Strawberry Vanilla Bean Layer Cake with Strawberry Buttercream

This recipe is a shortcut using fabulous Trader Joes products. I have grown to depend on much of their staples and have fun trying to create new recipes using their all natural and tasty foods! This isn't exactly a health food :) but it is all natural and easy and what more could you want in making a yummy cake for a special occasion?!  My dear sweet college roommate just had a baby girl and we went for a visit this past weekend and it was Weston's idea to bake them a cake! I thought something pink would be fun.

If you have never tried the vanilla cake mix from Trader Joes you must! It is all natural, moist and there is actual vanilla bean in the batter. It's delicious. Another favorite treat from Trader Joes are the organic fruit spreads- sweetened with only fruit. I like to use them in oatmeal, plain yogurt and on toast. 

And the freeze dried strawberries are so much fun. (unsweetened)

Strawberry Vanilla Bean Layer Cake with Strawberry Buttercream

1 box Trader Joes vanilla cake mix

1 jar Trader Joes organic strawberry fruit spread

1 cup Trader Joes freeze dried strawberries finely chopped 

Strawberry Buttercream

4 sticks butter softened

about 1 lb. powdered sugar

To make the cake:

Prepare cake batter as directed from the package. Stir in chopped dried strawberries and 1/2 jar of the fruit spread. Bake in 2 round 8 in cake pans coated with butter and flour to prevent sticking.  cool 10 minutes and remove from pans to cool completely on cooling racks before frosting.

To make frosting:

In a mixing bowl combine softened butter and remaining half jar of the strawberry spread. slowly add the powdered sugar 1/2 cup at a time until fluffy and your desired sweetness. 

To frost the cake spread some frosting on the top of one of the layers, top with the other layer. Cover the cake with remaining frosting. You will have frosting left over which stays for a while in the fridge or freezer for another time.