The Best Strawberry Cake with Strawberry Frosting Recipe Ever

Sweet strawberry cake converts ordinary desserts into extraordinary culinary experiences that dance across taste buds.

Vibrant red berries infuse this delectable treat with natural brilliance and irresistible charm.

Soft, tender crumb meets luscious strawberry frosting in a harmonious blend of texture and flavor.

Each slice promises a delightful journey through summer’s most beloved fruit essence.

Bakers passionate about creating memorable moments will adore this straightforward yet impressive confection.

Fresh ingredients elevate this recipe from simple to spectacular, ensuring every bite feels like a celebration.

Indulge in a dessert that captures pure strawberry magic and brings joy to any gathering.

Why Strawberry Cake with Strawberry Frosting Feels Like a Celebration

• Burst with Fresh Strawberry Flavor: This cake delivers an intense, authentic strawberry taste through the homemade strawberry reduction and freeze-dried strawberry powder, ensuring every bite is packed with real fruit essence.
• Achieve Bakery-Level Elegance: The three-layer design with precise leveling and professional frosting techniques creates a stunning visual presentation that looks like it came straight from a high-end patisserie.
• Perfect Texture Harmony: The recipe combines moist cake layers with silky cream cheese frosting, offering a delightful contrast between soft cake and smooth, rich frosting that melts in your mouth.
• Impressive Yet Approachable: Despite looking sophisticated, the step-by-step instructions make this cake achievable for home bakers with moderate cooking skills, transforming a complex dessert into an enjoyable weekend baking project.

Ingredients for Strawberry Cake with Strawberry Frosting

• Strawberries: Fresh, ripe berries provide natural sweetness and vibrant flavor for the cake.
• Vegetable Oil, Unsalted Butter: Ensure moistness and rich texture in the cake.
• Eggs: Provide structure and help bind the cake ingredients together.
• Sour Cream: Adds moisture and tangy richness to the cake batter.
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances overall flavor with its warm, sweet aroma.

• Granulated Sugar: Sweetens and helps create a tender cake crumb.
• All-Purpose Flour: Essential base for cake structure and texture.
• Salt: Balances and enhances the cake's overall flavor profile.
• Baking Powder, Baking Soda: Crucial leavening agents for cake rise and lightness.
• Milk: Adds moisture and helps blend dry ingredients smoothly.
• Pink Food Coloring: Optional ingredient for a soft pink cake appearance.

• Freeze-Dried Strawberries, Cream Cheese or Mascarpone, Heavy Whipping Cream: Core components creating a rich, creamy strawberry frosting.
• Powdered Sugar, Vanilla Extract: Sweeten and flavor the frosting with delicate notes.

How to Bake Strawberry Cake with Strawberry Frosting at Home

Step 1: Craft Strawberry Reduction

• Rinse strawberries and blend into smooth puree
• Cook puree in saucepan over medium-low heat
• Stir frequently until reduced and thickened
• Cool to room temperature

Step 2: Prepare Baking Station

• Heat oven to 350°F
• Line three 8-inch round pans with parchment
• Grease pan sides

Step 3: Blend Wet Ingredients

• Combine in large bowl
• Vegetable oil
• Melted butter
• Eggs
• Sour cream
• Vanilla extract
• Beat until smooth

Step 4: Incorporate Sweet Elements

• Mix in granulated sugar
• Add strawberry puree
• Optional: Add pink food coloring
• Blend thoroughly

Step 5: Mix Dry Components

• Whisk together in separate bowl
• Flour
• Salt
• Baking powder
• Baking soda

Step 6: Create Cake Batter

• Gradually add dry ingredients to wet mixture
• Alternate with milk
• Mix until just combined
• Stir with spatula to ensure even distribution

Step 7: Bake Cake Layers

• Divide batter evenly among prepared pans
• Bake for 18-20 minutes
• Check with toothpick for doneness
• Cool completely

Step 8: Create Strawberry Powder

• Pulse freeze-dried strawberries in food processor
• Grind until fine powder

Step 9: Prepare Frosting Base

• Chill mixing bowl
• Cube cream cheese
• Beat until smooth
• Gradually add heavy cream
• Mix until liquid consistency

Step 10: Finish Frosting

• Add remaining cream
• Beat until soft peaks form
• Mix in
• Strawberry powder
• Powdered sugar
• Vanilla extract
• Beat until stiff peaks develop

Step 11: Level Cake Layers

• Use cake leveler
• Trim cake layer tops

Step 12: Assemble Cake

• Place first layer on cake board
• Pipe frosting on layer
• Spread evenly
• Repeat with second layer
• Add final layer

Step 13: Create Crumb Coat

• Fill gaps with piping bag
• Smooth with offset spatula
• Avoid mixing crumbs into frosting

Step 14: Final Decoration

• Cover cake sides with remaining frosting
• Pipe around edges
• Smooth with spatula
• Garnish with fresh strawberries

Tips for a Fluffy Strawberry Cake and Smooth Frosting

• Boost Strawberry Flavor: Add 1-2 tablespoons of strawberry jam or extract to intensify the natural berry taste throughout the cake.
• Prevent Soggy Layers: Pat fresh strawberries dry before adding to cake to prevent excess moisture from making the cake dense.
• Achieve Perfect Texture: Allow ingredients like eggs and dairy to reach room temperature before mixing to ensure smoother, more even cake batter.
• Maximize Frosting Stability: Chill cream cheese and mixing bowl beforehand to help the frosting hold its shape and prevent separation.
• Create Clean Cake Slices: Refrigerate the fully frosted cake for 30 minutes before serving to help frosting set and make cutting easier.

How to Keep Strawberry Cake with Strawberry Frosting Fresh

• Refrigeration: Store leftover strawberry cake in an airtight container within the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Cover cake loosely with plastic wrap to prevent drying out and preserve moisture.
• Room Temperature: Keep cake at room temperature for 1-2 days if serving soon, ensuring it remains covered to maintain freshness and prevent dust accumulation.
• Reheating: Gently warm individual slices in the microwave for 10-15 seconds on low power. Avoid overheating to prevent the cake from becoming tough or losing its delicate texture. Let slice sit for a few moments before serving to distribute warmth evenly.

Perfect Pairings for Strawberry Cake with Strawberry Frosting

• Craft Delightful Wine Pairing: Complement the cake's sweet strawberry essence with a crisp, slightly sweet rosé or moscato wine, enhancing the fruity flavor profile and providing a refreshing contrast to the rich frosting.
• Create Complementary Beverage Mix: Serve a fresh strawberry smoothie or strawberry-infused iced tea alongside the cake, echoing the dessert's vibrant strawberry notes and offering a cool, fruity accompaniment.
• Design Perfect Flavor Companion: Match the cake with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream or light lemon sorbet, which will cut through the sweetness and provide a creamy, palate-cleansing experience that highlights the cake's delicate strawberry undertones.
• Explore Unexpected Drink Option: Try a sparkling elderflower cocktail or non-alcoholic elderflower spritzer, whose delicate floral notes will beautifully enhance the strawberry's natural sweetness and add an elegant touch to the dessert experience.

Strawberry Cake with Strawberry Frosting Variations to Try

• Berry Blush Variation: Swap strawberries with raspberries for a tangy, vibrant cake that bursts with deep red color and intense fruity flavor.
• Citrus Splash Variation: Add lemon or orange zest to the batter and frosting for a bright, refreshing take on the classic strawberry cake that introduces a zingy undertone.
• Almond Dream Variation: Incorporate almond extract into the cake batter and sprinkle toasted almond slivers between layers for a nutty, sophisticated version that enhances the strawberry's natural sweetness.
• Chocolate Strawberry Fusion: Fold cocoa powder into half the cake batter and create a marbled effect, then drizzle melted dark chocolate over the finished cake for a decadent, rich interpretation.

Strawberry Cake with Strawberry Frosting Recipe

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4.6 from 13 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

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Description

Luxurious strawberry cake delivers pure dessert magic from first bite to last. Fresh California strawberries and silky frosting create a sweet symphony you cannot resist.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 16 ounces (453 grams) strawberries, reduced
• 3 large eggs
• 2 ½ cups (350 grams) all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ cups (285 grams) granulated sugar
• 16 ounces (452 grams) full-fat cream cheese or mascarpone cheese, cold

Liquid and Fat Ingredients:

• ½ cup (118 milliliters) vegetable oil
• 3 tablespoons (42 grams) unsalted butter, melted
• ½ cup (120 grams) sour cream
• 2 teaspoons (10 milliliters) pure vanilla extract
• ½ cup (118 milliliters) milk
• 2 ¼ cups (531 milliliters) heavy whipping cream, cold

Dry and Seasoning Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon (5 grams) salt
• 2 teaspoons (7.5 grams) baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• 1-ounce bag (34 grams) freeze-dried strawberries
• ½ cup (65 grams) powdered sugar
• Pink food coloring (optional)

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Instructions

1. Create a vibrant strawberry reduction by blending ripe strawberries into a smooth puree, then gently simmer in a saucepan until thickened and concentrated, reducing the volume to capture intense strawberry essence.
2. Prepare baking pans by lining with parchment and lightly greasing, ensuring easy cake release and perfect shape.
3. Whisk together liquid ingredients including vegetable oil, melted butter, eggs, sour cream, and vanilla extract until thoroughly integrated and silky smooth.
4. Incorporate granulated sugar into the wet mixture, then fold in the cooled strawberry reduction, creating a soft pink batter with deep fruity undertones.
5. In a separate bowl, sift together flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda to eliminate potential lumps and ensure even distribution of leavening agents.
6. Gently fold dry ingredients into the wet mixture, alternating with milk, stirring minimally to maintain a tender cake texture and prevent gluten development.
7. Distribute batter evenly across three prepared cake pans, using a spatula to level the surfaces and eliminate air pockets.
8. Bake in a preheated oven until golden and a testing skewer emerges clean, allowing cakes to cool completely before further processing.
9. Transform freeze-dried strawberries into a fine powder using a food processor, creating an intense fruit flavor concentrate.
10. Chill mixing bowl before whipping cream cheese until completely smooth, gradually introducing heavy cream to create a light, airy base.
11. Integrate strawberry powder, powdered sugar, and vanilla into the cream mixture, whipping until stiff peaks form and frosting holds its shape.
12. Level cake layers using a specialized cake leveler to create perfectly even surfaces for stacking.
13. Anchor first cake layer with a frosting dollop, then pipe and spread a generous layer of strawberry cream between each tier.
14. Apply a thin crumb coat to seal in loose cake particles, creating a smooth foundation for final frosting.
15. Cover entire cake with remaining frosting, using an offset spatula to achieve a clean, professional finish.
16. Garnish with fresh strawberries, strategically placed to enhance visual appeal and hint at the cake’s delightful flavor profile.

Notes

• Strawberry reduction transforms plain cake into a vibrant, intensely flavored dessert with concentrated fruit essence.
• Freezing mixing bowl ensures cream cheese and whipped cream maintain perfect texture without melting during preparation.
• Precise layering technique guarantees professional-looking cake with even frosting distribution and stunning visual appeal.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 40 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 435
• Sugar: 34g
• Sodium: 200mg
• Fat: 28g
• Saturated Fat: 15g
• Unsaturated Fat: 9g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 43g
• Fiber: 1g
• Protein: 5g
• Cholesterol: 100mg