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Easy Strawberry Cake

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Made with a doctored up cake mix, this easy strawberry cake is a great make-ahead dessert for summer! Bursting with strawberries and topped with cream cheese frosting, this pretty pink cake is sweet, tangy, and totally delicious.

Three plates, each holding a slice of easy strawberry cake garnished with halved strawberries.

If you saw my post on the famous TikTok cinnamon rolls with heavy cream, you know that TikTok is totally a source of inspiration for me these days.

I recently had a video pop up on my FYP of someone making a strawberry cake using a cake mix. I didn’t love their method, but I loved the idea!

So I decided to turn to my own archive of cake recipes and figure out how to tweak some existing recipes to make a fun and simple strawberry cake.

The result is this pretty pink cake that is bursting with pieces of fresh strawberries. It’s fun, it’s pretty, and it’s so delicious! 

Ingredients for easy strawberry cake arranged on a marble countertop.

MY EASY STRAWBERRY CAKE RECIPE

If you’ve been reading MBA for a while, you’ve probably picked up on the fact that while I love making from-scratch cakes – like the best chocolate cake, banana cake, or strawberry shortcake – I also really love finding ways to dress up a simple cake mix.

Cake mixes are great. Everyone is at a different level of skill in the kitchen, and for some people, cake mixes are their first introduction to baking.

And even for people like myself who bake almost daily, sometimes you need to throw a dessert together really quickly. Using a cake mix can totally help with that!

Cake mix, jello mix, and butter combined in a glass mixing bowl, with the other ingredients for strawberry cake surrounding it.

I have used my doctored cake mix recipe to make so many different kinds of cakes and cupcakes, from easy pineapple upside-down cake to pistachio pudding cake.

I really love my easy strawberry cupcakes, so this year I decided to do a twist on that recipe with this easy strawberry cake.

I made this cake for family and neighbors and every single one of them was obsessed with this cake. It disappeared so fast, I knew I’d have to make another one right away!

Luckily it’s so simple to make, throwing another one together takes minimal effort.

Easy strawberry cake batter in a glass mixing bowl next to a bowl of diced strawberries.

HOW TO MAKE STRAWBERRY CAKE

This easy strawberry cake is perfect for summer. Not only is it a great way to use those summer strawberries, but this cake is best served cold. It’s a refreshing sweet bite on a hot summer day!

Ingredients you’ll need

This recipe is inspired by my doctored cake mix, but I tweaked the ingredients a bit this time around.

Some of the main ingredients are:

  • White cake mix: I decided to use a white cake mix for this recipe instead of a yellow cake mix. I used a Pillsbury mix for this cake, but you could give a homemade white cake mix a try if you like.
  • Strawberry jello mix: Instead of pudding mix, I decided to use a box of strawberry jello mix. Not only does it add extra strawberry flavor to the cake, it also makes it a pretty pink color. Who could resist that?
  • Fresh strawberries: The best part of this cake is all of the strawberries in it! This recipe uses a full pound of strawberries so you get fruit in every bite.
Easy strawberry cake cooling on a wire rack set on a marble countertop.

Other ingredients you’ll need for the cake are:

  • Softened unsalted butter
  • Milk
  • Vegetable oil
  • Eggs

If you forget to set out your butter ahead of time to soften, get my tricks for how to soften butter quickly!

This cake is also topped with a simple cream cheese frosting, which pairs perfectly with the moist, fruit-filled cake.

Cream cheese frosting for easy strawberry cake in a white mixing bowl.

Making this cake

To make the strawberry cake, start by whisking together the cake mix and the jello mix in a large bowl.

Add the softened cubed butter and use your stand mixer or a hand mixer to work the butter into the dry mixes.

Add the mix and oil, mixing until combined, then add the eggs one at a time, making sure to mix well after each addition. Finally, use a spatula to gently fold in the diced strawberries.

Frosted strawberry cake set on a wire cooling rack on a marble counter.

Bake this cake in a 13×9-inch pan. Once it is baked, let it cool to room temperature before frosting it. 

To make the cream cheese frosting, beat the cream cheese and butter together for about 5 minutes to thoroughly combine.

With your mixer on low speed, gradually add the powdered sugar, followed by the vanilla. Mix on medium speed for another 5 minutes to make the frosting super smooth and creamy.

Frost the cake and refrigerate for at least 4 hours before serving. 

Four plated slices of easy strawberry cake arranged on a marble countertop next to the sliced strawberry cake.

STORAGE AND SERVING

This cake is best served cold and is actually even better the second day, so I highly recommend making it the night before you plan to serve it.

That’s right, it’s a great make-ahead dessert!

Simply cover the cake and keep it refrigerated until right before you plan to serve it. 

Slice of strawberry cake on a white plate. A bite has been taken from one corner of the cake.

Before serving, I like to decorate the top with more strawberries. After all, you can never have too many strawberries, and they make the cake look so pretty!

This easy strawberry cake recipe is everything you will want from a cake this summer. Moist, cool, and packed with strawberry flavor – it’s absolutely perfect!

Slice of strawberry cake garnished with halved strawberries on a white plate.
White plate with a slice of strawberry cake. A fork rests on the edge of the plate and a bite has been taken from the cake.

Easy Strawberry Cake

Yield: 12 servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Chill Time: 4 hours
Total Time: 4 hours 55 minutes

Made with a doctored up cake mix, this easy strawberry cake is a great make-ahead dessert for summer! Bursting with strawberries and topped with cream cheese frosting, this pretty pink cake is sweet, tangy, and totally delicious.

Ingredients

For the Cake

  • 1 15.25-ounce white cake mix (I used Pillsbury)
  • 1 3-ounce strawberry jello mix
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature and cut into cubes
  • ½ cup milk
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 pound fresh strawberries, washed, stemmed and cut into small pieces

For the Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 4 ounces cream cheese, softened to room temperature
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
  • 1/2 pound powdered sugar, sifted
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For Topping

  • Fresh strawberries

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9x13 inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the cake and jello mixes. Add in the cubed butter and use a hand mixer or stand mixer to work the butter into the dry mixes. Pour in milk and oil and mix on low speed until fully incorporated. Add in eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Fold in the chopped strawberries.
  3. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake in preheated oven for 38-40 minutes. Place cake on a wire rack and allow it to cool completely before frosting.
  4. Once the cake has cooled to room temperature, prepare the frosting. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a large bowl with an electric hand mixer, cream together cream cheese and butter until well combined, about 5 minutes, scraping the sides of the bowl with a spatula as necessary.
  5. With the mixer on low, gradually add the powdered sugar until thoroughly incorporated and smooth. Add vanilla and mix to combine. Turn the mixer to medium speed and mix for approximately 5 more minutes, scraping the sides and bottom of the bowl with a spatula as necessary.
  6. Frost cake and place the cake in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours. If desired, top with fresh strawberries just before serving.

Notes

This cake is served cold - it’s not nearly as good at room temperature. This cake is best made the day before it is served.

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Nutrition Information
Yield 12 Serving Size 1 slice
Amount Per Serving Calories 480Total Fat 29gSaturated Fat 10gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 16gCholesterol 99mgSodium 219mgCarbohydrates 52gFiber 1gSugar 41gProtein 6g

Did you make this recipe?

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Rebecca

Monday 26th of June 2023

I have a cake mix, which says to add 3 eggs and 150ml water.

Your recipe says to oil eggs etc.

Do I still add the 3 eggs and 150ml according to my cake mix packet as well as your other ingredients.

Or can I follow the instructions on my cake mix bag, still adding the jello powder and folding in strawberries?

Thanks in advance

Jamie

Monday 26th of June 2023

Hi Rebecca – Assuming your cake mix is a 15.25 ounce mix, just follow the instructions in the recipe card, ignoring what the box says. Hope this helps! Happy baking - Jamie

Sally

Thursday 18th of May 2023

How far in advance would you suggest making this? Hosting a big party and making this but still want it to taste good! Trying to knock things off the to do list beforehand as much as possible.

Jamie

Thursday 18th of May 2023

Hi Sally – This cake actually tastes best if it's made the day before, so I would definitely make it the day before the party! Hope you enjoy! Jamie

Gloria Craig

Tuesday 25th of April 2023

I made this recipe but instead of a 9 x 13 pan, I made cupcakes. Unfortunately they sunk horribly in the middle I will cover up with frosting. They do taste good though.

Jamie

Thursday 27th of April 2023

Thanks for stopping by and sharing your feedback, Gloria! Happy baking – Jamie

Amira

Saturday 25th of February 2023

Made this cake today and smells and looks delicious! Only thing is the top was starting to burn at about 30 mins in. I have the temp at 350 f. on the middle rack. Moved it to the bottom to avoid further burning. Hope this helps!

Jamie

Thursday 2nd of March 2023

Thanks for sharing, Amira! Happy baking - Jamie

Joan

Tuesday 9th of August 2022

Love this recipe! How do you think it would turn out as a layer cake in 2 round pans? 6, 8 or 9 inch pans?

Kathy

Wednesday 8th of March 2023

@Joan, I have made baked it in round cake pans, No worries enjoy

Jamie

Friday 12th of August 2022

Hi Joan – I think you could certainly bake it in 9-inch pans for a layer cake. If you give it a try, I'd love to know how it turns out. Happy baking! Jamie

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