The Ultimate Summer Dessert: Lemon Cake with Strawberries & Mascarpone

Wondering what to make with those ripe, juicy strawberries you found at the farmers market? Skip the usual shortcake and make my favorite strawberries-and-cream dessert: Lemon Cake with Strawberries and Mascarpone Cream. This beaut was inspired by a dessert we had at Verjus in Paris – the very same night we unexpectedly ran into Ina and Jeffrey! I’ve turned up the volume to create a not-too-sweet, layered showstopper that tastes like pure summer. Taking a page from Ina, I coat the cake in a turbinado sugar crust for a delicate crunch, then brush each layer with lemon simple syrup so it stays moist and bright. The sponge is stacked with fresh sliced strawberries and a luscious mascarpone cream. The mascarpone adds just enough structure so the filling stays put (unlike my first whipped cream attempt, which definitely oozed out the sides when sliced). Give me another slice now! Make ahead: The lemon cake can be baked 1 day ahead. Cool completely, wrap tightly, and store at room…