Best Ever Strawberry Cake

Step 1
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Step 2
Grease and flour two 8-inch cake pans.

Step 3
Mix pureed strawberries, milk, eggs, and 1 tablespoon vanilla extract together in a small bowl; transfer to the bowl of a stand mixer.

Step 4
Beat flour, white sugar, baking powder, and salt into strawberry mixture on Low; add butter and continue beating on Low until evenly combined.

Step 5
Stop mixer, scrape sides, and beat again for about 30 seconds.

Step 6
Divide batter evenly between the two prepared cake pans.

Step 7
Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of each cake comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Cool the cakes in the pans for about 10 minutes; transfer to wire racks to completely cool, about 30 minutes.

Step 8
Beat cream cheese and butter together in a medium bowl until smooth. Gradually beat confectioners' sugar into cream cheese mixture until creamy and fluffy; stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.

Step 9
Spread about 1/2 the frosting on top of 1 cake. Place second cake on top of frosting layer; spread the remaining frosting on top of second cake and around sides of both cakes.