"This cake takes the classic Neapolitan ice cream flavor to a new level by turning into a gorgeous chocolate, strawberry and vanilla checkered cake."
Checkered Neapolitan Cake
4
- ★★
- ★★
- ★★
- ★★
- ★★
Jump to Section
- Recipe Card
Prep time 25mins
Cook time 1hr
Serves or Makes: one 3 layer 8” cake
Recipe Card
For the cake
ingredients
- 1 pound strawberries, washed and cored
- 1 ounce unsweetened baking chocolate
- 3 eggs, separated
- 2 1/2 cups cake flour, sifted
- 3 teaspoons baking powder
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup milk
- 2 tablespoons reduced strawberry puree, optional
- 1/4 cup freeze-dried strawberries, chopped
- 2 drops red food coloring, optional
- 1/2 vanilla bean, deseeded, optional
For the frosting
ingredients
- 1 1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 6 cups powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons heavy cream, or milk
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup freeze-dried strawberries, ground into a powder
- 1/2 vanilla bean, deseeded, optional
For the reduced strawberry purée
Method
Step 1
Puree strawberries which should result in a little over 1 cup. Stirring occasionally, simmer the puree over low-medium heat for 25-30 minutes until you're left with half or the puree coats the back of a spoon. Allow to cool completely before using in cake batter. You can make this the day before. Just cover and place in the refrigerator overnight. Also freezes well.
For the buttercream
Step 1
In the bowl of a stand-up mixer with the paddle attachment, beat butter on medium speed until creamy, about 2 minutes. Add powdered sugar, heavy cream or milk, salt, and vanilla extract with the mixer running on low. Increase to high speed and beat for 3 full minutes. If frosting is too thick or thin, add a bit more heavy cream/milk or powdered sugar. Divide frosting into three equal portions. Fold the freeze-dried strawberries into one portion, cocoa powder into another, and vanilla bean seeds into the third. Cover tightly if not using right away.
For the cake
Step 1
Preheat oven to 350ºF. Grease and flour three 8" cake pans. Line with parchment and set aside. Melt the baking chocolate and let cool completely. In a large bowl, whip the egg whites until stiff peaks form and set aside. Mix and sift together the flour, baking powder and salt and set aside.
Step 2
In a mixing bowl fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy and sugar crystals are dissolved. Add vanilla and well-beaten egg yolks and beat until well blended.
Step 3
Add flour in three portions and milk in two portions, alternating mixing until well blended before adding the next addition. Fold in the egg whites.
Step 4
Divide the batter into three equal portions. Add melted chocolate to one portion, reduced strawberry puree (if using) freeze dried strawberries and red food coloring (if desired) to the second portion and vanilla bean seeds to the third portion. These are your chocolate, strawberry and vanilla cake flavors.
Step 5
Place each flavor in a separate cake pan. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until the cake bounces back to the touch and a cake tester comes out clean. Let cool in pans for 10 minutes and then invert on a cooling rack. At this point, when the cakes are completely cooled, you can freeze them. It is easier to cut them out to form the checkered pattern when they are cold so I usually freeze them overnight.
To assemble
Step 1
Place a 6" cookie cutter in the center of the chocolate cake round. Press firmly to cut cake. Now, with your 3" cookie cutter, repeat the same process. Repeat with the vanilla and strawberry cake rounds. You are basically creating a pattern that looks like three concentric circles or the Target logo.
Step 2
To form the checkered pattern, press together the outer ring of strawberry, middle ring of vanilla and inner ring of chocolate. Then, outer ring of chocolate, middle ring of strawberry and inner ring of vanilla. Lastly, outer ring of vanilla, middle ring of chocolate and inner ring of strawberry.
Step 3
Place the first complete cake round set on a cake stand or plate. Fill the middle with one cup of strawberry buttercream. Top with the second cake round. Fill the middle with one cup of chocolate buttercream. Top with the third cake round. Cover cake with a crumb coating of vanilla buttercream and chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
Step 4
Remove the cake from the fridge and start covering the outside with alternating swashes of the three buttercream flavors. When finished, leave as desired or use a bench scraper to smooth and blend the three flavors. For more pop, add more swashes of the three frostings.
Step 5
Serve immediately or keep in the fridge for up to one day before serving. This cake also freezes well. Simply cut slices, wrap and store for up to two months.