Vanilla Cake with Strawberries, Basil and Mascarpone Cream

Ingredients

• Cake

  • ¾ cup (180 ml) milk
  • 6 tbsp (85 g) unsalted butter, cubed
  • 1 1/3 cups (200 g) unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/8 tsp salt
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup (210 g) sugar
  • 1 tsp (5 ml) vanilla

• Syrup

  • ¾ lb (340 g) strawberries with stems
  • ½ cup (125 ml) water
  • ½ cup (105 g) sugar
  • ¼ cup (10 g) basil leaves, plus more for serving

• Mascarpone Cream

  • ½ cup (125 ml) 35% whipping cream
  • ½ cup (125 g) mascarpone cheese, at room temperature
  • 3 tbsp sugar
  • ½ tsp (2.5 ml) vanilla