You’re about to meet your new favorite dessert: one-bowl strawberry cardamom cake! And it’s the easiest thing ever. You’re welcome.
This recipe is only very slightly adapted from The New York Times’s Plum Torte recipe. I had never even heard of this recipe until this past plum season when I sent out a plea via Instagram: What to do with all of the plums my tree was spewing out with a vengeance? A handful of people emphatically recommended this cake.
Then the Fourth of July hit. And I wanted to make a pavlova. And the first one sucked. Then I made another pavlova and it equally sucked. I love pavlovas…but my juju was off that morning. Covered in sweat and not wanting to show up empty-handed, I grabbed some plums from my tree and made this torte. It was beyond. And then I tried it with blueberries. Amazing. Then strawberries. Sublime. I think it would be equally amazing with figs or whatever fruit you want to throw its way. It can handle it.
But today, we’re working with strawberries. And cardamom. I changed the order in which things are done in the recipe and I was a little more specific with the ingredients but otherwise, here she is in all her glory.
I mostly wanted her on the blog so that A) She could become your new favorite dessert and B) I would remember that this is what I want to do the next time I have extra fruit on my hands. Next up, I’m trying her with figs + vanilla bean…are you in?
California Strawberry Commission Takeover Recipes
Strawberry Cardamom Torte | Strawberry Freekah Salad | Strawberry Brownies
The Baker’s Guide to Measuring Flour
One of the biggest (and most common) mistakes in baking is how we measure flour. If you find yourself without a scale, see my top tips on how to properly measure flour for the perfect amount every time!
More Strawberry Recipes!
I love love love baking with strawberries! Be sure to check out my favorite Fresh Strawberry Scones (that can be made with frozen berries 😉 and goes with this awesome Strawberry Glaze). And these Strawberry Brownies are every chocolate + strawberry lover’s dream!
Don’t forget my FAVORITE Chocolate Pavlova with Berries (and fresh whipped cream).
Enjoy your easy peasy, super simple, mega fab One-Bowl Strawberry Cardamom Cake!
One-Bowl Strawberry Cardamom Cake
Ingredients
For the Cake
- ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
- 8 tablespoons (113 g) unsalted butter (room temperature)
- 2 large eggs (room temperature)
- 1 teaspoon real vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- 1 cup (135 g) all-purpose flour (how to measure flour)
To Garnish
- 15 fresh strawberries (cleaned, hulled and halved)
- 1 tablespoon (12 g) granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon each cinnamon + cardamom for topping
Instructions
For the Cake
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (177℃) and butter a 9-inch (23-cm) springform (you can use a different 9-inch baking dish but the springform will deliver the prettiest cake).
- In a medium bowl (see note below), cream together the sugar and butter until light and fluffy, about 4 to 5 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, making sure each is well blended before adding the next. Add the vanilla, baking powder and salt and mix for 30 seconds more. Add the flour mixing until just combined. This batter is crazy thick…you’ll think it’s wrong, but it’s not.Spoon the cake batter into the prepared springform and using the back of the spoon to evenly smooth the batter out to the edges of the pan.
To Garnish
- Place strawberry halves in a concentric pattern on the cake batter. Do not press them into the batter, just rest them on top. Place them close together…you’ll be surprised how they shrink and sink whilst baking.
- Sprinkle the top of the cake evenly with the 1 tablespoon of sugar, lemon juice, cardamom and cinnamon and bake on the center of the oven for 45-50 minutes. Let it cool for at least 30 minutes, then run a knife around the edges of the pan before releasing the pan. This is delicious slightly warm or at room temperature.
Notes
Mixer
This recipe can easily be made using a mixer.The Topping
When sprinkling the sugar, spices and lemon juice over the top of the cake, do it from a high above so that they don’t fall in just one spot. You can also whisk the sugar and spices in a bowl first and then sprinkle over the cake to do it a bit more evenly.Want more cake tips/ideas/recipes?! Check out my 10 Favorite Easy Tips for Perfect Cakes! xx
This post was done in collaboration with the California Strawberry Commission.
Do you think I can make this with vegan butter/margarine? It’s so beautiful and I NEED to try it!
Hi Carla! I have never tried baking with either, so I can’t speak to whether they would work or not. But I’m thinking if you’ve baked with it before and it works as a fine substitution for butter, it would work??? If you make it this way, come back and let me know — I’d love to hear!! xoxox
this recipe speaks to me on so many levels. the rustic gorgeousness, the way you swapped strawberries for plums (i’ve made this version but never thought of strawberries) and cardamom!! i want a big hunkin slice on sunday am with my coffee. i can already smell it. smells like home.
I’m seriously obsessed with this torte. I’m making that fig + vanilla version but I don’t know if I can put it on Instagram…I’m sure people are getting sick of photos of it!!! It’s so dang good though!!! xoxo