup granulated sugar (70g)
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 tablespoons water
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

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Instructions

Wash, hull, and chop the strawberries into small pieces.
Add strawberries and sugar to a saucepan over medium heat. Stir gently as the berries release their juices.
Cook 5–7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the mixture bubbles and the strawberries soften.
In a small bowl, whisk cornstarch and water until completely smooth.
Slowly pour the cornstarch slurry into the saucepan while stirring constantly.
Cook 2–3 minutes, stirring, until thick and glossy (jam-like).
Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice and vanilla extract.
Blend with an immersion blender for a smooth filling, or mash lightly for a slightly chunky texture.
Cool completely before using as a cake filling (it thickens more as it cools).

Notes

Use ripe, fragrant strawberries for the best flavor. For frozen strawberries: thaw fully and drain excess liquid before cooking. For extra thickness (hot climate or very soft cakes), add 1 teaspoon more cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon water. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 5 days or freeze up to 2 months. Always cool completely before filling cakes so it doesn’t melt frosting or slide layers.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Category: B
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
Calories: 45
Sugar: 8g
Sodium: 1mg
Fat: 0g
Saturated Fat: 0g
Unsaturated Fat: 0g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 11g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg