Hot Milk Sponge Cake with Strawberries is a super simple, old-fashioned recipe that is light, moist and has incredible flavor!
AN OLD-FASHIONED SWEET SPONGE CAKE RECIPE
When I was a kid, we had strawberry shortcake (or some form of it) a lot as a kid. In the spring and early summer months, we probably had it for dessert at least once a week. It was usually made with those store brought dessert shells. Y'all know the ones I'm talking about right? They have the little dip in the middles to spoon your berries into?
CAN I USE OTHER BERRIES BESIDES STRAWBERRIES?
Absolutely! You can use any topping you'd like on this cake! Any type of berry would work or even peaches! This cake is soft and sweet and is kinda the grown-up version of those little dessert shells you can buy at the grocery store. It is perfectly delicious to eat all by itself but personally, I love it with strawberries and whipped cream.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (FULL RECIPE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST)
- fresh strawberries
- sugar
- lemon juice
- all-purpose flour
- baking powder
- eggs
- sugar
- milk
- butter
- vanilla extract
HOW TO MAKE HOT MILK CAKE:
For the strawberries: Hull strawberries, cut in half, and place in bowl. Sprinkle sugar and lemon juice on top and mix together. Place plastic wrap over bowl and place bowl in refrigerator for about 4 hours (until strawberries are very soft.)
For the cake: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray nonstick cooking spray inside a 9x9-inch baking dish. In a medium bowl, combine flour and baking powder.
In a separate bowl (or stand mixer), beat eggs on high speed for about 4 minutes, until thick. If you’re using a stand mixer, I would suggest using your whisk attachment for this step. Gradually add sugar and beat at medium speed for 4-5 minutes until fluffy.
Now add your flour mixture, and mix at low to medium speed until just combined (don’t overmix or cake will turn out rubbery.)
In a small saucepan, on medium heat, add milk and butter and stir until butter is melted. Do not boil – you just want this mixture to be very warm (scalded is the cooking term). Take off heat.
Add milk and butter mixture to batter, also add vanilla extract and mix until combined.
Pour into baking dish and bake for about 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Serve cake warm with juicy strawberries spooned on top. And of course, a little whipped cream.
Cook's Note: For a little variety in the cake, try adding different flavored extracts, like lemon or almond. Need more? Just double the recipe and bake in a 9x13-inch baking dish for about 25 minutes (until an inserted toothpick or knife comes out clean.)
CRAVING MORE DESSERTS?
Hot Milk Cake (+Video)
Ingredients
For the strawberries:
- 2 pints fresh strawberries
- ¼ cup granulated white sugar
- 1 Tablespoon lemon juice, optional
For the cake:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup granulated white sugar
- ½ cup whole milk
- 2 Tablespoons salted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
For the strawberries:
- Hull strawberries, cut in half, and place in bowl. Sprinkle sugar and lemon juice on top and mix together. Place plastic wrap over bowl and place bowl in refrigerator for about 4 hours (until strawberries are very soft.)
For the cake:
- Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Spray nonstick cooking spray inside a 9x9-inch baking dish.
- In a medium bowl, combine flour and baking powder.
- In a separate bowl (or stand mixer), beat eggs on high speed for about 4 minutes, until thick. (If you’re using a stand mixer, I would suggest using your whisk attachment for this step.)
- Gradually add sugar and beat at medium speed for 4-5 minutes until fluffy.
- Slowly add the flour mixture, and mix at low to medium speed until just combined (don’t overmix or cake will turn out rubbery).
- In a small saucepan, on medium heat, add milk and butter and stir until butter is melted. Do not boil – you just want this mixture to be very warm (scalded is the cooking term).
- Add milk and butter mixture to batter, also add vanilla extract and mix until combined.
- Pour into baking dish and bake for about 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Serve slices warm with macerated strawberries spooned on top and fresh whipped cream.
Video
Notes
- I always use hot milk cake as a base for adding strawberries and whipped cream. It is deliciously sweet as-is though! Or you can try adding other toppings that you prefer!
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
Originally published: March 2011
Updated & Republished: June 2019
Jess
Perfect taste and texture for strawberry shortcake. I’m saving this recipe to use again and again! It’s great on its own also. Just a nice sponge that’s really easy to make. It did take a little longer to bake for me, probably because my baking dish is glass.
Brenda
This cake is absolutely perfect for strawberry shortcake and exactly what I have been looking for. I am now a convert from using all butter pound cake for this purpose. Thank you for this recipe!
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Awww you made my day Brenda - thank you so very much!
Diane B
Thank you! This is a very easy and delicious recipe! It will be my go-to for stawberries, whipped cream and cake! It was a big hit 🙂
Betty
Same here. Perfect for spongy strawberry shortcake with some whipped cream. I halved the recipe and made 6 cupcakes (baked for 14 minutes) and it was delectable.
Julie M.
/>Oh, and don't let me forget to drool over this cake a bit as well. I'm guessing the hot milk makes all the difference. Just beautiful! Thanks for linking up this week!
RaviSahu
Wow!!! Really awesome informative blog having great information, I have read it thoroughly and really found nice. I have try this food and so yummy!! Thanks for sharing it here. Keep sharing such a nice food blog. I love to make new food.
Dennis
This cake was amazing!
Leena
Ahhhhhh...the hot milk sponge cake...it was one of the first cakes I learned to do on my own. I would come home from school and find that my siblings (6 of them) had already foraged all the snacks on hand so I'd get busy baking a cake. The two younger ones would sit at the kitchen table til it was done, and not wait for it to cool off. My folks were always happy to see it when they got home from work. If you want something, you gotta bake it yourself!! I'm so excited to see the CocaCola cake recipe...a true classic that I'll be baking tomorrow! Tonight it's the 7 up cake!
InsaneRavings
When my lil sunshine (now 19 yrs old) lost her teeth, the tooth fairy left her a barbies!!! she couldnt wait for the next tooth to come out to get a new barbie!!Let your husband I mean tooth fairy spoil your lil angle, just remember once you give such a BIG gift they want it everytime..lol
Emily
I have a ton of strawberries and I'm always looking for a good recipe. This cake looks amazing! My family will love it! Thanks!
And love the lost tooth story & pic! Wow... $20! Will that be for every tooth? Our 3 yr old will likely be having an injured tooth extracted soon. I think we'll go with $1... yes, we're cheap... but he's 3!! (And by the way, if you are ever in need of a good dental resource, I've found this Mom's Guide to be helpful: http://www.1dental.com/moms-guide/
ArsenicandOldLace
That cake looks so yummy. Goin to try it. Wow!! What a thoughtful "Tooth Fairy" that y'all have around your area. 😉 I bet he was one happy boy.
Mrs. T.
Acorn Hollow
Kim - Liv Life
Wow! 20 bucks for the tooth!! That tooth fairly never visited me. I got more like the 25 cents.
LOVE the cake. I got my first really, really good batch of strawberries last weekend and am eager for a good use. I think I've found it!
Meaghan Luby
yum, what a lovely molten cake! i love this! i had bookmarked a bunch of recipes to get back and comment on post vacation and this was one i knew i needed to share some love on. thanks for sharing 🙂
-meg
@
The Mom Chef
Just so you know, a different tooth fairy lives at your house than at mine. My tooth fairy isn't as generous, I promise.
The cake...wow. I love it.
Mandy
Hey Brandie! Great blog! I found you through Life as a Lofthouse and I'm happy I did.
Katrina
Awwwwwwwwwwww! So cute!!!
mywanderingspoon
Cute post and wonderful dessert.....thanks for sharing with us:)
https://mywanderingspoon.wordpress.com/2011/03/22/rugelach-made-light-way/
Happy When Not Hungry
Wow $20 for a tooth? That's awesome! This looks delicious too!
RavieNomNoms
20 for a tooth!?! HOLY MOLY! My tooth fairy always gave me 25 cents haha...Lucky little one right there!
Your cake looks amazing, I am such a fan of strawberries on sponge cake or shortcake...just feels so much like summer to me!
(I hope this comment shows up!! ::crosses fingers!)
Ang
Congrats little man on your lost tooth:) My Ave just told me yesterday that she was ready to start loosing some teeth. I'm with you Brandie~ it's hard closing some of these chapters:(
On a sweeter note:) This cake looks fab! I'm ready for fresh strawberries and I hate that I have to wait another 4 months for that:/ Have a blessed day.
Annie's Dish
That is so cute of your hubby, er tooth fairy to want to give him $20 but that is going to get expensive!
I've always wondered how to make macerated strawberries. Now I know! This would be a wonderful alternative to strawberry shortcake.
Rachel
delish recipe!
that's how we sweet snack our berries 😉
TWENTY????? WE gave $5 for our first tooth and she gets $1 each subsequent.
I nearly died when our daughter's BFF's TF left TEN for the first. Y'all's tooth fairies are breakin' us 😉 LOL.
YAY for milestones.
Sue
This cake looks nice and moist! LOVE strawberries! Wish I had your Tooth Fairy when I was little:) My granddaughter just lost her first tooth, but only got $! and her dad's a dentist:) They look so cute with their toothless grins:)
The Country Cook
Thank you so much for all the wonderful and sweet comments everyone!
Pat - YAY! so happy you tried it and enjoyed it!! And I'm glad you got your hands on some fresh Florida strawberries...yum!!
Jay
Cake looks very soft n yummy...awesome clicks..
first time here..nice space you have with interesting collection of recipes..
Glad to follow u..
Do stop by mine sometime..:)
Tasty Appetite