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Best Neapolitan Layer Cake: Perfect Fall Birthday Dessert

Neapolitan layer cake - featured image
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A nostalgic Neapolitan layer cake with real strawberry, rich chocolate, and creamy vanilla layers, topped with vanilla buttercream. Perfect for fall birthdays and special occasions.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1.5 cups (180g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup (120ml) buttermilk, room temperature
  • 1/3 cup (80ml) vegetable oil
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup (60g) freeze-dried strawberries, pulverized
  • 2–3 drops pink gel food coloring (optional)
  • 1.25 cups (150g) all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup (40g) unsweetened cocoa powder (Dutch-process preferred)
  • 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon instant espresso powder
  • 1/2 cup (120ml) buttermilk, room temperature
  • 1/3 cup (80ml) vegetable oil
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1.5 cups (180g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup (120ml) buttermilk, room temperature
  • 1/3 cup (80ml) vegetable oil
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste (or seeds from one vanilla bean)
  • 2 cups (4 sticks, 452g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 6 cups (720g) powdered sugar, sifted if lumpy
  • 1/4 cup (60ml) heavy cream (or whole milk)
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • Chocolate shavings (for decoration, optional)
  • Fresh strawberries, halved (for decoration, optional)
  • Gold sprinkles (for decoration, optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease three 8-inch round cake pans with butter or baking spray, line bottoms with parchment paper circles. Do NOT grease sides.
  2. Make strawberry layer: Pulse freeze-dried strawberries in a food processor until fine powder. In a bowl, whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt. In another bowl, whisk buttermilk, oil, egg, vanilla, strawberry powder. Combine wet and dry until just mixed. Add pink food coloring if desired. Pour into one prepared pan.
  3. Make chocolate layer: Whisk flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, espresso powder. In another bowl, whisk buttermilk, oil, egg, vanilla. Combine until just mixed. Pour into second pan.
  4. Make vanilla layer: Whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt. In another bowl, whisk buttermilk, oil, egg, vanilla bean paste. Combine until just mixed. Pour into third pan.
  5. Bake all three pans for 22-26 minutes, rotating halfway. Cakes are done when toothpick inserted comes out clean or with few moist crumbs. Cool in pans on wire racks for 10 minutes, then invert onto racks to cool completely. Remove parchment.
  6. Make frosting: Beat softened butter on medium speed until creamy (2 minutes). Add powdered sugar one cup at a time, beating on low. Add heavy cream, vanilla, salt. Beat on medium-high for 3-4 minutes until light and fluffy. Adjust consistency with extra cream or powdered sugar if needed.
  7. Level cake tops with a serrated knife if domed. Place strawberry layer on cake board, spread 1/2 cup frosting. Top with vanilla layer, another 1/2 cup frosting. Top with chocolate layer, cut-side down.
  8. Spread a thin crumb coat over entire cake. Refrigerate 20 minutes. Apply remaining frosting in a thicker, even layer using offset spatula and turntable if available.
  9. Decorate with chocolate shavings, fresh strawberries, and gold sprinkles. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes before slicing.

Notes

Room temperature ingredients matter. Don’t overmix. Weigh flour for accuracy. Use freeze-dried strawberries, not fresh. Chill between layers for clean frosting. Warm knife for clean slices. If cake domes, freeze layers 20 minutes before leveling.

Nutrition

Keywords: Neapolitan cake, layer cake, birthday cake, strawberry cake, chocolate cake, vanilla cake, fall dessert, homemade cake

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