Strawberry-Cream Cheese Filling

Name: Strawberry-Cream Cheese Filling
Yield: Makes about 3 cups
Ingredients: 24 ounces (3 packages) cream cheese, room temperature; 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened; 2 cups confectioners' sugar; 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract; 2 cups strawberries (about 12 ounces), hulled

Tangy cream cheese gets a hit of tartness and sweetness from fresh strawberries in this simple-yet-perfect cake filling recipe.

Source: Martha Stewart Kids, Spring

Makes about 3 cups

Yield

Ingredients

24 ounces (3 packages) cream cheese, room temperature
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
2 cups confectioners' sugar
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 cups strawberries (about 12 ounces), hulled

Directions

1. Put cream cheese, butter, and sugar into mixer bowl; mix until creamy. Mix in vanilla. Puree strawberries in a food processor; strain. Mix 3/4 cup puree into cream cheese mixture (reserve remaining puree for Swiss-Meringue Buttercream). Use immediately or refrigerate airtight up to 3 days; stir before using.