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Strawberry Cake

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a strawberry cake with strawberries on top on a plate
This strawberry cake is a beautiful combination of fresh juicy strawberries and a simple cake mix that creates a delightful dessert.
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Table of Contents
  1. Strawberry Cake Ingredients
  2. Substitutions And Additions
  3. How To Make This Strawberry Cake Recipe
  4. How To Serve This Homemade Strawberry Cake
  5. Storage
  6. Frequently Asked Questions
  7. More Recipes You’ll Love
  8. JUMP TO RECIPE

This fluffy strawberry cake takes fresh strawberries and adds them to a moist cake topped with decadent, rich cream cheese frosting. Take the simple pleasure of biting into these freshly picked juicy gems a step further with this delightful cake.

a slice of strawberry cake with a strawberry on top on a plate

Strawberry Cake Ingredients

Strawberry Cake raw ingredients that are labeled
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The cake’s light, fluffy texture, coupled with the sweet and tangy flavor of the strawberries, creates a combination that is simply delectable.

Every bite has plenty of juicy, ripe strawberries that bring summery freshness to the cake.

You’ll need:

For The Cake:

  • 3 cups of strawberries, rinsed and chopped or pureed into small pieces
  • 1 package of white cake mix
  • 3-ounce package of strawberry gelatin
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 cup of water
  • ½ cup of vegetable oil

For The Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting:

  • ½ cup of salted butter, softened
  • 2 (8-ounce) packages of cream cheese, softened
  • 1 teaspoon of strawberry extract, optional
  • 5 cups of powdered sugar
  • ¼ cup of heavy cream
  • Pink food coloring, optional

PRO TIP:

Strawberry extract can be tricky to find compared to other extract flavors. Try Amazon or at a local bulk food store.

Substitutions And Additions

FRESH VS FROZEN STRAWBERRIES: You can use unsweetened frozen strawberries instead of fresh strawberries in equal amounts.

GELATIN POWDER: Sugar-free or light gelatin powder can be used in place of regular gelatin powder in this easy strawberry cake recipe.

CAKE MIX: Use vanilla cake mix in place of the white cake mix for a hint of the delicate sweetness of vanilla.

How To Make This Strawberry Cake Recipe

STEP ONE: In a 2-quart saucepan, heat 3 cups of chopped strawberries over medium heat. 

Bring the strawberry mixture to a boil and then continue simmering, stirring frequently, until nearly all of the liquid has evaporated.

STEP TWO: Use a potato masher to break down strawberries as they cook, if you’ve added strawberry pieces.

This process takes approximately 20 minutes. The 3 cups of strawberries should be reduced to about ¾ cup.

strawberry being pureed in a pot

STEP THREE: Remove the strawberry reduction from the heat and cool to room temperature in the refrigerator before adding it to the cake batter.

This will take approximately 1 hour.

OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS

The cake and/or the frosting can be made without fresh strawberry puree. The strawberry puree is nice to include fresh fruit in the cake and the frosting.

STEP FOUR: In a large bowl with a hand mixer, combine the cake mix, strawberry gelatin, eggs, water, and oil.

PRO TIP:

The strawberry gelatin gives the cake a nice pink color in addition to added flavor. 

If you leave it out, consider adding pink food coloring for a pinker strawberry cake.

STEP FIVE: Mix in ½ cup of the cooled strawberry puree reduction until combined.

strawberry puree added to the cake mix in a bowl

STEP SIX: Divide batter between two 8-inch round cake pans lined on the bottom with parchment paper and spray the sides with a non-stick cooking spray.

PRO TIP:

You can buy pre-cut parchment paper rounds to make lining the pans easier.

STEP SEVEN: In an oven preheated to 350°F (325°F for dark/non-stick pans), bake the cake for 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.

PRO TIP:

Oven temperatures vary and may need to be recalibrated periodically to ensure they are accurate. Make sure to check your cake at the lower end of the recommended baking time.

STEP EIGHT: Remove the pans and cool the baked cake for 10 minutes. Gently remove the cakes from the pans to cooling racks and cool them completely.

STEP NINE: Beat together the butter, softened cream cheese, and strawberry extract until combined.

STEP TEN: Beat in 5 cups of powdered sugar, gradually adding a cup at a time.

STEP ELEVEN: Beat in the remaining ¼ cup of strawberry puree reduction.

strawberry puree added to the cream cheese icing in a bowl

STEP TWELVE: Add 1 tablespoon of heavy cream at a time until the desired consistency of frosting is achieved.

STEP THIRTEEN: Add pink food coloring to tint frosting to the desired color (optional). 

STEP FOURTEEN: Trim the top of each cake layer to remove any doming and form a flat surface.

cake being trimmed on a cooling rack

STEP FIFTEEN: Place the first cake layer top-side up onto the serving platter.

STEP SIXTEEN: Mound about ½ cup of frosting onto the cake layer and spread it smoothly to the edges using an offset or rubber spatula.

frosting spread on top of the strawberry cake

STEP SEVENTEEN: Place the second cake layer top-side down on top of the filling. Press down gently to seal the layers together.

STEP EIGHTEEN: Mound another pile of frosting on top of the cake and use a spatula to spread it across the top and down the sides until the cake is fully frosted.

How To Serve This Homemade Strawberry Cake

Serve a delectable slice of this homemade strawberry cake with cream cheese frosting alongside a tall glass of our iced tea or a warm cup of tea or coffee.

You can never go wrong with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a dollop of whipped cream with a slice of cake.

For some other ideas to use all of your strawberries, try our strawberry cobbler or these adorable cheesecake stuffed strawberries.

Storage

Let’s talk about how to store this delicious treat so you can enjoy it for days to come.

IN THE FRIDGE: This strawberry layer cake can last for up to 1 week when stored in the refrigerator. 

IN THE FREEZER: The individual cake layers can be frozen, wrapped in plastic wrap, for up to one month before assembling the cake if you wish to prepare it in advance and also to reduce crumbling.

a strawberry cake with strawberries on top on a plate

Make the best strawberry cake recipe from scratch to create a decadent vintage dessert that looks like it belongs in a bakery window. Moist and fluffy, this easy cake uses a cake mix from the box packed with fresh strawberry flavor and a rich pink cream cheese frosting that will bring back the best memories of summer days past.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I store this cake on the counter?

This fresh strawberry cake recipe is best stored in the fridge for up to one week.

Can I make my own cake instead of using a boxed mix?

If you have a favorite white or vanilla cake recipe, you can use that instead of using the boxed mix.

Can I make this cake ahead of time?

You can bake the cake layers up to a month in advance and freeze them until you are ready to assemble and frost the cake.

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a strawberry cake with strawberries on top on a plate

Strawberry Cake

5 from 3 votes
This strawberry cake is a beautiful combination of fresh juicy strawberries and a simple cake mix that creates a delightful dessert.
Prep Time 50 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 35 minutes
Servings 12

Ingredients
  

Cake

  • 3 cups strawberries, rinsed and chopped or pureed into small pieces
  • 1 package white cake mix
  • 3 ounces strawberry gelatin
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 cup water
  • ½ cup vegetable oil

Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting

  • ½ cup salted butter, softened
  • 16 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1 teaspoon strawberry extract, optional
  • 5 cups powdered sugar
  • ¼ cup heavy cream
  • pink food coloring, optional

Instructions
 

  • In a 2 quart saucepan, heat 3 cups of strawberries over medium heat.
  • Bring the strawberry mixture to a boil and then continue simmering, stirring frequently, until nearly all liquid has evaporated.
  • Use a potato masher to break down strawberries as they cook, if you’ve added strawberry pieces. This process takes approximately 20 minutes, and the 3 cups of strawberries should reduce to about ¾ cup.
  • Remove puree reduction from heat and cool to room temperature in the refrigerator before adding to cake batter, approximately 1 hour.
  • Preheat the oven to 350°F (325°F for dark/non-stick pans).
  • Line the bottom of two 8-inch cake pans with parchment paper and spray the sides with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
  • In a mixing bowl, combine the cake mix, strawberry gelatin, eggs, water, and oil.
  • Mix in ½ cup of the cooled strawberry puree reduction until combined.
  • Divide the batter between the two prepared cake pans.
  • Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.
  • Remove the pans and cool for 10 minutes. Gently remove cakes from the pans to cooling racks and cool completely.
  • Beat together the softened cream cheese, butter, and strawberry extract until combined.
  • Beat in 5 cups of powdered sugar.
  • Beat in remaining ¼ cup of strawberry puree reduction.
  • Add 1 tablespoon of heavy cream at a time until desired consistency of frosting is achieved.
  • Add pink food coloring to tint frosting to the desired color.
  • Trim the top of each cake layer to remove any doming and form a flat surface.
  • Place the first cake layer top-side up onto the serving platter.
  • Mound about ½ cup of frosting onto the cake layer and spread smooth to the edges.
  • Place the second cake layer top-side down on top of the filling. Press down gently to seal the layers together.
  • Mound another pile of frosting on top of the cake and use a spatula to spread it across the top and down the sides until the cake is fully frosted.
  • Refrigerate or freeze until ready to serve.

Video

Notes

  • The cake and/or the frosting can be made without the fresh strawberry puree. The strawberry puree is nice to include fresh fruit in the cake and the frosting.
  • The strawberry gelatin gives the cake a nice pink color in addition to added flavor. If you leave it out, consider adding pink food coloring for a pinker strawberry cake.
  • You can buy pre-cut parchment paper rounds to make lining the pans easier.
  • Oven temperatures vary and may need to be recalibrated periodically to ensure they are accurate. Make sure to check your cake at the lower end of the recommended baking time.
  • Add a few plump whole strawberries to the top of the cake for a pop of color.

Nutrition

Calories: 697kcal | Carbohydrates: 87g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 38g | Saturated Fat: 22g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 115mg | Sodium: 541mg | Potassium: 251mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 72g | Vitamin A: 890IU | Vitamin C: 21mg | Calcium: 111mg | Iron: 2mg
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Proudly Prepared by the Spaceships Kitchen

This recipe was developed, tested, cooked and photographed by the Spaceships Kitchen. From our dinner table to yours, we hope you think it's out of this world!

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  1. Chelsie says

    5 stars
    Just came here to say: Iโ€™m in charge of the baking for birthdays in the family and I made this cake for my older brother last year. Not only did he and everyone else rave about it, he also requested the exact same cake for his birthday again this year! Thank you for the recipe!

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