Neapolitan Cake Recipe

Introduction

The Neapolitan Cake is a delightful celebration of classic flavors—chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla—layered into one beautiful and delicious dessert. Perfect for parties or special occasions, this cake combines three distinct tastes with a luscious cream cheese frosting.

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 4 large eggs (room temperature)
• 1 cup whole milk
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup softened butter (for frosting)
• 4 cups powdered sugar (for frosting)
• 8 oz cream cheese, softened (for frosting)
• Optional: melted chocolate (for one batter portion)
• Optional: pureed strawberries (for another batter portion)

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease three round cake pans or line them with parchment paper.
2. Step 2: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder, and salt until fully combined.
3. Step 3: In a separate bowl, beat the eggs, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth. Gradually add this wet mixture to the dry ingredients, stirring gently to combine without overmixing.
4. Step 4: Divide the batter into three equal portions. Mix melted chocolate into one portion for the chocolate layer and pureed strawberries into another portion for the strawberry layer. Leave the remaining portion plain for the vanilla layer.
5. Step 5: Pour each flavored batter into its prepared pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the cakes cool completely on a wire rack.
6. Step 6: To make the frosting, combine the softened butter, cream cheese, and powdered sugar. Beat until smooth and creamy. Spread frosting between cake layers and cover the entire cake once assembled.

Tips & Variations

• For a more intense strawberry flavor, add a teaspoon of strawberry extract to the pureed strawberries.
• Ensure eggs are at room temperature for a smoother batter and better rise.
• Use fresh strawberries for pureeing to add natural sweetness and color.
• Substitute cream cheese frosting with whipped cream for a lighter topping.

Storage

Store the finished cake covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days to keep the cream cheese frosting fresh. Before serving, allow the cake to sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes for best flavor and texture. Leftover cake can be wrapped tightly and frozen for up to 2 months.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use frozen strawberries for the strawberry layer?

Yes, thaw and drain frozen strawberries well before pureeing to avoid adding extra moisture to the batter, which can affect the cake’s texture.

How do I make the chocolate batter?

Add melted chocolate (cooled slightly) to one portion of the batter and gently fold it in to create a rich chocolate layer. Adjust the cocoa powder if desired for deeper flavor.

Neapolitan Cake Recipe

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4.7 from 97 reviews

This delicious Neapolitan Cake features classic flavors of chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla layered cake, topped with a smooth and creamy cream cheese frosting. Perfect for celebrations or a delightful dessert, this cake combines three distinct batters baked separately and assembled into a beautiful tri-flavored treat.

• Author: Lena
• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 12 servings 1x
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American
• Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Dry Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt

Wet Ingredients

• 4 large eggs (room temperature)
• 1 cup whole milk
• 2 tsp vanilla extract

Flavoring Add-ins

• Melted chocolate (quantity not specified, approximate 1/4 cup recommended)
• Pureed strawberries (quantity not specified, approximately 3/4 cup recommended)

Frosting

• 1 cup softened butter
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 8 oz cream cheese, softened

Instructions

1. Preheat and Prepare Pans: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease three round cake pans or line them with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
2. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt until fully combined.
3. Mix Wet Ingredients: In another bowl, beat the room temperature eggs, whole milk, and vanilla extract until smooth and well incorporated.
4. Combine Mixtures: Slowly add the wet ingredient mixture to the dry ingredients, mixing gently to avoid overmixing which can affect cake texture.
5. Divide and Flavor Batter: Divide the cake batter evenly into three separate bowls. To one portion, gently fold in melted chocolate to create the chocolate layer. To the second portion, fold in pureed strawberries for the strawberry layer. Leave the third portion as the vanilla layer without additional flavoring.
6. Bake Layers: Pour each flavored batter into its respective prepared cake pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove cakes from the oven and let them cool completely in the pans before removing.
7. Prepare Frosting: In a mixing bowl, beat softened butter and cream cheese together until smooth and creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating until light and fluffy.
8. Assemble Cake: Once the cake layers are completely cooled, spread cream cheese frosting between each layer to sandwich the flavors. After stacking, cover the entire cake with the remaining frosting for a smooth finish.

Notes

• Ensure eggs are at room temperature for better batter consistency.
• To make the strawberry puree, blend fresh or thawed strawberries until smooth, then strain if desired to remove seeds.
• You can add a teaspoon of lemon juice to the strawberry puree to enhance flavor and preserve color.
• If melted chocolate is not available, use high-quality cocoa powder mixed with a small amount of hot water as a substitute in the chocolate batter portion.
• Allow frosting to chill slightly if it becomes too soft while assembling the cake.
• The triple-layer cake pans should be the same size for even baking and stacking.
• Store finished cake in the refrigerator and bring to room temperature before serving for best flavor.

Keywords: Neapolitan Cake, three layer cake, chocolate strawberry vanilla cake, cream cheese frosting cake, layered dessert