Chocolate Strawberry Cake: Ultimate - Cooking with Kendra

Ingredients

• 1 ¾ cups (210 g) All-Purpose Flour, sifted
• 1 ¾ cups (350 g) Granulated Sugar
• ¾ cup (75 g) High-Quality Cocoa Powder, Dutch-processed
• 1 tsp (5 g) Baking Soda
• 1 tsp (5 g) Fine Sea Salt
• 2 Large Eggs (100 g), room temperature
• 1 cup (240 ml) Buttermilk (or whole milk + 1 tbsp vinegar)
• ½ cup (120 ml) Neutral Vegetable Oil
• 2 tsp (10 ml) Vanilla Extract
• 1 cup (240 ml) Hot Coffee (or boiling water), freshly brewed
• 5 Large Egg Whites (150 g), room temperature (for SMBC)
• 1 ¼ cups (250 g) Granulated Sugar (for SMBC)
• 1 ½ cups (3 sticks, 340 g) Unsalted Butter, cubed, soft but cool
• 1 tsp (5 ml) Vanilla Extract (for SMBC)
• 2 lbs (900 g) Fresh Strawberries, washed, hulled
• 2 Tbsp (30 g) Granulated Sugar (for macerating)
• 1 Tbsp (15 ml) Grand Marnier or Kirsch (Optional)