Strawberries and Cream Vertical Layer Cake

This unique dessert is not only visually stunning, but the perfect twist on the traditional layer cake. Guests and family alike will love it. I love cake pretty much anytime, from a simple Italian bundt cake to a Tiramisu layer cake.

But some of my favorites are made with fresh fruit, from a Strawberry Cake to a Homemade Angel Food cake. Needless to say, this cake makes the perfect summer fresh fruit dessert idea, made with fresh whipped cream and berries.

Instead of stacking the cake layers horizontally, a vertical cake is made by stacking cake layers vertically. This creates a cake that is tall and thin, with each layer visible from the outside.

Ingredients to make a Strawberry Vertical Cake

- Eggs – room temperature large eggs separated - Flour – all purpose or cake/pastry flour

- Sugar – granulated sugar - Vanilla – vanilla extract

Cream filling

- Gelatine – powdered gelatine - Cream – whole, heavy or whipping cream with at least 30% fat content

- Sugar – powdered sugar also known as confectioners’ sugar or icing sugar - Mascarpone – mascarpone cheese

How to Make Homemade Cake Flour

For every cup of all purpose flour, remove two tablespoons and replace with two tablespoons of corn starch. Be sure to sift the flour and cornstarch together a couple of times, this way it is sure to be properly combined and lump free.

Cake flour in cakes will give you a very tender texture and fine crumb. Why use room temperature ingredients?

Room temperature components help to produce light tender baked good, in this case a cake. The components will come together smoother with a lump free batter.

Room temperature egg whites beat up fluffier. Using cold components could deflate the stiff egg whites or solidify the butter.

How to make a Vertical Cake (watch the video above)

In a medium bowl or stand mixer on medium speed beat the egg whites and water until stiff, add the sugar and vanilla and beat to combine.

In a large bowl beat egg yolks then add the egg white mixture and beat to combine. In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt.

Gently fold into egg white mixture. With a frosting spatula or palette knife spread the batter as evenly as possible on the parchment paper lined baking sheet and bake until the tooth pick comes out clean. Remove from the oven, immediately dust with powdered sugar, cover with a clean dish towel and roll let rest until cool, carefully unroll.

While the cake is cooling make the filling, either a stablized whipped cream or a mascarpone filling. Spread with a good layer of jam, top with some of the cream filling.

Cut 4 strips as even as possible. Roll up one of the strips and place it cut side up on a large clean plate, wrap the remaining strips around it. Cover with remaining filling, top with fresh berries.

One thing about roll cakes is and yes it happens to all of us, the cake may break or crack in some places, but don’t worry, it all gets covered up with some frosting and nobody will know the difference.

Here are two ways to make the filling

For the filling you are going to want to use a stabilized whipped cream, since you want a business filling that is going to hold up, so you can do in one of the following ways.

- Adding some mascarpone. - Buying it in liquid form at the grocery store and then whipping it at home.

Actually I use all three when I need to. I made this cake a couple of times just for testing and photos, the first time I used the gelatine mixture and for the second I used the mascarpone I had in the fridge.

We have a pretty good store acquired here, so once in awhile I will use that too. But to tell the truth I prefer mascarpone, it makes a nice thick filling, and with that creamy taste you can’t go wrong.

Stabilized whipped cream

In a medium bowl whip the cream and icing sugar until soft peaks form, continue beating add the gelatine, whip on high until stiff.In a small pot combine gelatine and cold water, let stand for roughly 10 minutes or until thick, place over low heat, stirring constantly just until gelatine dissolves.

Mascarpone Cream filling

Whip together the mascarpone cheese and cream (if you wish you can add a couple of tablespoons of icing sugar) until thick peaks form.

Other fillings you can use? If you prefer you can use your favorite cream cheese frosting or even a buttercream or Swiss meringue frosting would all work well.

If you prefer you could as well use blueberries, blackberries or even raspberries instead of strawberries. Can I use a different type of jam?

While strawberry jam compliments the flavors of the cake well, you can use raspberry, blueberry, or any other fruit jam you prefer. Just ensure it’s smooth and not too chunky for easy spreading.

What’s the best way to cut a vertical cake neatly? Use a sharp knife and wipe it clean between slices for the cleanest cuts.

Chilling the cake before slicing in addition helps maintain its structure. Can I make this cake ahead of time? You can assemble the cake a day in advance and store it in the fridge.

This allows the flavors to meld together, making it even more delicious when served.

How to store the Vertical cake

Cover any leftover cake well or place in an airtight container and refrigerate, it will keep for up to five days in the fridge.

More delicious strawberry recipes

So if you’re looking for a new layer cake idea or you want to impress your friends and family with a stunning dessert, consider making a vertical cake.

With the endless flavors and decoration possibilities, this unique cake recipe is sure to become a new favorite.

ROLL CAKE

- 4 large eggs room temperature (separated)

- 4 tablespoons water room temperature - 1¼ cups + 2 tablespoons flour all purpose or cake/pastry flour (172 grams total, if you double the method then double this amount)

- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract - 1½ teaspoon baking powder

JAM LAYER

- ½-¾ cup strawberry jam (or jam of choice)

For the filling you are going to want to use a stabilized whipped cream, since you want a business filling that is going to hold up, so you can do in one of the following ways.

STABILIZED WHIPPED CREAM

- 10 teaspoons cold water

- 2½ cups cream whole, heavy or whipping cream

MASCARPONE CREAM FILLING

- ½ cup mascarpone cheese (remove from the fridge 45-60 minutes before using) - 2 cups cream whole, heavy or whipping cream

- 1-2 tablespoons powdered sugar - Pre-heat oven to 350°F (180°C), line a 11.5 x 15.5 inch roll cake pan or baking sheet (30 x 40 cm).

- In a medium bowl beat the egg whites and water until stiff, add the sugar and vanilla and beat to combine. - In a large bowl beat egg yolks for 2 minutes add the egg white mixture and beat to combine.

- In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. Gently fold it into the egg white mixture. - With a frosting spatula or palette knife spread the batter as evenly as possible on the prepared pan and bake for close to 10-15 minutes or until the tooth pick comes out clean.

Remove from the oven, immediately dust with powdered sugar (approximately ¼ cup) cover with a clean dish towel. Roll let rest until cool, approximately 30 minutes, carefully unroll, even if you have a couple of cracks don't worry, the filling will cover it. - Spread with a good layer of jam, top with about ⅓ of the cream filling, either the stabilized whipped cream or the mascarpone cream filling.

Cut 4 strips as even as possible. Roll up one of the strips and place it cut side up on a large clean plate, wrap the remaining strips around it. Cover with remaining filling, top with fresh berries.

Refrigerate for 30 minutes at least before serving. - For the filling you are going to want to use a stabilized whipped cream, as you want a company filling that is going to hold up, so you can do in one of the following ways.

STABILIZED WHIPPED CREAM

- In a small pot combine gelatin and cold water, let stand for close to 10 minutes or until thick, place over low heat, stirring constantly just until gelatin dissolves. Remove from heat and let cool (but not set).

In a medium bowl whip cream and icing sugar until soft peaks form, continue beating add gelatin, whip on high until stiff.

MASCARPONE CREAM FILLING

- Whip together mascarpone and cream (if you wish you can add a couple of tablespoons of icing sugar) until thick peaks form. Updated from May 17, 2017.

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