Strawberry N Cream Jake and the Neverland Pirate Cake

My son turned 3 years old last week. He loves strawberries, so I thought what better than to make him a strawberry n cream cake?!

Strawberry N Cream Cake

1 cup butter, softened

2 cups sugar

2 eggs

2 tsp lemon juice

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 1/2 cups cake flour

2 tbsp strawberry gelatin

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup buttermilk

2/3 cup chopped strawberries

-Preheat the oven to 350*.

-Beat the butter on medium until light and fluffy.

- Gradually add the sugar and beat until light and fluffy (approximately 4-5 minutes)

-Add eggs one at a time

-beat in vanilla and lemon juice

-Set aside

-Stir together flour, gelatin, baking soda, and salt

-Add flour mixture alternately with buttermilk into butter mix

-Always begin and end with flour mixutre

-beat on low until JUST combined!

-Stir in strawberries

-Place in pans and bake 30-40 minutes 

Strawberry Cream Cheese Icing

1 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened

2/3 cup powder sugar

2/3 cup chopped strawberries

1 1/2 cup heavy cream

3 tbsp lemon juice

-Beat cream cheese and 1/3 cup of sugar until smooth. 

-Add strawberries beat until blended

-Set aside

-Beat heavy cream and lemon juice on medium until foamy.

-Increase speed to medium - high and slowly add 1/3 cup sugar

-beat until stiff peaks form

-Fold half of heavy cream mixture into cream cheese mixture until blended

-Fold in remaining heavy cream mixture 

-Use Immediately!

Most importantly eat, eat, eat!