Best strawberry cake recipe with cream cheese frosting

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This easy strawberry cake (or cupcakes) starts with a white cake mix and a box of strawberry gelatin. Fresh strawberries help to flavor the cake and the creamy frosting. Use fresh or frozen thawed strawberries in this recipe.

The gussied-up cake mix makes a beautiful cake or cupcakes, and it is perfect for a spring party or weekend dessert. 

• Unsalted butter, for the pan

• All-purpose flour, for the pan

• 1 package white or yellow cake mix

• 1 (3-ounce) package strawberry-flavored gelatin

• 1/2 cup vegetable oil

• 4 large eggs, lightly beaten

• 1/4 cup water

• 3/4 cup strawberries, mashed

For the Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting:

• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened

• 1/4 cup pureed fresh strawberries

• 5 to 6 cups confectioners' sugar

1. Gather the ingredients.

2. Preheat the oven to 350 F. Grease and flour 2 (8- or 9-inch) round cake pans or 2 (12-cup) muffin pans with cupcake liners.

3. Combine white or yellow cake mix and strawberry-flavored gelatin powder in a large bowl.

4. Beat in vegetable oil, eggs, water, and 3/4 cup of mashed strawberries.

5. Divide batter between 2 prepared cake pans or among lined muffin pans.

6. Bake for 30 minutes for cake or about 18 to 20 minutes for cupcakes, or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. ​

7. Cool cake or cupcakes in pan on racks for about 10 minutes. Remove from pans onto racks to cool completely.

8. For frosting, beat butter and cream cheese in a mixing bowl with an electric mixer until smooth.

9. Add 4 tablespoons mashed or pureed strawberries and about 5 cups of confectioners' sugar. Beat until smooth and creamy. Add more confectioners' sugar to thicken, if needed.

10. Spread frosting between cake layers and then frost top and sides of cake. Or spread or pipe frosting onto cupcakes.

Tips

• If you have extra strawberry puree, brush a little over the layers before frosting the cake.
• To make the frosting with less sugar, cut back on the mashed or pureed strawberries.

Recipe Variations

• If you don't have enough fresh strawberry puree for the frosting, add 3 to 4 tablespoons of strawberry preserves to the frosting.
• Replace the homemade cream cheese frosting with a tub (or two) of store-bought cream cheese frosting. Add 4 tablespoons of mashed strawberries or strawberry preserves to the frosting for color and flavor.

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This Strawberry Cake With Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting is moist, tender, and bursting with fresh strawberry flavor.  The whipped cream cheese frosting is light and fluffy with a hint of lemon adding the perfect touch to this delicious cake.

A simple sheet cake is transformed into a show-stopping dessert with the addition of fresh strawberries and rich, creamy frosting. This strawberry cake is light and fluffy, with just the right amount of sweetness.

The fresh strawberries add a pop of color and flavor, making it the perfect summer dessert. Topped with a generous layer of whipped cream cheese frosting, this cake is sure to please any crowd.

Best of all, it’s easy to make, so you can enjoy the results without spending hours in the kitchen. Whether you’re hosting a party or simply want to treat yourself, this strawberry cake is sure to satisfy.

I’ve been seeing some beautiful, bright, fresh strawberries at our local market and it’s so exciting! I just love strawberries Whether you use them in a pie or even a fruit salsa, strawberries are a great way to celebrate the sweet taste of spring.

The minute I saw perfectly plump strawberries at the store, I knew it was time to make one of my favorite cakes.

The fresh fruity flavor of this strawberry cake makes it the perfect dessert for any occasion this spring and summer.  It’s definitely going to be on our table this year for our Easter brunch.  

Sheet cakes are perfect for a crowd – they are easy to throw together, and they’re big enough that everyone gets the perfect size piece.

Fresh strawberries are diced and folded into both the cake batter and whipped cream cheese frosting giving this sheet cake the perfect infusion of strawberry flavors.

Homemade Strawberry Cake With Buttermilk

This recipe calls for the use of buttermilk; it makes this cake moist and tender.  Since I don’t always have a carton of buttermilk on hand, I like to keep a container of buttermilk powder in the freezer ready to go.  You will just add the powder to your dry ingredients and then add water in with your wet ingredients.  If you’ve never used buttermilk powder, go run and grab some.  It’s the perfect solution when you have a buttermilk crisis in the kitchen!

Any frosting or icing can go with a strawberry cake, it all just depends on what you are looking for! If you want a classic white frosting, then a basic buttercream frosting would be perfect. If you are looking for something a little more unique, then go with this whipped cream cheese frosting.

The whipped cream cheese frosting is the perfect combination of cream cheese and fresh whipped cream – the perfect frosting for a strawberry cake.  

I love the use of cream cheese in this frosting because it adds a touch of tanginess to the sweet cream of the frosting. Heavenly 🙂

Here are frosting flavors to go on strawberry cake:

• Vanilla Buttercream
• Strawberry Buttercream
• Cool Whip (if you’re in a pinch)
• Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting

Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients:

• Cream Cheese 
• Confectioners’ Sugar 
• Chopped Fresh Strawberries
• Heavy Cream 
• Fresh Lemon Juice

Cream Cheese Frosting Directions:

1. Beat cream cheese and 1/3 cup confectioners’ sugar until smooth; add strawberries and beat until just blended.
2. Beat cream and lemon juice at medium speed until foamy; increase speed to medium-high. Slowly add the remaining 1/3 cup sugar and beat until stiff peaks form.
3. Using a spatula, fold half of the cream mixture into the cream cheese mixture; fold in the remaining cream mixture.
4. Use immediately.

Get the full whipped cream cheese frosting recipe below in the recipe card.

Whipped Cream Frosting Tips

When making the whipped cream, be sure to use well-chilled cream right from your refrigerator; room-temperature cream will not incorporate air as well. It’s also a good idea to use a chilled metal bowl. Keeping things as cold as possible will yield you the best whipped cream.

The strawberry frosting uses confectioners’ sugar instead of regular granular sugar. I like to use confectioners’ sugar when making a whipped cream that’s used in a frosting because it contains a touch of cornstarch which stabilizes the whipped cream, preventing it from weeping as it sits.

This Strawberry Cake With Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting can be made a day ahead and stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Just remember to set it on the counter to get to room temperature about 30 minutes before serving.

Enjoy!

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Strawberry Cake With Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting

This Strawberry Cake With Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting is bursting with fresh strawberry flavor. A perfect dessert for any occasion!

Prep Time15 mins

Cook Time35 mins

Total Time50 mins

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Cream Cheese Frosting, strawberry cake

Servings: 12

Calories: 588kcal

Strawberry Cake

• 1 cup unsalted butter softened
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
• 1.5 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 1/2 cups cake flour*
• 3 tablespoons strawberry-flavored gelatin
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon table salt
• 1 cup buttermilk*
• 2/3 cup chopped fresh strawberries
• Strawberry Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting – see notes below

Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting

• 8 ounces cream cheese 1 (8-oz.) package cream cheese, softened
• 2/3 cup confectioners' sugar divided
• 3/4 cup chopped fresh strawberries
• 1 1/2 cups heavy cream cold
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Strawberry Cake

• Preheat the oven to 350°. Cream butter and sugar at medium speed with an electric mixer until fluffy and pale in color – about 3-4 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at time, beating for a few seconds between eggs. Bet n vanilla and lemon juice.

• In a separate bowl, stir together cake flour, strawberry flavored gelatin, baking soda and salt. Add flour mixture to creamed butter mixture and alternate with buttermilk, ending with flour mixture. Blend on low speed until incorporated. Fold in diced strawberries.

• Grease and flour a 9×13-inch baking pan and line with parchment paper. Allow a couple of inches of parchment paper to drop over the edges of the pan. Spray parchment with cooking spray and pour batter into prepared pan. Smooth batter evenly.

• Bake at 350° for 30 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack 30 minutes. Using flaps of parchment paper as handles lift cake from pan. Turn cake over onto wire rack (carefully remove parchment paper) and cool completely. Spread Strawberry Frosting on top and sides of cake.

Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting

• Beat cream cheese and 1/3 cup confectioners' sugar until smooth; add strawberries and beat until just blended.

• Beat cream and lemon juice at medium speed until foamy; increase speed to medium-high. Slowly add remaining 1/3 cup sugar and beat until stiff peaks form.

• Using a spatula, fold half of cream mixture into cream cheese mixture; fold in remaining cream mixture.

• Use immediately.

Calories: 588kcal | Carbohydrates: 65g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 35g | Saturated Fat: 21g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 123mg | Sodium: 204mg | Potassium: 152mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 45g | Vitamin A: 1239IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 77mg | Iron: 1mg

Find More Strawberry Dessert Recipes Below:

After you devour this yummy strawberry cake…try one of these strawberry desserts!

• Strawberry Twinkie Cake
• Strawberry Cookie Bars
• S’more Strawberry Shortcake In A Jar
• Strawberry Shortcake Dessert Kabobs
• Strawberry Vanilla Bean Cupcakes
• Strawberry Muffins With Fresh Strawberries

Recipe from ezeBreezy – Life Simplified – Recipe adapted from Southern Living

This strawberry cake made from scratch is the perfect summer dessert. Using fresh strawberries, this light and flavorful cake is easy to make. A sheet cake is ideal for feeding a crowd, and the whipped cream cheese frosting is a delicious and elegant finish. This cake is sure to be a hit at your next party or potluck.

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Hi, I’m Susan! Thanks for stopping by Oh My! Creative. I like to have fun, make fun things…you know, create stuff! I love DIY, decorating and design and like any girl…shopping and lunch!