Fresh Strawberry Cake with Cream Cheese Swiss Meringue Buttercream

INGREDIENTS

24 oz

frozen or very ripe fresh strawberries, hulled (if frozen, thawed)

1 tsp

sugar (for fresh berries only)

1/4 cup

milk, at room temperature

large egg whites, room temperature

1 tbsp

vanilla extract

2 1/4 cups

cake flour, sifted

1 3/4 cups

sugar

4 tsp

baking powder

1 tsp

salt

12 tbsp

unsalted butter (1½ sticks), softened (not melted)

pink or red food coloring, preferably the gel type (optional)