Sugar Free Strawberry Cake

Cake Ingredients

• Box vanilla sugar free cake mix
• 3 large eggs, separated
• 2-3 tbsp salted butter, chilled
• 3-4 tbsp canola oil
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1 tsp cake batter flavor
• 6-8 drops red food coloring
• 13-16 oz Sugar free strawberry jam (set aside for filling and topping)
• 16 oz fresh strawberries (set aside for filling and topping)
• 2 tbsp Swerve sweetener (set aside for filling and topping)
• 2 9in round cake pans, parchment lined

Frosting Ingredients

• 16 oz cream cheese
• 3/4 cup heavy cream
• 1-2 tsp strawberry extract
• 6-8 drops red food coloring
• 6-8 tbsp Swerve sweetener (to tase)
• Piping bag with tip

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 (or according to box directions).
2. Remove tops and slice strawberries.  Add slices to medium sized bowl and combine with Swerve.
3. Mix strawberry jam together with the strawberries and keep chilled in the fridge.
4. Separate eggs, yolks in a small bowl, whites in a medium sized mixing bowl.
5. Mix egg whites until peaks are almost stiff and set aside.
6. In a large mixing bowl, combine dry cake mix with butter and blend with a fork or a mixer until incorporated and crumbly.
7. Add wet ingredients to cake mix, blend just until batter is fully smooth.
8. Gently fold in the egg whites.
9. Divide the batter evenly between two cake pans and level.
10. Cakes go into the oven and bake according to package directions OR until toothpick inserted in center comes out mostly clean.
11. In a large mixing bowl, prepare frosting by beating cream cheese until fluffy.
12. Continue beating while adding heavy cream 1/4 cup at a time.
13. Add Swerve, strawberry extract, and food color to desired taste and appearance.
14. Fill piping bag with frosting and set all frosting in fridge to chill.
15. When cakes are baked, set them out on a rack to cool.  Then remove from pans.
16. You may slice off the cake tops to level OR if you are looking for a more homemade appearance simply turn the bottom layer upside down on a dinner plate.
17. Start frosting on the bottom layer by piping a ring around the top edge of cake.
18. The poke many holes in the center of this ring with a straw.  Pour half of the strawberry jam mix into this frosting ring.
19. Set the top layer on the bottom layer and perform the same steps on top.  IF you want your cake to have a more level appearance, you may remove some of the height from the center of the cake with a fork or knife before adding the jam.
20. Pipe frosting around the sides and finish the ring around the top in whatever technique appeals to you most.
21. Chill and serve! Some Swerve may be dusted on top just before serving for a snowy appearance.