Triple Decker Strawberry Cake

The book I got this out of says it's a great cake for a baby shower or birthday - I agree!

Cake:
1 package plain white cake mix
1 package (3 ounces) strawberry gelatin
4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup milk (preferably whole)
4 large eggs
1/2 cup finely chopped fresh strawberries and juice

Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat it to 350 degrees.

Either lightly grease three pans with shortening and dust them with flour - or, use the really nice baking formula non-stick spray. Works great.

Place cake mix, gelatin, flour, oil, sugar, milk, eggs and strawberries in a large mixing bowl and blend on low speed for one minute. Stop the machine and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Increase the speed to medium and beat for two minutes more. The strawberries should be well blended into the batter. Divide the batter as evenly as you can among the pans and place them in the oven.

If your oven isn't large enough, place two pans on the center rack and put the third one in the center of the highest rack.

Bake the cakes until they spring back lightly when you press them and they just start to pull away from the sides of the pan - about 33-35 minutes. If you placed a pan on the highest rack, be careful that it doesn't overcook.

Take the pans out of the oven. and place them on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Run a knife around the edge of each layer and flip each onto a rack so that the cakes are right side up. Allow to cool completely.

Meanwhile, make the frosting. The recipe calls for only frosting the tops of the cakes. I don't like that... so... I double the frosting recipe listed below and frost the sides as well.

Frosting:
1 stick of butter, room temperature
4 cups confectioners sugar, sifted (more if needed)
1/2 cup finely chopped fresh strawberries and juice (more if needed)

Place the softened butter in a large mixing bowl (I mention softened again because it's important.) Blend butter with an electric mixer on low speed until fluffy, about 20 seconds. Stop the machine and add the confectioners sugar and strawberries. Blend on low speed until the frosting is creamy and spreadable. If it's too thin, add more sugar. If it's too thick, add more strawberries.

To assemble the cake, place one cake layer, right side up, on a serving platter. Spread the top with frosting. Add another layer, right side up, on top of the first and frost the top. Repeat this process with thte third layer and frost the top; frost the sides, and refrigerate to set the frosting.