V-Day B-Day

Every Valentine's Day for the last dozen years has also been a birthday celebration for my oldest nephew. He had a very specific request for this year's birthday cake and for once(!) I got it exactly right. Chocolate layer cake with strawberry pieces baked inside the cake, chopped strawberries between the layers and sliced strawberries on top with a strawberry glaze.

I didn't think fresh strawberries would bake very well inside of the cake, so I used dried strawberries that I cut to raisin-sized pieces. I tossed them in flour before folding them into the batter to prevent them from sinking to the bottom of the cake as it baked. It worked out rather nicely.

The little heart shaped mini-cakes were made without strawberries inside for those who don't like the combination of chocolate and strawberry.

Here's a view of the filling. Diced strawberries and strawberry glaze.

Chocolate covered strawberries, which were served on the side of the cake.