Strawberry Whipped Cream Tort, or (Raspberry Torte)

You will need:

• 1 Pillsbury cake mix, yellow or white
• 2 to 3 pints of heavy whipping cream
• 1 container of strawberry glaze, any brand will do
• 1 tsp. of lemon juice
• 1 tbsp. sugar
• 1 heaping tsp. of corn starch
• 2 tbs. of strawberry or sour cherry jelly
• 1 small box of Jell-o brand instant cheesecake pudding
• 1 small container of favorite cool whip
• 2 tbsp. powder sugar
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla
• 1 handful or so of sliced almonds

Prepare the cake mix as directed and pour 2/3 of the mixture in 1, 8 inch round greased and floured pan and the other 1/3 into the other 8 inch greased and floured pan and follow baking directions.  Allow the cakes to cool only slightly then level them with a knife and divide the larger one into 2 pieces.  You should have 3 layers of cake to let cool.

In a saucepan on the stove, mash and macerate about 8 of the strawberries with 1 tsp. of lemon juice and 1 tbsp. of sugar for about 15 minutes.  Bring to a boil and add jelly and then add cornstarch mixed with a little water and allow to thicken and turn off heat.  Set it aside.

Arrange bottom layer on a nice serving platter and spread with the strawberry mixture.  Add the next layer.

In a small mixing bowl combine the jell-o pudding with 1 cup of milk and then fold in the small container of cool whip and spread on the layer of cake. 

Add the last layer of cake and arrange with strawberries cut in half saving just about 8 perfect ones for the icing later on and spread with glaze.  Be careful not to put strawberries next to the edge or they will fall off later.  You will fill in the edge with icing.

Now prepare the whipping cream by placing in a glass or metal mixing bowl. add 2 tbsp. powder sugar and a touch of vanilla and 2 packets whipped cream stabilizer such as Dr. Oetker or you can omit the stabilizer.

Now ice the sides of the cake and use a star tube to make 8 mounds of whipped cream on the top.  Now decorate the sides of the cake with almond slices and use the left over strawberries to garnish each mound of cream.  Now your tort is picture perfect.  What a beautiful showy cake!  A little time consuming but well worth the effort.

I do the same thing with fresh raspberries only I use a seedless raspberry jam for the bottom layer and spread the whipped cream over the top before placing the raspberries on the cake.  Another very impressive tort!

ENJOY!!