Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. This is an important first step to ensure even baking. While your oven heats up, take a moment to grease a 9×13-inch baking pan to prevent the cake from sticking.
Next, add the diced strawberries into a blender and blend them into a puree. Measure out 1 cup of the puree to use in the batter. The vibrant pink color will give your cake a lovely hue and infuse it with flavor.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the strawberry puree with the eggs, melted butter, and vanilla extract. Whisk these ingredients together until they are well blended. The mixture should be smooth and slightly frothy.
Now, it’s time to add your dry ingredients. Carefully sift in the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and lemon zest. Gently fold the batter together using a spatula, ensuring that you don’t overmix. The goal is to combine the ingredients until you see no dry flour.
Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan, spreading it evenly across the top. Watching the batter level out is satisfying and gets you one step closer to enjoying this delicious cake.
Place the cake in the preheated oven and bake for 18 to 22 minutes. Keep an eye on your cake as it bakes. You're looking for it to be golden brown around the edges and firm in the center. A toothpick inserted should come out clean.
Once baked, remove the cake from the oven and let it cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. This step is critical as it allows the structure of the cake to set properly.
After the cake has cooled, it’s time to spread the Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting over the top. This luscious frosting will complement the cake beautifully.
Finally, if desired, top with additional fresh strawberries to make it even more inviting. Serve the cake at room temperature for the best flavor experience.
