Ingredients
1 cup whole milk at room temperature
6 egg whites
1 tsp almond extract
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups cake flour
1 3/4 cups sugar
4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
3/4 cup butter softened (1.5 sticks)
Frosting
1 cup butter (2 sticks)
1 cup finely chopped strawberries
3 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
Few drops of food coloring (optional because the strawberries itself gave the nice pink color)
Few thinly sliced strawberries to place on top of the cake.
I was out of almond extract and hence used 2 tsp of vanilla extract instead for the cake.
Method
Preheat oven to 350F. Lets get the ingredients for cake together.
Combine egg whites, milk and extracts in a bowl.
Next we combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt and beat in a stand mixer or hand mixer at a slow speed. Add butter and keep mixing until the mix takes a crumbly texture.
Add all but 1/2 cup of the milk mixture and keep beating at medium speed for 1 1/2 minutes.
Then add the remaining milk mixture and beat for 30 seconds. Do not overmix.
Prepare two 9 inch cake pans. First grease the pans and then dust flour on them. Divide the batter evenly between the two pans and shake to spread them out. Place in oven for 30-35 minutes until it passes the toothpick test.
When done let the cakes cool for 15 minutes and then move to a wire rack and let it cool further. Wait until the cake cools completely before applying the frosting.
Lets collect the ingredients for frosting next. Pretty small list right.
First beat the butter at a slow speed. Next add the vanilla followed by the chopped strawberry.
Keep beating at a slow speed scraping the edges down if necessary. Add a few drops of food coloring if using. Hmm a stand mixer would have been nice. (Note to K !!)
This is the frosting once done. Oh boy I could not stop eating it either. It was so delicious.
Now comes the fun part the layering and applying the frosting. Where is K? Here goes the frosting on the first layer.
Put the next layer of cake on top of the frosting.
Now apply frosting as neatly as possible on all sides and top. We were a tad short in frosting but we made it .. phew.
We thought we were done but I felt it still needed something on top to remove that bland appearance. So here goes sliced strawberries on top.
So presenting the classic white cake with strawberry buttercream frosting. The tiny bits of strawberries gave the cake a lovely look and the frosting took the cake to the next level. I received compliments from everybody on the frosting. The cake itself was moist and combined with the frosting tasted divine.
Enjoy!
Tips
1. I used fresh chopped strawberries but I read other recipes where strawberry jam is being used.
2. Instead of strawberries the buttercream can be flavored using different things like raspberry jam, lemon curd etc.
Sending to Strawberry event started by Anu and hosted at Zesty Palette.
Wow lovely.. Would like to give a try pls.. Cud u pls give the measurement in gms for butter pls since here the sticks not available . Thank you.
3/4 cup (1.5 sticks) = approximately 170 grams.
Thanks vardhini… Sorry for the late reply
wow lovely results! belated birthday to your girl!
thnx for dropping by…i can see you're on a blogging dizzy high!
Wow! What a gorgeous cake! Ur blog is terrific Vardhini! Love it!
this is so cute. wish i could have been there to share in the celebration. <3
Wow….Tempting pics
Amazing!!!!!!!!!!!looks so good. Very professional!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just delicious! Love the step by step pictures.
Looks so professional!Very gorgeous cake!
Wow! The cake looks so spongy and nice! I'd love to bite that piece! Belated b'day wishes to your daughter!
Gorgeous looking cake.
Perfectly baked cake.Looks delicious.Birthday wishes for your daughter
South Indian Home
Vardhini,
Cake looks yummy…….
Varidhini,
Your profile says you live in USA. Regarding your comment, beerakaya is ridge gourd or turai in Hindi which you get in most of the Indian stores and in Chinese stores. Pigeon peas are also available in the freezer section in Indian grocery store.
wow..thats one beautiful cake dear….the clicks really tempting me….and I loved the frosting….I will surely try this soon…yum yum
Wishing ur daughter a very happy bday..looks like the cake made her day..cake is just awesome..love it..!!
Happy birthday to your princess, I know time flies when you are enjoying things
The cake looks absolutely perfect for the princess. Hope she loved it
Birthday wishes to your daughter.Cake looks moist and gorgeous.
The cake looks perfect and as if made by a professional! Love the strawberry frosting and the decoration!
Happy Birthday to the cutie pie…
Love the cake..Thanks so much for sharing it…
Believe your daughter had a blast… the cake looks divine…
http://krithiskitchen.blogspot.com
Birthday wishes to little princess ~ God bless!
The cake looks absolutely delectable ~ Nice work!
US Masala
Wow dear… what a perfect cake… Ur princess would have loved it… Belated wishes to cutie pie…
Loved the frosting…
That looks oh so delicious and perfect
Wow tempting and delicious,looks so inviting….Happy Birthday..
I love the idea of using fresh strawberries! Beautiful cake!
Wow lovely cake..happy birthday to your lil one again..:)..
Cake looks so pretty and love the colour!Moist and soft and spongy!
wow..what a recipe. am going to make it asap
A very Happy B'day to the little sweetheart…The cake looks fantastic and perfect..
Blessings to the little one!! beautiful looking cake.
Wow tempting and perfect cake…so beautiful
What a beautiful pink cake this is!!! Belated happy bday to the little princess
super duper cake
belated happy birthday to your little one – my youngest will turn 3 in Sept 
And I made a similar cake for her – here is the link 
http://priyasnowserving.blogspot.com/2011/02/pink-princess-layered-cake.html
That cake looks so professional. I'm sure kids and adults would love this equally. My son's looking at the post and he wants that cake for his b'day now
first..a very happy birthday to the little doll love for her.. ..n now hats off to this wonderful mom !absolutely stunning!!love the texture color..n eveything about it ….except the egg….:(.n hats off to K for the help!*****
wow…delicious heavenly white cake with lovely strawberry frosting….looks so soft n spongy..the color rocks…n a hearty belated birthday wishes to uour daughter
Awesome looking cake…No doubt your kids loved it…Belated b'day wishes to your daughter
Wow..!! That cake has an amazing color.. a n sure my kids would love a slice of that.!!great start to the week .!!
Do check out my site http://www.anzzcafe.com ..!!
A very Happy Belated Birthday to your daughter!
I think the color and the taste of this cake is awesome!
Wow … the whole cake is filled with so much love and attention:) I love the colour and the texture of the cake…
Reva
Finger licking. Belated b'day wishes to ur daughter.
Feeling lie grabbing a slice…I will go n attack my fridge right now,I have a cake slice left over from my last bake..:)
Wow wat an elegant and gorgeous looking cake, lovely frosting and truly pleasant to eyes..
Delicious Cake:-)
Lovely cake..
ooh La la
Pass that on here, quick 
I am hoping I can make this some day, in an eggless version. Would flax seed powder help?? If so whats the quantity?
wow..this looks so good..i love strawberrys so much.thanks for the recipe
Wow the cake looks so tempting …love tht strawberry colour n icing ….so yum