• Make the Reduced Strawberry Puree - Blend 1 ½ cups of fresh or frozen strawberries into a smooth puree. Cook the puree in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring frequently, until reduced to about ¾ cups (about 15 minutes). Let the puree cool completely before using.

Strawberry cake

• Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line two 9-inch round cake pans with parchment paper.
• Dry ingredients - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
  2 ½ cups All-purpose flour, 2 tsp Baking powder, ½ tsp Baking soda, ½ tsp Salt
• Wet ingredients - In a large bowl, beat the butter, oil, and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in the vanilla and rose extract. Add the sour cream and reduced strawberry puree, mixing until combined.
  ½ cup Unsalted butter, ⅓ cup Vegetable oil, 1 ¾ cups Granulated sugar, 3 large Eggs, 1 ½ tsp Vanilla extract, ½ tsp Rose extract, ¾ cup Reduced strawberry puree , ½ cup Sour cream, Few drops of pink gel food color
• Combine - Gradually add the dry ingredients, mixing until just incorporated. If using, stir in a few drops of gel food color.
• Bake - Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans and smooth the tops. Bake for 25–30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Assemble and decorate

• Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting - Beat the cream cheese and butter together until smooth. Gradually add the powdered sugar and mix well. Add the vanilla extract and reduced strawberry puree, beating until smooth and fluffy.
  8 oz Cream cheese, ½ cup Unsalted butter, 4 cups Powdered sugar, ½ tsp Vanilla extract, 2 tbsp Reduced strawberry puree
• Frost - Place one cake layer on a serving plate. Spread a generous layer of frosting on top. Place the second cake layer on top and frost the entire cake with the strawberry cream cheese frosting.
• Decorate - Pipe decorative swirls on the top using a piping bag fitted with a star tip. Decorate the top with halved strawberries and line the bottom edge with strawberry slices.
  4 small Fresh strawberries, 8 Strawberry slices
• Rest - Chill the cake for 30 minutes before serving to allow the frosting to set.