Here's a cake that's bound to make your Valentine, pal or kiddos squeal with glee. I just couldn't resist the combination of old–timey strawberry milk and ridiculously pink frosting.
This cake is full of wonder. While in California for winter break, I spent an afternoon cooking with my fairy godmother. She spoke to me in hushed tones of desserts her aunties used to make, one of which stuck out to me — it was the 'scalded milk cake.' Full of batter stains and pencil notes, the recipe seemed to have gotten a workout, perhaps it was a go–to birthday cake?
I was right! By almost boiling the milk used for this elemental vanilla cake, a malty, milky flavor would permeate the confection. And when I tested the recipe with strawberry milk, it was even better than the plain original version. This is why I love recipe inheritance and chatting with different cooks — everyone has their own take and variation according to their tastes and available ingredients.
And strawberry milk is heavenly! Usually I eschew items that are so obviously artificially flavored, but this sweet pink stuff, it's a revelation. It tastes just like the pink-stained milk after eating a bowl of Lucky Charms. I'm not sure if it's my Saturday–morning–cartoon–watching cereal nostalgia or the fact that I've never bought strawberry milk before (novelty power!), but I couldn't get enough of my new preferred pink beverage. It was very silly. If you find yourself indulging, just be sure you save about a cup of the sweet stuff, because it is a great base flavor for this recipe.
Happy Valentines, sweeties!

(adapted from Mrs. Joe Montgomery's recipe card)
2 eggs
1 3/4 cups sugar
2 1/2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup scalded strawberry milk
1/4 cup butter
Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and grease two cake pans, set aside. Beat the eggs, vanilla and sugar until fully combined (I used a whisk). In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. Add flour to egg mixture, mixing until just combined. In a small sauce pan, heat milk until almost boiling (there will be a little steam and a few small bubbles on the side of the pan), add butter and turn off heat, stirring until butter is fully melted. Pour scalded milk/butter into the batter, stir until combined. Bake for about 35 minutes, until done.
Whipped Cream Frosting
1 package cream cheese, room temperature
1/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2 cups heavy cream
food coloring (optional)
Necco wafers (optional decoration)
In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the cream cheese, sugar, vanilla and almond extract until smooth. With the mixer on medium speed, slowly pour in the heavy cream. Whip until the cream holds a stiff peak, about 3 minutes. Lastly, add the food coloring if using. Decorate the cake after it's fully cooled.
More Hot Pink at The Kitchn!
Pictured above
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• Recipe: Spring Radishes Braised with Shallots and Vinegar
• Kitchen Spotlight: Holly and Sean's Hot Pink
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(Images: Leela Cyd Ross, special thanks to Erin and the girls for allowing me to photograph the cake at Lodekka)












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Comments (23)
adorable cake, and i wish i knew where the blonde girl got her hair done, i love that cut!
I love this! The red nails are also a perfect accompaniment.
This is so cute! I hope I get the chance to try it out. The frosting sounds really tasty.
I actually gasped when I saw this. I always make a fantastic chocolate cake for my February birthday, but this recipe might be the winner this year!
Sounds tasty! For those curious about the original recipe, sweet milk is just whole milk.
What size cake pans should you use?
i used two different sizes, b/c that's what I had on hand -- a 10 inch and an 8 inch. Any circular 8-10 inch cake pan will work.
i think this would make anyone happy, i really really want a slice of this cake with a sip of strawberry milk. wow, super fun!
Think it would work just as well with chocolate milk? A malty, chocolate cake sounds yummy!
malty chocolate cake, that sounds superb!
Sounds good - but I'd use milk flavored with real strawberries, not that artificial stuff.
Oh my! I was in the mood to bake a cake. I think this one will fit the bill. I love the super pink frosting, the recipe looks good too, cream cheese and heavy cream. Yum.
I cannot wait to make this for Valentines! We're having dinner with a bunch of friends on the 14th, and I'm going to decorate this with those conversation hearts instead of Necco wafers. So excited!!
How do you get the frosting to be sooooo hot pink??? Is there a certain type of coloring that works best??? Thx!
i used 'rose' gel food coloring i picked up from sur la table -- i went a little over board with the amount, hence the shocking neon color!
Looks so delicious and too cute for words!
I was excited to make this cake. I turned it into cupcakes however and baked at 350 for 25 mins. They turned out nice and fluffy, but no strawberry taste at all! They just taste vanilla...disappointed.
I made this cake today and despite having slightly dulled taste buds I think I had the same experience as ArinDay. Neither my husband nor I can taste any strawberry in the cake, which is really disappointing as this was supposed to be a Valentine's Day present for my strawberry-loving husband. To think I was so excited when I spotted this recipe as I thought it would be just perfect for him.
it mentions butter twice in the recipe but says nothing about how much of each? I'm confused -__- so do i cream the same amount of butter as i do when i put it into the pan of milk'?
wow, clearly I have minor dyslexia I get it know ::runs away::
@ArinDay, I had the exact same problem. In addition, my gas oven baked the cake in about half the recommended time, so my cakes were a little toasty and tough on the edges. =(
I've got this in the oven, as we speak. Baking it for my husband and son for Valentines Day today. Thanks SO much for this recipe! I haven't tasted the cake yet, since it's still baking. But the frosting is absolutely INCREDIBLE!
I substituted the sugar with Nestle Nesquick powder strawberry milk mix; it's very strong on the strawberry flavor and beautiful deep pink inside. :D
BUNNY MILK CAKE FTW!!!