Happy Day Cake with Strawberry Whipped Cream Frosting is sure to life any spirits! A simple vintage cake recipe topped with summery strawberry whipped cream makes any day special. Gluten-free or regular options.
I’m sure you are familiar with the phrase ‘it’s all in the name’, and for me it is with this recipe. Happy Day Cake.
Has there been a more uplifting, simple, sweet name for a dessert? Ever?
I think not.Around the holidays I was meandering through some shopping and came upon a small spiral-bound book called the ‘Kitchen Scrap Book’.
It is a published cook book broken into sections of food with recipes printed by the publisher on the first page of each section, followed by blank pages for the book’s owner to jot down their favorites.
I was instantly charmed by its diminutive size and the blotted recipes written in fountain pen. The book was published in 1937.
I opened to the page with a recipe for Happy Day Cake. My response was a bit like seeing the cutest puppy in the world and I bought the book immediately.
I pored through all the recipes seemingly all added by different cooks. Some signed their names.
It made me realize what a different dimension is added to a recipe when reading it in someone’s handwriting.
I wondered about the ladies whose recipes were in the book. ‘Barby’s Cherry Cake’, ‘Suzie’s Beet Pickles’, ‘Lorraine Stabb’s Ice Cream’.
A little slip of paper from the Motor Vehicles Department Commissioner was also tucked inside announcing that two 1954 automobile tags were enclosed; the back was covered in a recipe now in faded pencil, for what I cannot figure out.
I felt in the company of women who may not still be living. I feel sure in a little book such as this, there are surely treasures to discover!
There was no frosting noted with the Happy Day cake recipe. Already feeling upbeat from the idea of the cake I decided to make a Strawberry Whipped Cream Frosting, keeping it very simple, flavorful with a bit of whimsy.
The faint pink color was appealing and made me think of Valentine’s Day.
After making the cake myself I did some sleuthing and it seems this was a cake made for special occasions like birthdays and anniversaries.
I personally don’t think one should wait for a marked date to make this. Any day is made happy merely by making the cake!
This Happy Day Cake is adapted from a vintage recipe which I believe would have been used for special celebrations, hence the name!
I’ve updated it to include a light fresh Strawberry Whipped Cream frosting and filling making it light and perfectly flavored to brighten any day!
Each the filling and frosting contain the same ingredients however the filling has a more dense amount of strawberry puree which is why they are made in separate batches.
Due to variations in berry sweetness, taste and adjust for sweetness to your own preference.
There is an ample amount of frosting to create billowy, whimsically decorated cake! If you have some remaining you can surely find other uses: on ice cream, in coffee, pancakes…
Recipe
Happy Day Cake with Strawberry Whipped Cream Frosting
This Happy Day Cake is sure to brighten any day! A delicious from-scratch cake with homemade strawberry whipped cream frosting.
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Servings: 8
Calories: 734kcal
Ingredients
Ingredients for the Happy Day Cake:
- 2 ¼ cups cake flour (I used regular gluten free flour)
- 3 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ cups sugar
- ½ cup shortening (I used organic Spectrum brand shortening)*
- 1 cup half and half (the original recipe calls for milk)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 eggs
Ingredients for Simple Strawberry Puree:
- 16 ounces frozen hulled strawberries , thawed** (save any liquid from thawing!)
- Sugar or honey
Ingredients for the Strawberry Whipped Cream Frosting and cake filling (ingredients broken out in instructions):
- 2 ½ cups heavy whipping cream
- 2 ½ tablespoons sugar
- 1 1/4 teaspoons vanilla
- Simple Strawberry Puree
Instructions
Instructions for the Happy Day Cake:
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Cut parchment to fit in the bottom of two 9 inch cake pans. Spray with non stick spray (note: the original recipe indicated to put the parchment in the pan and then to grease them. I opted for spray which may not be necessary but it released the cakes easily when done).
- Sift together the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar into a medium mixing bowl. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a standing mixer with paddle attachment (or large mixing bowl with hand mixer) mix shortening on low speed to soften. Spoon in sifted ingredients, a little at a time while mixing on low to fully combine.
- Slowly add ¾ cup of the half and half until fully mixed. Mix on medium for 2 minutes.
- Add the eggs and remaining ¼ cup half and half. Mix on medium speed for a minute until smooth.
- Divide batter between the two prepared cake pans. Bake for 25 minutes until cakes are beginning to brown on the top and spring up to the touch.
- Remove and let pans cool on cooling racks for 5 minutes. Remove cakes from pans, remove parchment paper and allow to cool fully on cooling racks. While cakes are cooling prepare the strawberry puree and the frosting.
Instructions for Simple Strawberry Puree:
- Place strawberries and liquid in a blender and select the ‘puree’ setting. Pulse until berries are liquefied.
- Add sweetener by the teaspoon until desired flavor. The berries will be mixed with sweetened whip cream so they don’t need to be overly sweet.
Instructions for cake filling:
- In the chilled bowl of a standing mixer (or a chilled metal bowl with a handheld mixer), combine 1 cup heavy whipping cream, 1 tablespoon sugar and ½ teaspoon vanilla.
- Begin to mix with the whisk attachment at low speed to combine ingredients. Increase speed to high. As mixture begins to thicken (a few minutes) add 5 tablespoons Strawberry Puree.
- Beat until mixture until peaks form.
Instructions for Strawberry Whipped Cream Frosting:
- In the chilled bowl of a standing mixer (or a chilled metal bowl with a handheld mixer), combine: 1 ½ cup heavy whipping cream, 1 ½ tablespoon sugar and ¾ teaspoon vanilla.
- Begin to mix with the whisk attachment at low speed to combine ingredients. Increase speed to high. As mixture begins to thicken (a few minutes) add 6-7 tablespoons Strawberry Puree.
- Beat until mixture until peaks form.
Assembling the cake:
- When cake layers are fully cooed, place one layer flat side down on a serving plate. Frost the top of the layer with the Cake Filling. Place second layer of cake, flat side down, on the filling. Frost top and outside of cake with the Cake Frosting.
Notes
*the original recipe has a substitution option to use butter instead of shortening. If substituting butter, margarine or lard for shortening reduce the milk or half and half to 7/8 cup. I cannot comment on making the recipe with this substitution but wanted to include the option.
* You can use fresh strawberries and if they don’t have enough liquid add water by the tablespoon until the strawberries liquefy in the blender. This recipe makes a bit more than you’ll use but you can drizzle it on the cake or use it for other things like pancakes.
Nutrition
Calories: 734kcal | Carbohydrates: 75g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 45g | Saturated Fat: 22g | Cholesterol: 154mg | Sodium: 350mg | Potassium: 383mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 44g | Vitamin A: 1265IU | Vitamin C: 34.1mg | Calcium: 166mg | Iron: 0.9mg
Did you make this recipe?Mention @boulderlocavore or tag #boulderlocavore!
Connie Findley says
I want that sugar bowl. Adorable.
Boulder Locavore says
I love it too!
Jaime says
Love this recipe, esp. the frosting! One to add to my list of cakes to bake this year 🙂
Boulder Locavore says
Thank you Jaime. I hope you will make it. I definitely will make the frosting again too. The flavor was beautiful and perfect for this sweet little simple cake.
Emily says
What a cookbook find. This cake looks delicious!
Boulder Locavore says
I do feel lucky to have come upon the cookbook Emily. Hope to get some of the ladies' recipes back into modern circulation!
Lizzy says
Oh, gosh, I need a Happy Day cake! That frosting looks amazing!
Boulder Locavore says
It is very light and tastes of strawberries. It is very happy-making!
Choc Chip Uru says
What a wonderful cake!!! Certainly is making me happy 😉
Adore the recipe for strawberry whipped cream frosting!
And the presentation!
And your blog 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Latest: Three Layer Brownie Cheesecake
Boulder Locavore says
Well you are making ME happy; thank you so much.
Katrina {In Katrina's Kitchen} says
Oh I would have snatched that right up too! Delightul!
Boulder Locavore says
Thanks Katrina! There are some fun recipes I look forward to sharing!
Kirsten@My German Kitchen...in the Rockies says
What a find this cookbook is! Lucky one.
I love your addition of the frosting with the strawberry puree, especially since it is made with heavy cream. This makes for the best frosting.
Looking at the pictures alone made me happy!
Boulder Locavore says
Oh I'm so glad! It was a very happy tasting cake. I look at the photos now and am tempted to make another!
ping says
I'm happy just looking at it. Think it'll take me to seventh heaven if I actually get to eat that. I love this kind of frosting. The buttercream types are always too rich and oily for me.
Boulder Locavore says
I agree on the frosting Ping. That is exactly why I wanted to make something light and simple to compliment the cake. It makes me happy too!
Kristina says
Gorgeous cake! I love that its called a Happy Day cake, very sweet, and that whipped frosting looks amazing!
Boulder Locavore says
Thanks Kristina! I too am mad for the name. It made me think of how complicated and sophisticated recipes names now can be. This is so simple and sweet AND makes you want to make it!
Lea Ann (Highlands Ranch Foodie) says
Beautiful cake. I'm not a butter cream type heavy frosting fan, so love this whipped cream version. I've got many old books like that and consider them to be treasures. I'm getting ready to post about one from the 30's. I'm always intrigued about the names and have even Googled some that include last names. As always, great post Toni and love the photos.
Boulder Locavore says
I feel the same Lea Ann. I don't know if you remember the recipe for Brandied Cranberries I posted before Christmas but that cookbook has the names and addresses of the cooks. I did some searching on the woman who shared the recipe and think she's now in her 90's. I sent her a letter with a print out of the recipe. Can't imagine what it would be like to have shared your recipe to an insurance company's self published cookbook and find it on the internet decades later!
I look forward to seeing your recipe!