Chocolate-Covered Strawberries Cake

Wow, this sounds so yummy! I love chocolate covered strawberries. Can't wait to make this one! Enjoy!

• Ready In: 1 hr 20 mins
• Serves: 16

Ingredients

• 2⁄3 cup butter, softened
• 1 1⁄2 cups sugar, divided
• 1  teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 1⁄2 cups flour
• 2 1⁄2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 3⁄4 cup milk
• 4  egg whites
• 1  cup  sliced fresh strawberries

• Frosting

• 7 1⁄2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 1⁄2 cups  baking cocoa
• 3⁄4 cup butter, softened
• 1  cup milk
• 2  teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1⁄2 cup  sliced fresh strawberries
• 8  whole fresh strawberries

Directions

1. In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and 1 1/4 cups sugar. Beat in vanilla. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with milk.
2. In a small mixing bowl, beat egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in remaining sugar, 1 T. at a time, on high until stiff peaks form and sugar is dissolved. Fold into batter. Fold in strawberries.
3. Pour into two greased and floured 9 inch round baking pans. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.
4. For frosting, in a large mixing bowl, combine confectioners' sugar and cocoa. Beat in butter and milk until smooth. Beat in vanilla.
5. Spread frosting over bottom cake layer; top with sliced strawberries. Top with remaining cake layer; frost top and sides of cake. Dip whole strawberries into frosting; arrange around and on top of cake. Refrigerate leftovers.