The Best Ever Strawberry Cake is truly a celebration of everything wonderful about strawberries—if you love berry-bright desserts that burst with fresh flavor and irresistible color, this recipe will instantly steal your heart. Picture a rich, tender pink cake with real strawberries baked right in, all crowned with a luscious strawberry cream cheese frosting. Every slice is unbelievably moist and sweet, with just the right balance of tanginess from the berries and creaminess from the frosting. Whether you’re making it for a birthday, picnic, or just because you deserve something special, this homemade strawberry cake will have everyone coming back for seconds.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Every single ingredient in this Best Ever Strawberry Cake plays an important part—nothing complicated, just simple pantry staples that combine to create something spectacular. Each item brings either flavor, color, or luscious texture to the finished cake, so it’s worth using the best you can find!
- White cake mix: The ultimate shortcut for a fluffy, reliable base that lets the strawberry flavor shine through.
- Strawberry-flavored gelatin (3 oz): Adds a punch of berry flavor and gives the cake its gorgeously vibrant pink hue.
- Mashed fresh strawberries (1 cup for cake, 1/4 cup for frosting): Real strawberries guarantee the cake is naturally moist and full of juicy, sweet-tart flavor.
- Large eggs (4): Essential for structure and that luscious, tender crumb everyone loves.
- Vegetable oil (1/2 cup): Keeps the cake extra moist, ensuring it stays soft for days.
- Water (1/4 cup): Helps the batter come together smoothly—don’t skip this step.
- Vanilla extract (1/2 tsp for cake, 1/2 tsp for frosting): Enhances the strawberry notes and adds warmth to both cake and frosting.
- Cream cheese (8 oz, softened): For that tangy, creamy base in the frosting you’ll be licking from the beaters.
- Unsalted butter (1/2 cup, softened): Richness that helps the frosting whip up fluffy and decadent.
- Powdered sugar (4 cups): Gives the frosting structure and that sweet, velvety finish.
How to Make Best Ever Strawberry Cake
Step 1: Prep Your Pans & Preheat
Set the stage for cake success by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) and preparing your cake pans—either two 8-inch rounds or one 9×13-inch. Grease and flour them so the cake slips out beautifully once baked.
Step 2: Mix the Dry Ingredients
In a large mixing bowl, combine the white cake mix and strawberry gelatin. Don’t be shy about mixing thoroughly—you want that strawberry flavor to be distributed in every bite and that gorgeous pink color to shine through.
Step 3: Add Wet Ingredients
Add the mashed fresh strawberries, eggs, vegetable oil, water, and vanilla extract to the dry mixture. This is the magic moment where the batter takes shape, and the fresh strawberry aroma starts to fill your kitchen.
Step 4: Beat Until Smooth
With an electric mixer, beat everything on medium speed for two full minutes. This extra time ensures a silky-smooth batter, giving your Best Ever Strawberry Cake its signature tender, delicate crumb.
Step 5: Bake the Cake
Pour the luscious pink batter evenly into your prepared pans. Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until a toothpick poked in the center comes out clean with just a few moist crumbs attached. Let the cakes cool in the pans for about 10 minutes before turning them out onto wire racks to finish cooling completely.
Step 6: Make the Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting
While cakes are cooling, beat softened cream cheese and butter together until completely creamy and smooth. Add in the mashed strawberries and vanilla, then gradually mix in the powdered sugar. The result is a pale pink frosting that’s rich, tangy, and flecked with real berry pieces—truly irresistible!
Step 7: Frost and Chill
Once the cake layers are cool, generously frost between the layers, then over the top and sides. For the very best texture and easy slicing, refrigerate the finished cake for a short time before serving—trust me, it’s worth the wait.
How to Serve Best Ever Strawberry Cake
Garnishes
Keep things classic with fresh strawberry halves or slices artfully arranged over the frosting. You can add a handful of mint leaves for a pop of color and subtle herbal note, or even a dusting of powdered sugar for that extra-special finish.
Side Dishes
This Best Ever Strawberry Cake shines all on its own, but if you want to add a little something, consider serving it with a dollop of freshly whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. These sides let the strawberry flavor sing and make every bite even more indulgent.
Creative Ways to Present
For playful parties, try baking the batter as cupcakes topped with a generous swirl of strawberry cream cheese frosting. Or, serve individual squares in pretty paper wrappers for easy handing out at picnics and potlucks. If you’re feeling fancy, pipe rosettes or decorate the top with edible flowers for ultimate springtime charm.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
If you’re lucky enough to have leftovers of the Best Ever Strawberry Cake, simply cover the cake (or slices) and store in the refrigerator. The cream cheese frosting keeps everything fresh and the cake often tastes even more flavorful the next day!
Freezing
Want to plan ahead? Both the baked cake layers (unfrosted) and the finished, frosted cake can be frozen. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and then foil. Thaw overnight in the fridge and bring to room temperature before serving for maximum deliciousness.
Reheating
This cake doesn’t need reheating, but if you like your slice a touch warmer, just let it sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes. Avoid microwaving, as it can melt the cream cheese frosting and alter the luscious texture.
FAQs
Can I use frozen strawberries instead of fresh?
Absolutely! Just thaw the frozen strawberries and drain off any excess juice before mashing. The Best Ever Strawberry Cake will still have fabulous strawberry flavor year-round.
Can I make this cake gluten-free?
Swap the white cake mix for your favorite gluten-free version and double-check that your gelatin is gluten-free. The rest of the recipe works just the same, so everyone can enjoy a slice!
How do I get my cake extra pink?
The combination of strawberry gelatin and fresh berries already makes for a gorgeous pink cake, but you can add a drop or two of pink food coloring to the batter if you want it even more vibrant—great for birthdays and celebrations!
Can I make the frosting ahead of time?
Yes, the strawberry cream cheese frosting can be made a day ahead and stored in the fridge. Just give it a quick stir (or beat) before frosting the cake, and you’re good to go.
How do I make the cake even more strawberry-forward?
For an extra blast of berry flavor, add 1/2 teaspoon of strawberry extract to the batter along with the vanilla. It makes the Best Ever Strawberry Cake even more irresistible for strawberry lovers!
Final Thoughts
If you’re hunting for a new dessert tradition or just want a cake that makes everyone smile, give this Best Ever Strawberry Cake a try. It’s easy, festive, bursting with real berry flavor, and guaranteed to create sweet, joy-filled memories at every table. Happy baking, and don’t forget to share a generous slice!
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Best Ever Strawberry Cake Recipe
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Diet: Non-Vegetarian
Description
Indulge in the delightful flavors of fresh strawberries with this Best Ever Strawberry Cake. Moist and tender, this cake is topped with a luscious strawberry cream cheese frosting that takes it to the next level.
Ingredients
Main Cake:
- 1 box white cake mix
- 1 package (3 oz) strawberry-flavored gelatin
- 1 cup mashed fresh strawberries
- 4 large eggs
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 8 oz cream cheese (softened)
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 1/4 cup mashed strawberries
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour cake pans.
- Mix Cake: Combine cake mix, gelatin, mashed strawberries, eggs, oil, water, and vanilla. Beat until smooth.
- Bake: Pour batter into pans. Bake for 25–30 minutes. Cool cakes on wire racks.
- Make Frosting: Beat cream cheese and butter. Add strawberries, vanilla, and powdered sugar. Beat until fluffy.
- Frost Cake: Frost cooled cake layers and chill before serving.
Notes
- For a stronger strawberry flavor, add 1/2 teaspoon strawberry extract.
- Decorate with fresh strawberries if desired.
- Store covered in the refrigerator.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 38g
- Sodium: 360mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 53g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
