Description
This Strawberry Cake Filling recipe is a simple and delicious way to add fresh, fruity flavor to your cakes, cupcakes, or pastries. Made with fresh strawberries, sugar, lemon juice, and thickened with cornstarch, this filling is easy to prepare in about 20 minutes. It has a perfect balance of sweetness and tartness, with the option to adjust texture between chunky or smooth to suit your dessert needs.
Ingredients
Scale
Strawberries
- 3 cups strawberries, sliced in half
Syrup and Thickener
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest (optional)
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch mixed with a little water
Instructions
- Prepare the Strawberries: Wash, hull, and chop fresh strawberries or thaw frozen ones. For chunkier filling, leave the strawberry pieces larger.
- Cook Strawberries with Sugar and Lemon: Place strawberries in a saucepan with sugar, lemon juice, and optional lemon zest. Heat over medium heat until the mixture starts bubbling and strawberries release their juices.
- Simmer the Mixture: Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally to avoid sticking.
- Add Cornstarch Slurry: In a small bowl, mix cornstarch with a bit of water to form a smooth slurry. Stir this into the simmering strawberry mixture, stirring constantly to prevent lumps.
- Thicken the Filling: Continue cooking while stirring until the mixture thickens and coats the back of a spoon, usually taking a few more minutes.
- Cool the Filling: Remove from heat and let the filling cool completely. It will thicken further as it cools. Use immediately or store refrigerated in an airtight container for several days.
Notes
- Cut strawberries to preferred size for chunkiness; keep them larger for chunkier texture.
- The filling thickens more as it chills; cool it fully before adjusting thickness or using.
- Stir frequently during cooking to prevent sticking and burning at the bottom of the pan.
- For a smoother filling, blend or strain out strawberry pieces as desired.
- Use fresh, ripe strawberries for the best natural flavor; frozen berries add moisture but work as well.
- Thoroughly clean and hull strawberries to avoid bitterness.
- Simmer gently to preserve bright color and fresh flavor without overcooking.
- Taste and adjust sugar or lemon juice depending on strawberry ripeness.
- Let filling cool completely before using on frosted cakes or delicate desserts to prevent melting.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 cup (about 60g)
- Calories: 60
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 1mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 0.5g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
