Crushed Pineapple & Strawberry Naked Cake

Yup, this happened.

Layers and layers of complete awesomeness!

An Onion – It has layers!

Name that movie?!

I want to make waffles in the morning every time I watch that movie.  Ahhhh… waffles…

Back to this cake. Don’t you just want to dive your face right in and eat it? Giant scoops of creamy goodness mixed with some juicy berry love? Believe me, it took all my will power not to grab a spoon and dive in mid-layering. Who would have ever known the middle was hollow??

What I did do was grab a spoon and take a giant scoop out of the mixing bowl while layering.  And you know what that means for you? When making this recipe, you can guarantee there is enough filling to make this cake look great and full, but then also a giant spoonful for you to “taste test” while going through the grueling task of layering.

SCORE!

I am calling this pretty lady a “naked cake” because she is hanging out there all exposed. Raw, crumbly cake edges and everything. You can see all her lumps, bumps, and berries, all out there for you to see in her birthday suit!

A “Naked Cake” is a term I was recently introduced to by a co-work. Her brother is getting married and was looking for someone who could make a “naked cake” for their wedding.  I really recommend not googling “naked cake” while you are at work. I think the warning sign that may pop-up reads ” your search may contain inappropriate material,” but I wouldn’t know, because I am not silly enough to actually google that at work…

I set my co-work, Annie, up with my friend Cat who has recently popped on the cake making scene and is making a splash.  New mamma Cat, sent Annie’s brother his tasting cakes last week, and like we all do, instagramed them.  They were so cute and raw looking. Very artsy meets sweets.  She did a great job with that tasting cakes, and I am pretty sure the couple is going to be ordering a chocolate cake with vanilla mousse from her. Maybe I can keep asking questions about the wedding when I see Annie, and figure out where the wedding is, and sneak in the back to steal a piece of cake. No one would ever know, right?

I think I have a cake problem. Thinking of pulling a covert wedding crashers move to get a piece of cake. Oh man, the things I consider.

Still thinking about this “Naked Cake” idea, knowing the 2nd birthday of My Urban Oven was upon us AND that I was closing on my house, this cake was born. Birthday suit and all!

Now for the low down on making this naked beauty. Its pretty easy peasy.

Start by making a white or yellow cake. I admit, I just used a white boxed cake mix. You can use an angle food cake, yellow cake, or even a funfetti cake mix if you want to. No rules. Go for what is on hand or what sounds good!

For the filling you will want to put your mixing bowl in the freezer for 15-20 minutes to chill it before making your whip cream.  Once your bowl is out of the freezer immediately start your mixer up on medium-high with your 3 cups of heavy whipping cream, and watch it turn into whipped cream!

Then dump in your powdered sugar and pudding mix, and give it another good spin.

While your cream is spinning around. You can crush up your pineapple in your food processor.

Finally drain your pineapple to remove any excess juice. You don’t want to water down that creamy goodness with pineapple juice.

Mix pineapple into your cream and start layering! After eating this cake, I would recommend you add more berries than my photo below.

When adding the cream, be sure to leave at least 1 inch around the edges free of cream, because when you press down your second layer, you don’t want cream falling over the edges. You will want the cream to look like it is just bulging at the seams, not rolling down the sides.

Then add another layer.

And then top it with the final layer. You can be creative with your berries on the top.

Finished!  Now it is time to dig your face in. YUMMM!

Crushed Pineapple & Strawberry Naked Cake 

yields 12 giant slices and 20 thin slices

• 1 white or yellow cake mix, plus the ingredients called for on the box
• 1 large box of vanilla instant pudding
• 3 cups heavy whipping cream
• 3 tablespoons powdered sugar
• 1/2 fresh pineapple, cut into chunks
• 1 lb strawberries, sliced

1. Prepare cake according to box instructions, in 3- 8inch round cake pans. Allow to cool.
2. Chill mixing bowl in the freezer for 15-20 minutes.
3. Mix 3 cups of heavy whipping cream with an electric mixer on medium-high until soft peaks form.
4. Add vanilla pudding mix and powdered sugar. Mix for 1 more minute.
5. In a food processor, add pineapple pieces and chop until you no longer have large chunks.
6. Strain pineapple to drain off excess juice.
7. Stir pineapple into cream mixture.
8. Begin layering: cake, 1/3 cream, berries, cake, 1/3 cream, berries, cake, 1/3 cream and more berries.
9. Serve immediately or store in refrigerator.