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1
Preheat oven to 350F.
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2
Grease three 8- by 2-inch cake pans.
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3
In a small bowl combine crunch topping ingredients, stirring until combined.
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4
Divide topping among pans and press evenly onto bottom.
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5
In a large bowl whisk together flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, and salt.
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6
Add remaining ginger cake ingredients and with an electric mixer beat on high speed 2 minutes.
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7
Carefully spread batter over crunch topping in pans and bake in upper and lower thirds of oven, switching position of pans in oven halfway through baking, 20 minutes, or until a tester inserted in center of each layer comes out clean.
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8
Immediately invert cake layers onto racks lined with wax paper and cool completely.
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9
Cake layers may be made 2 weeks ahead and frozen, wrapped separately in plastic wrap.
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10
Thaw layers in refrigerator before proceeding with recipe.
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11
In a chilled bowl with chilled beaters of an electric mixer beat 2 cups cream with vanilla and 2 tablespoons granulated sugar until it just holds stiff peaks.
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12
Arrange 1 cake layer, crunch side up, on a cake plate and spread with a heaping cup whipped cream.
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13
Repeat with another cake layer and another heaping cup whipped cream and top with third cake layer, crunch side up.
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14
Leaving top plain, spread remaining whipped cream on side of cake to coat (a final coating will be added later).
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15
Chill cake, covered loosely with plastic wrap, at least 4 hours (to facilitate slicing) and up to 24.
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16
Hull strawberries and slice half of them.
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17
In a bowl with a potato masher mash sliced berries with lemon juice and remaining 2 tablespoons granulated sugar.
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18
In a food processor puree remaining berries and strain through a fine sieve into bowl with mashed berry mixture.
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19
Sauce may be made 1 day ahead and chilled, covered.
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20
In a chilled bowl with chilled beaters of an electric mixer, beat remaining cup cream until it just holds stiff peaks and spread decoratively on side of cake.
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21
Arrange some whole strawberries on top of cake and garnish plate with additional whole strawberries.
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22
Serve cake with strawberry sauce.
