Easy Strawberry Cake tastes and looks like a bakery cake, but is easier than from-scratch! It’s full of strawberries in the cake and the icing.
This cake is ‘easy’ because it starts with a cake mix, but don’t worry unless you tell no one will ever know, it tastes homemade. It’s light, tender, moist, and is bursting with strawberry flavor.
Fluffy, moist, studded with strawberries, and easy to whip together, my Easy Strawberry Cake will be your new favorite. There is nothing like a freshly home-made cake with lots of sweet creamy frosting.
EASY STRAWBERRY CAKE
This is my recipe box. Yes, it’s quite large and it’s not the only recipe box I have. This is the box of my family ‘favorites’; I also have a box of recipes that I want to try. And a binder of pretty entertaining and party recipes and tips. And, I have cookbooks.
So many recipes, so little time! One-third of these recipes are for desserts! I know, crazy, it’s my passion.
As well, Strawberry Cake has been one of my favorite desserts for many years. It’s the cake I always wanted my Mom to make for my birthday (or anytime I could persuade her to make it!)
TIPS AND SUGGESTIONS
- First, this strawberry cake starts with a boxed cake mix. However, because it has fresh strawberries it tastes homemade.
- You can use fresh or frozen strawberries.
- For the 1 cup of strawberries, you can mash with a potato masher, hand chop, or chop in a food processor. They add just the right amount of flavor and moisture.
- As well, you’ll add a 3-ounce box of strawberry gelatin (Jello is the most known brand) to the batter. If you have strawberry boxed cake mix, you can skip this step. However, adding strawberry gelatin to a white cake mix is a huge strawberry flavor boost.
- This cake calls for vegetable oil. It adds moisture and makes the texture amazing. (I haven’t tried reducing the oil amount.)
- You can make this into either 2 or 3 layers. It also works well in a 9×13-inch sheet pan as well as cupcakes.
- For a 9×13-inch cake, you may want to reduce the amount of frosting. (I don’t, but I love frosting!)
Cooking times for pan size
- two 9-inches round or 9×9 inch square 28 to 31 minutes
- two 8-inch round or 8×8-inch square 30 to 33 minutes
- three 8-inch round 28 to 30 minutes
- 9×13-inch bake pan, cook 28-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
I prefer it made in three 8 inch layers and iced.
But, if it’s easier in a sheet pan, by all means, you do not have to stack it.
June 10, 2018. I updated the recipe for the cake and the frosting. This frosting has the same flavor and ingredients, I made it thicker. The changes are correct in the recipe as written.
EQUIPMENT NEED TO MAKE THIS EASY STRAWBERRY CAKE
I made it for the teachers at my son’s school and baked it in an aluminum 9×13
was much easier to transport and I didn’t have to go back and collect a cake pan.
The beauty of this recipe? Dump all ingredients in the bowl and mix!
I like using the whisk attachment for cakes. I think it incorporates more air into the batter.
Mix it all together and pour into the pan.
Bake, then frost. I frosted it with Cream Cheese Frosting.
WHILE YOU’RE HERE, CHECK OUT THESE RECIPES.
You may also enjoy my Pound Cake Series
- Fresh Strawberry Pound Cake
- Strawberry & Cream Pound Cake
- Delicious Strawberry Cream Cake
- Strawberry Pound Cake
- Strawberry Buttermilk Pound Cake
Easy Strawberry Cake
Easy Strawberry Cake tastes and looks like a bakery cake, but is easier than from-scratch! It's full of fresh strawberries in the cake and the icing. This cake is 'easy' because it starts with a cake mix, but don't worry unless you tell noone will ever know!
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Servings: slices
Equipment
Ingredients
Cake
- 15.25 ounce box white cake mix (use ingredients listed here NOT what is listed on the box) You can also use 16.25-ounce size
- 3 -ounce box strawberry jello you'll use the powder
- 1 cup strawberries fresh or frozen mashed or finely chopped (measured after you chop or mash them)
- ¾ cup vegetable oil
- ½ cup whole milk or 2% milk
- 4 large eggs at room temperature
Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting
- 8 -ounces cream cheese at room temperature
- ½ cup butter room temperature
- 5 to 6 cups confectioners' sugar sifted then measured, more if needed
- 2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream more if needed
- ¼ cup strawberries fresh or frozen, mashed or chopped fine, drained
Instructions
PLEASE READ POST ABOVE FOR MORE INFO
For the Cake
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly spray pan(s) with non-stick spray or Wilton cake release.
- Add cake mix, eggs, milk, and vegetable oil to a mixing bowl. Use a hand mixer or stand mixer and mix well. Mix in the 1 cup of mashed strawberries and the (dry) strawberry gelatin.
- Mix 3 minutes, stopping to scrape the sides of the bowl a couple of times.
- Divide the batter evenly among layer pans or pour into a 9x13-inch baking pan. Cool the cake layers for 10 minutes in the pan before removing them to a wire rack. Wait until the cake is completely cool before frosting.
For Cream Cheese Frosting:
- For a more professional cake, remove the domes from the tops of the cake layers with a cake leveler or large serrated knife.
- Place one layer of cake on a serving plate. Spread about 1 cup of the frosting on top in an even layer. Repeat with the next layer of cake and frosting, then top the cake with the final layer of cake (if you have 3 layers).
- Frost the outside of the cake. An offset spatula makes it really easy to get an even layer.
Video
Notes
Cooking times for pan size
- For 9x13 pan bake 28 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
- two 9-inches round or 9x9 inch square 28 to 31 minutes
- two 8-inch round or 8x8-inch square 30 to 33 minutes
- three 8-inch round 28 to 30 minutes
Nutrition
Calories: 574kcal | Carbohydrates: 94g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 116mg | Sodium: 489mg | Potassium: 115mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 75g | Vitamin A: 645IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 140mg | Iron: 1mg
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You can also find great recipes at my recipe index or at Meal Plan Monday
Jenny says
Made this cake in 9×13 pan and it was awesome all 3 times. Everyone should try this. Family is already asking when am I going to make again
Tekela says
I tried this recipe…. I love it!!! I used a bundt cake pan though.
Paula says
Good to know it worked in a bundt pan!! Thank you. Happy you enjoyed it.