Hot Milk Cake (+Video)
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 9×9-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 9×13-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 9×9-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 and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
Originally published: March 2011
Updated & Republished: June 2019
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
The strawberries at our stores look pretty much like watermelon rind. Pretty soon I'll be able to try this cake. In the meantime, let me gasp along with everyone else at the very generous tooth fairy at your house! YIKES!
I haven't had this cake in YEARS!!! My grandma used to make it, I completely forgot all about it. I can see my boys enjoying this, especially with the strawberries! Thanks! And that is so precious about your son loosing his first tooth! Cheese… $20 for a tooth?!? I think I got 50 cents like you. Freaking inflation! haha!
I read the sponge cake recipe and went directly to the kitchen and made the cake as there were fresh Florida strawberries in the frig. Oh my, how tasty that cake is!!! Dessert last night and breakfast this morning. Yes, I love strawberries and cake.
Your child is adorable and I love those "toothless" smiles. Thanks for the recipe!
What a wonderful recipe. Thanks for sharing. There is a huge strawberry just around the corner from my house. I cannot wait until they are ready.
I cannot wait for strawberries to arrive in the stores at a decent price. Your cake sounds like the perfect accompaniment!
Oh yum! This sounds so good right now, I haven't had breakfast yet:)What a milestone your son has reached! I think I may cry when my son loses his first tooth:)
My son didn't loose his first tooth, until he wss in 3rd grade! He had to wait a long time for the Tooth Fairy! I love strawberries on or in anything. Your cake looks soo good!
Interesting recipe and cake looks so soft..should taste really great
Brandie, I loved reading your sweet post, and especially about your little guy losing his first baby tooth…he is so adorable!
The cake looks so delicious, and tempting. I'm totally surprised about Kroger. In S. Florida, they have been out for years. I really use to love that store, and miss it!
Thanks for sharing!
xoxo
My son relatively recently loss his first tooth too, quickly followed by his second. Our babies are growing up!
The cake looks just divine.
I'm dealing with teeth too. Mine is getting teeth tho.
Your boy is so cute and $20 for the first tooth equals $.50 lots of years ago 🙂
the cake looks amazing, thanks for sharing
I've been seeing those strawberries, as well, and thinking I'd really like to get my hands on some! Fresh strawberries just say "springtime," don't you think? Mmmm! (Oh, and the tooth fairy who went to my dad's house always paid more than the tooth fairy who went to my momma's house. Funny, huh?)
What a sweet post Brandie…and the cake looks good too! Congrats to your sweet boy growing up!
This dessert looks so summery, I should bake up a batch at pretend it's not snowing outside! 🙂 Congrats on the tooth! Big moment indeed!
Wow that does look yummy. Last summer I made alot of strawberry shortcake. I may give this recipe a go this summer when I can find some strawberries. Thank you for sharing!
Yeah I give my kids a dollar when they lose teeth. Half the time they don't even remember haha. I have "owed" my kid a dollar from the last tooth he lost for quite a while.
Okay this is going to the top of my blog cakes to make list! I just bought a big ol' thing of strawberries from Costco I can use for this!! YAY! And your lil guy is such a cutie! His tooth fairy is very generous ; )
That cake looks seriously yummers! That is definately going on my list once the berries hit the farmers market (I haven't seen any good one's in the stores yet)
Aw!
My little guy has his first loose tooth too. They grow so fast! Your strawberries and cake look so yummy. I can't wait for strawberry season. I'm saving your recipe. We are trying to grow strawberries in our garden so I hope to have a bunch to use up.
My guy is a big softy when it comes to his mini me. I'm sure when the day comes, hopefully not too fast, when my son loses his first tooth daddy will be ready to whip out his wallet and empty for our itty bitty. Haha! The dessert looks amazing though and the strawberries have been so beautiful that I picked up two pints of them. Yummy!
Yes 50c..back than was awesome, but now even $20 sometimes can't cut!:)))
He is adorable!
Your cake sound refreshing and looks beautiful!
Brandie, another homerun with this cake. I love simple desserts that celebrate one or two flavors and yours has that with the cake as a standalone and then with strawberries as they emerge in season… fabulous! California ia coming on strong with these heavenly berries so the ripple effect will come your way soon. I hear ya about the tooth fairy, nickel and dime has become a Lincoln and a Jackson!!!
This cake look amazing, i love this type of dessert, and your son is so cute! x gloria
Yum, strawberry shortcake…a few more months until you can get cheap fresh berries around here.
You son looks so cute! My nephew lost his first 2 teeth at 4 and a half, so young! I don't remember losing mine until 6 at least. The tooth fairy always brought us a quarter, but K got a five for his first one, and two for the second.
Aw, look at your proud little man! Love it! I also love your cake…I'm anxiously awaiting our Indiana strawberries…but they won't appear for 2 1/2 months 🙁