EASY STRAWBERRY CAKE
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Easy Strawberry Cake with
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. Yep, moist strawberry cake recipe from box. It’s light, tender, moist, and bursting with strawberry flavor.
EASY STRAWBERRY CAKE WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
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 it’s my passion.
As well, this Strawberry Cake recipe 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!)
Strawberry Cake recipe tips & 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 a strawberry flavored 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 9x13x3-inch baking pan as well as cupcakes.
- For a 9x13x3-inch cake, you may want to reduce the amount of frosting. (I don’t, but I love frosting!)
Cooking times for pan size
I prefer these brands for cake pans: Fat Daddio’s, Wilton, USA Pan Store, and Cuisinart. Various brands are listed below depending on what was in stock at the time I linked them.
- 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
- 9x13x3-inch baking pan, cook for 28-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Standard cupcakes take 18 to 20 minutes for standard cupcakes or 10 to 12 minutes for minis. Cool the cupcakes in the tin on a rack for 10 minutes, then remove them from the tin and cool them on the rack completely.
If you want to accurately test a cake for doneness, I recommend using a cake thermometer. A cake is done when it reaches 210°F in the center. Use caution to not touch the bottom of the baking pan.
I prefer it made in three 8-inch layers and iced.
But, if it’s easier in a 9×13-inch pan, by all means, you do not have to stack it.
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. It 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 it into the pan. Bake, then frost. I frosted it with
WHILE YOU’RE HERE, CHECK OUT THESE RECIPES.
You may also enjoy my Pound Cake Series
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.
Easy Strawberry Cake
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 flavored gelatin 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 powdered sugar (aka confectioners) 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 9×13-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:
- Beat the cream cheese and butter until smooth. Sift sugar and add one cup at a time to the cream cheese mixture. Add heavy whipping cream and strawberries and incorporate completely.
- 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
- For 9×13 pan bake 28 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- 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
Nutrition
Nutritional information given is an automatic calculation and can vary based on the exact products you use and changes you make to the recipe. If these numbers are important to you, I recommend calculating them yourself.
Is the cake sweet enough or do I need to add a little sugar?
It’s sweet. I’ve never had anyone comment it wasn’t sweet enough.
Do you think or has anyone used sugar free strawberry jello as that is what I have on hand and would like to use it if possible?
Yes, I did have a comment from someone that they used sugar-free and it worked fine. I scanned the comments but didn’t see it right away.
I made this for the second time and again, everyone loved it. I used fresh strawberries both times. It’s so moist and bursting with strawberry flavor. I love that the cake is semi- homemade but tastes so decadent. I feel pretty accomplished making homemade icing though, haha! To me that was the hardest part but so worth it. Thanks for the recipe!
😄 You made me smile!! I’m so happy you like it!! Thanks for commenting.
This cake was so good. Everyone loved it. I made it with two 9” cake pans. The directions said to bake it from 28-31 minutes. I baked for 28 minutes and one side of rack cake was burnt and the cake got pretty brown. (Over done) My husband cut off the burnt parts. I can’t figure out why this happened. Instead of using Wilton fast release. I used Pam fast release. I don’t see why that would matter. I cooked it at 350 degrees. I cooked them on the middle rack. I really wish I knew what went wrong. The cake pans were nonstick but like I said I uses Pam fast release. All in all it was still good and everyone liked it but I think it could have been better if I could figure out what I did wrong. I followed the recipe perfectly except I didn’t have Wilton cake pans.
You need to rotate your cake in the over.
If your nonstick pans have a dark surface that could be the problem. Try lowering the oven temperature to 325
After the cake is made can you leave it out on the counter until the next day? This looks wonderful. I am making it today. I will let you know how much we like it.
If you frost it with the cream cheeses frosting it needs to be refrigerated.
Does this Strawberry Cake need to be refrigerated for leftovers?
Yes, it does.
I have made this cake several times now and it is a favorite in our family. The recipe is fairly simple but the cake tastes like Ive been slaving away all day in the kitchen. Thank you
Why does the cake shrink down once it is out of the oven? Help!
Mine pulls away from the sides of the pan. Do you mean sink in the center? If that’s the case, it may need a few more minutes to cook.
Can you make a day ahead of birthday . Make cake and frosting but do not frost until day of use?
Yes
This recipe looks delicious and I’m excited to try it for my daughter’s birthday cake. Is this frosting good for piping? It seems soft so I wasn’t sure how well it would hold up for decorating. If not, do you have another frosting recipe you recommend that would compliment this cake? Thanks so much!
It’s not if made as written, but you can add more sifted powdered sugar until it is the consistency of buttercream or decorating frosting.