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Best Homemade Neapolitan Layer Cake – Easy Strawberry Chocolate Vanilla

Neapolitan layer cake - featured image
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A stunning three-layer cake featuring chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry flavors in every slice. Made from simple ingredients, this moist and tender cake is perfect for celebrations and guaranteed to impress.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ½ cups (190g) all-purpose flour
  • ¾ cup (65g) unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup (115g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup (240ml) buttermilk, room temperature
  • ½ cup (120ml) hot coffee or hot water
  • 1 ½ cups (190g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup (115g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • ¾ cup (180ml) buttermilk, room temperature
  • 1 ½ cups (190g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup (115g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup (120ml) buttermilk, room temperature
  • ⅓ cup (80ml) strawberry puree
  • 3–4 drops pink or red food coloring (optional)
  • 1 ½ cups (340g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 5 cups (600g) powdered sugar
  • ¼ cup (60ml) heavy cream or whole milk
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • Pinch of salt
  • 2–3 tablespoons strawberry puree (for the pink frosting)
  • 2 tablespoons cocoa powder (for the chocolate frosting)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease three 8-inch round cake pans, line bottoms with parchment paper, and lightly flour sides.
  2. Make chocolate layer: Whisk flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Beat butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, then vanilla. Add dry ingredients in three additions alternating with buttermilk. Stir in hot coffee until smooth. Pour into one prepared pan.
  3. Make vanilla layer: Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt. Cream butter and sugar. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Add dry ingredients in three parts alternating with buttermilk. Pour into second pan.
  4. Make strawberry layer: Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt. Cream butter and sugar. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Add dry ingredients in three parts alternating with buttermilk. Fold in strawberry puree and food coloring. Pour into third pan.
  5. Bake 22-28 minutes until toothpick comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes, then turn onto rack to cool completely.
  6. Make buttercream: Beat butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, then cream and vanilla. Beat 3-4 minutes until fluffy. Add salt.
  7. Divide frosting into three bowls. Leave one plain (vanilla). Stir strawberry puree into second (pink). Stir cocoa powder into third (chocolate).
  8. Assemble: Place chocolate layer on plate, spread chocolate frosting. Top with vanilla layer, spread vanilla frosting. Top with strawberry layer, spread strawberry frosting. Apply crumb coat, chill 20 minutes, then final coat of vanilla frosting. Decorate as desired.

Notes

Room temperature ingredients are essential. Do not overmix batter. Weigh flour for accuracy. Use fresh strawberry puree, not jam. Level cakes before stacking. Chill cake before slicing for clean cuts.

Nutrition

Keywords: Neapolitan cake, layer cake, strawberry chocolate vanilla, birthday cake, celebration cake, homemade cake

Find it online: https://junomeals.com/best-homemade-neapolitan-layer-cake-easy-strawberry-chocolate-vanilla/