White Almond Cake with Strawberry Mousse Filling

It was my grandmother’s 69th birthday this past weekend and I was thrilled when my grandparents and my mom decided to come down for a quick visit. I went into full hostess mode seeing as how the queen of south, the ultimate hostess, the southern belle herself was going to be staying with me. My grandmother could write a book about the right way to be a hostess, from the food, to the linens, guest treats, activities and so on. My nanny is one of the most amazing women I have ever meet. She is beautiful inside and out, sweet but sassy and has lived a life full of love and laughter. Most importantly she has passed down her love for cooking to yours truly and inspires me every day to do something new and creative with my dishes. Below is a picture of us making pretzels back home at my mom’s house this past spring.

For breakfast we had a delicious sour cream pound cake that I will be sharing with you all later this week, a yummy sausage and pea manicotti bake on friday night and for her birthday I made the most mouth-watering, moist and intoxicating cake I have ever had. I knew I wanted to make a simple cake since there wouldn’t be much time to bake but I also liked the idea of giving my grandmother something a little different and refreshing using fresh strawberries I had picked up just a few days before at the farmer’s market. So some improvising was needed and I think the outcome was perfect!  I used my oldie but goodie vanilla cake recipe with layers of an amazing strawberry mousse filling and white almond butter cream frosting. TO DIE FOR! Just go ahead and set aside all diet plans aside for the moment- your not going to want to miss out on this amazing creation!

I apologize ahead of time for the pictures. It was evening before we cut into the cake, hence the lighting and we were anxious to dig into the cake that I actually forgot to take a picture of the whole thing. Oh well, I hope the pictures you do see will wet your appetite enough to try this amazing combination of flavors for your next birthday cake!

On another note, if you have a chance please stop by and check out this amazing author, Tricia Goyer, my mom is featuring on her blog and radio show tonight. If you can listen to her radio show via the internet (unless you live in Louisiana) then you can enter to win a free copy of her latest book Sue Ellen’s Girl Ain’t Fat She Just Weighs Heavy! Be sure to let her know I sent you!

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White Almond Cake with Strawberry Mousse Filling

Cake layers:

  • 2 cups sugar
  • 3 1/4 cups cake flour
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 1/4 cups milk, at room temperature
  • 1 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 teaspoons of almond extract
  • 4 large eggs

Frosting and filling:

  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 3 cups confectioners’ Sugar
  • 1 Tsp. Vanilla ext.
  • 2 Tsp. Almond ext.
  • 4 Tbsp. heavy cream

Strawberry Mousse   (by Edible Moments)

  • 1 pound fresh strawberries
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 4 tsp powdered gelatin
  • 1 3/4 cup cream

Preheat oven to 400°F and place a rack in the center of your oven. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat butter until light and fluffy, reduce speed and gradually add sugar, then increase the speed and add in the eggs, vanilla and almond extract. Scrape the bowl, reduce speed again and gradually add flour and milk, alternating between the two and ending with the milk.

Spread your batter in prepared pans. If you plan to make a layered cake like seen in the pictures above, then spray cooking spray on two baking sheets, lay down parchment paper and lightly spray again. Use scissors to make sure the parchment paper fits exactly. Pour batter onto the baking sheets and bake at 400 for 15-20 minutes, until golden with some dark brown spots. When layer is baked, remove it from the oven and flip it out onto a cooling rack that has been dusted with a small amount of confectioners’ sugar. Carefully, gently remove parchment paper then flip cake back onto another lightly dusted cooling rack to finish cooling. It’s best to cool the layers right side up; the tops are the stickiest part.

For the filling and frosting: Beat butter until light and fluffy. Gradually add the 3 cups of powdered sugar and beat on low until all sugar has been mixed in. Add the vanilla and almond extract, beat and then add the milk. Beat for 3-5 minutes. Can be stored at room temperature for up to 1 hour.

Make the Strawberry Mousse: Wash and hull the strawberries and place in a sauce pan. Add the water, caster sugar, and gelatin and simmer until all the gelatin dissolves. Cool the mixture and blend the mixture in a blender or food processor until the mixture is pureed. Beat the cream in a separate bowl until just thickened, not soft or stiff peaks! Be careful not to overbeat the cream which will result in a stiff mousse. Fold in the strawberry puree mixture and mix until well blended.

Assemble the cake: Place first cake layer on plate and spread frosting on top and to edges with an offset spatula. The filling must be spread fairly thinly to have enough for all layers and the outsides of the cake. Next spread on the strawberry mousse filling. Repeat with remaining layers, stacking cake as evenly as possible. Spread frosting on outside of cake, just to cover and adhere the crumbs to the cake. Place cake in fridge for 30 minutes. Spread more frosting thickly and smoothly to make a final exterior coat of frosting. Remove paper strips.

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64 comments

  1. Cooking Creation

    Sounds like you made her feel right at home! Happy birthday to Nanny! The cake looks killer!

  2. Three-Cookies

    Looks absolutely divine, excellent combination of flavours. Other than fried chicken I don’t think I have tried much Southern food, its one of those cuisines that I would really love to explore more.

  3. wizzythestick

    Wow1 definitely a special occasion cake. i looks lovely and decadent.

  4. Erica

    Your grandma sounds like one incredible lady (and a fabulous role model!) The cake looks so delicate and pretty. mmm perfection. Happy birthday to her!

  5. lena

    she sure looks a fashionable grandmama! i have no diet plans at the moment. even if i have, i wouldnt mind taking 2 pieces of this cake at one time! I’m sure everyone must be so pleased with the cake. Look forward to your pound cake too!

  6. I Do Declare

    That just looks unreal!!!!!! Y-U-M!

  7. Alicia@ eco friendly homemaking

    Sounds like your grandmother is an amazing woman and what a blessing that she was able to spend her birthday with you. Everything that you made sounds awesome and that cake just looks so delicious!!

  8. Alexis @ There She Goes

    wow, your gma is smoking hot! 😉

  9. Erin@ Cooking on Whim

    This looks delicious and I love your blog! I will be following– I am new to blogging and looking to reach 25 followers. Check out my blog!

  10. Aimee @clevermuffin

    What a wonderful bithday cake. I love all the layars. Looks like you all had a fabulous day.

  11. Candace

    What a beautiful photo of you and your Nanny! Happy Birthday to her! This cake looks delicious!

  12. Barefeet In The Kitchen

    The cake looks fantastic! The flavors sound delicious as well. I’m saving this combination to try, Thanks!

  13. Jihane @Sinful Sundays

    Aww, happy birthday to your grandma!! <3

    Your cake looks so moist and buttery! That strawberry mousse is calling my name!

  14. Roz

    Oh Jessica, does this cake for your grandmother look fantabulous! I understand about taking photos that you were in a rush to do because you want to just bite into something so fast! But their great anyway! I would love to try this someday very soon. You have such a strong resemblance to your grandma. I’m thinking that you have some Italian in your heritage, right? You look so much like my sister, tall, thin, and the same face except she is a brunette! It’s uncanny!

  15. kitchen flavours

    Happy Birthday to your grandmother! And your cake looks beautifully layered and delicious! So sweet of you to bake a special cake for someone special! Wishing you a great week!

  16. Brittany

    OMG… This looks sooooo good. Seriously, my favorite food blog ever! The award should go to you.

  17. Greg

    My appetite is whetted! I love all the layers and can’t wait to read about the other recipes. The pasta bake sounds fantastic.

  18. Carly

    Strawberry Mousse?? Yes, please!

  19. Alli

    A special day with a special lady with an extra special cake. Yum!

  20. yummychunklet

    This cake looks absolutely stunning! I have it bookmarked for the next party I’m hosting!

  21. Marguerite

    Your grandmother is quite a lovely lady and I wish her a belated Happy Birthday! Your cake looks incredibly delicious and heavenly and I’m adding it to my “must try” list! Thanks for the great recipe!

  22. Mary

    Such a lovely picture of the two of you 🙂
    Wow – what a stunning cake – looks amazing – so delicious – brilliant job!
    Mary

  23. Bonnie at sweet life

    Happy BDay!! what a lovely pics, your both so gorgous!! lovely sweet to celebrate with, thank you for sharing!!

  24. Foodness Gracious

    Delicious!! And the cake looks great to 🙂

  25. Rachel @ the Avid Appetite

    This is an absolutely beautiful cake, and a perfect celebratory dessert! So happy that you had a good time, it all looks and sounds wonderful!

  26. Kathleen

    Happy birthday to your Nanny. These cake looks gorgeous and totally delicious!

  27. The Slow Roasted Italian

    What a wonderful cake. The strawberry mousse sounds delightful in this cake. Can’t wait to make this!

  28. Delish

    Wow, I am so in love with this cake. The thought of almond butter cream with a cake made using cake flour (only way to bake in my opinion) and then to top it off using strawberry mousse! Amazing

  29. Amanda

    I think your photo is just fine- it makes this girl hungry and craving the cake and that is the point right? LOL! Love it and love the pic of you two

  30. Kristin

    I think I could eat that strawberry mousse filling on its own. HA!

  31. sara@domesticallychallenged

    Would you be interested in being my personal chef? I can’t pay much, because I spend it all shopping, but I’d tell bad jokes.

  32. Chinadoll

    this looks really divine. I’m sure your granda was very happy 🙂

  33. Nami | Just One Cookbook

    Happy Birthday to your Grandma! She’s a beautiful lady and I’d love to learn everything about how to be a hostess! Maybe you can feature her tips on your blog for us! 😉 The cake looks absolutely delicious and you are so lucky to have her as grandma!!!

  34. Malli

    Happy Birthday to your Grandma. Such a cute picture, both of you look lovely….. that heavenly cake with layers is to die for:)

  35. Maris (In Good Taste)

    Your grandmother is so beautiful!

  36. daphne

    Oh look at these layers!!!!!!!! Beautiful ladies deserving of gorgeous cake!! Hope everyone had a fantastic time as well. Well done Jessica, I’m looking forward to the bake recipe!

  37. Veronica's Kitchen

    That’s not a simple vanilla cake at all, look at the layers and the filling! Sometime simple thing show a lot of technique to do. Happy Birthday to your grandmother! Good luck with your mother launching her new book, too!

  38. Ruth

    I love you call your grandmother Nanny too.
    The cake looks yummy

  39. Jill

    What a cute picture!! I love love love anything almond!! This cake sounds amazing:)

  40. Shea

    That cake looks amazingly delicious! And your grandma sounds like an awesome woman! She could sure teach me a few things! I love to cook, but I’m not sure I’m the best hostess!

  41. Kelli

    Call me a little slow but I just put all of this together I didnt know your mom was All Things Southern…know wonder why you are just the sweetest little gal ever, I bet funny too! Crazy how I just got this don’t know how I missed it.

    Girl dont you ever apologize for these pictures…they are making me lick my lips now!!! This sounds divine and I mean slap yo Momma good! Well not really yo momma, HaHa I love the pics y’all look so beautiful and I think your Nanny should write a book on hosting what a great idea!

  42. Mother's Secret Home Recipes

    You two look so gorgeous and the cake looks super yummy.

  43. Karen Xavier

    You’re a genius! This looks great… the whole cake must have looked deadly. I love strawberries, and those peeking layers of pink look wonderful.

  44. Marsha @ The Harried Cook

    Happy Birthday to your Nanny! 🙂 Love the picture of the two of you… you look just like her! 🙂 The cake looks great! I love the beautiful layers, and that delicious filling with the pink from the strawberries… Gorgeous and, I bet, absolutely yummy! Thanks for sharing 🙂

  45. Sawsan@chef in disguise

    Happy birthday to your grandmother
    and that cake looks heavenly!
    can’t wait for the rest of the recipes

  46. Allison @Alli n Son

    Happy birthday to your grandma! You are both so beautiful in that photo. The cake sounds divine and looks so pretty with the pink layers next to the white cake. I should not be reading this at 4:30 in the morning, now I’m hungry!

  47. Linda

    What a beautiful photo of you and your very young looking Nanny!! And Happy Birthday to her! This cake definitely is TO DIE FOR! and please no apologizies for your photos, I could clearly see how moist and flavorful this cake must be! I’m saving this for a special occassion!!

  48. Kristy

    Yum! This looks delicious! So moist and those strawberries! My mouth is watering. I’m sure your grandma loved it and that you did an outstanding job hosting. 🙂

  49. Caroline

    Looks divine!! This is my perfect cake, since there’s no chocolate involved. Happy birthday to your grandmother. 🙂

  50. Kate (What Kate is Cooking)

    Happy birthday to your grandmother! I wish I could hire you to bake my birthday cake, haha. This looks AMAZING!

  51. Tina (PinayInTexas)

    What a gorgeous cake for a gorgeous grandma from an equally gorgeous grand daughter! Love it!

  52. Simply Life

    what a beautiful cake- and I love the picture with your mom!

  53. Mandy - The Complete Cook Book

    Happy Birthday to your Nanny – 69 – wow she is still so young! Your cake is absolutely decadent!
    🙂 Mandy

  54. Valerie

    Your grandmother is beautiful just like you! Love the cake and this post made me happy!

  55. nancy at good food matters

    such a sweet picture of you and your grandmother!
    the cake is a dream–love all those layers.

  56. Torrie @ a place to share...

    I love when you talk about your family- especially those strong, witty southern women :).

    Your cake is just gorgeous Jessica. I’m sure your grandma is incredibly proud of you.

    1. Kitchen Belleicious

      Your so sweet torrie! So glad my friend is back!

  57. Mary Kathryn

    Absolutely amazing cake! Love the mousse filling

  58. Sarah

    Y’all r beautiful and the cake is delicious looking. Wish I had a piece right now

  59. Katherine

    I think the cake looks perfect- the layers of pink and white are so pretty

  60. Ivy

    I love looking at the beautiful cake you made. What size cake pans did you use to get the layers, 8″ or 9″ that were so yummy looking and how many pans were used, 2 or 3?. The recipe did not say how many pans to prepare. I understand to get many layers that the cake would have to be sliced evenly a few times. My mouth is watering for a piece of cake. Thank you.

  61. Michelle

    A dear friend of mine is making this cake for a special occasion today and called me for trouble-shooting a problem she was having with the consistency of her strawberry mousse filling. When I followed the hyperlink to the source for your strawberry mousse recipe at Edible Moments, you appear to have left off a very important instruction in your reiteration of Edible Moment’s recipe. It is this: “**don’t make the mistake I did….make SURE the puree is cold cold before adding to cream, else it will start melting!” You should really amend your instructions for this portion of the cake, as you did not explicitly advise that the purée be VERY cold before folding in to the whipped cream. Correcting this would definitely help others avoid the strawberry *soup* my friend is now dealing with!

  62. Emma

    I baked the cake and then realized that I never put the baking powder or salt in! Probably should have done that while adding the flour? It still looks delicious, just missing a step in the directions.

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