EASY FRESH STRAWBERRY CAKE (+Video)

This Easy Fresh Strawberry Cake starts with a boxed cake mix, strawberry jell-o, fresh strawberries and is topped with cream cheese frosting!

FRESH STRAWBERRY CAKE WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

This Easy Fresh Strawberry Cake starts with a boxed cake mix, strawberry jell-o, fresh strawberries and is topped with a sweetened cream cheese frosting! It is a deliciously simple way to use all those fresh-picked strawberries. The cake mix makes it easy but the fresh strawberries and cream cheese frosting make it taste totally homemade!

TIPS FOR MAKING THIS STRAWBERRY CAKE:

• For this recipe, I'm using my favorite Fresh Strawberry Cake recipe. It's an old favorite and it has never failed me. I am using vanilla cake mix and adding strawberry jell-o instead of using a strawberry cake mix. This gives the cake a bit more flavor and keeps it from tasting like a boxed cake mix.
• I'm also using my go-to cream cheese frosting recipe that I like to use for my RED VELVET CHEESECAKE CAKE. It really is the perfect frosting for this cake! But you can use a store-bought canned frosting if that is your preference.
• Frozen strawberries can be used. Just make sure they are unsweetened and thawed before using.

INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (FULL RECIPE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST)

• vanilla cake mix
• strawberry gelatin mix (Jell-O)
• eggs
• vegetable oil
• water
• fresh strawberries
• cream cheese
• butter
• powdered sugar
• vanilla extract
• milk

HOW TO MAKE FRESH STRAWBERRY CAKE:

Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Spray 9x13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Y'all know I love this kind that has flour in it. Perfect for baking.

Give your strawberries a good rinse then gently dry them with a paper towel. Remove the stems and dice them up.

Then stick them in a plastic Ziploc bag and start crushing them up. I'm using the flat side of my meat tenderizer here but you can use any heavy object or a rolling pin. This will probably take you a minute or two.

Then stick them in a plastic Ziploc bag and start crushing them up. I'm using the flat side of my meat tenderizer here but you can use any heavy object or a rolling pin. This will probably take you a minute or two.

In the bowl, combine cake mix with strawberry gelatin powder. Mix until combined.

Then stir in oil, eggs and water.

Once that is combined, add in 1 cup of your smooshed strawberries. You will want to gently stir those in by hand.

Then pour batter into baking dish.

Bake for about 30-33 minutes. Oven times do vary, so to make sure it is done, stick a toothpick in the center, if it comes out clean, it is good to go. Allow cake to cool completely before adding frosting. If you've ever made a strawberry cake before, you know they always brown a bit on top. No worries, that is normal. We are gonna cover it up with frosting anyway. 

To make the frosting, mix together your softened butter and softened cream cheese. It's easiest if you have an electric mixer.

Mix until smooth and creamy and lump-free. Then mix in powdered sugar, vanilla extract and milk. Mix until smooth and creamy. Note: If you have any leftover crushed strawberries, you could always add it to your frosting.

Slather frosting onto cooled cake.

Then slice and serve. If there are any leftovers, you'll want to cover it and put into the fridge.

CRAVING MORE STRAWBERRY RECIPES? GIVE THESE A TRY!

• STRAWBERRY MESS 
• STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE CAKE
• STRAWBERRY KOOL-AID PIE
• HOT MILK SPONGE CAKE WITH STRAWBERRIES
• STRAWBERRY MUFFIN MIX WAFFLES
• NO-BAKE STRAWBERRY ANGEL DESSERT
• BANANA CAKE WITH VANILLA FROSTING
• STRAWBERRY JELL-O POKE CUPCAKES
• STRAWBERRY PRETZEL DESSERT

EASY FRESH STRAWBERRY CAKE

This Easy Fresh Strawberry Cake starts with a boxed cake mix, strawberry jell-o, fresh strawberries and is topped with cream cheese frosting!

4.88 from 49 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Fresh Strawberry Cake

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Servings: 12

Calories: 391kcal

Author: Brandie @ The Country Cook

Ingredients

For the cake:

• 1 box vanilla cake mix (or white, yellow cake mix)
• 1 3 oz box strawberry gelatin mix (Jell-O)
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• ¼ cup water
• 1 pint fresh strawberries (or 1 cup crushed fresh strawberries)

For the frosting:

• ½ block cream cheese (4 oz) softened
• ⅓ cup butter, softened
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon milk

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Instructions

For the cake:

• Preheat oven to 350F degrees.
• Spray 9 x 13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
• Give the strawberries a good rinse then gently dry them with a paper towel. Remove the stems and dice.
• Put strawberries into a plastic Ziploc bag and start crushing them up using a rolling pin or other heavy object. This will probably take you a minute or two.
• In the bowl, combine cake mix with strawberry gelatin powder. Mix until combined.
• Then stir in oil, eggs and water. 
• Once that is combined, add in 1 cup of the smushed strawberries. You will want to gently stir those in by hand.
  
• Then pour batter into prepared baking dish.
• Bake for about 30-33 minutes.
• Oven times do vary so to make sure it is done, stick a toothpick in the center, if it comes out clean, it is good to go.
• Allow cake to cool completely before adding frosting.

For the frosting:

• Using an electric mixer, mix together the softened butter and softened cream cheese.
• Mix until smooth and creamy and lump-free.
• Then mix in powdered sugar, vanilla extract and milk. Mix until smooth and creamy.
• Slather frosting onto cooled cake. Slice and serve.

Video

Notes

If there are any leftovers, you'll want to cover it and put into the fridge.

Nutrition

Calories: 391kcal | Carbohydrates: 65g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 78mg | Sodium: 444mg | Potassium: 113mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 46g | Vitamin A: 370IU | Vitamin C: 23.2mg | Calcium: 118mg | Iron: 1.4mg

Nutritional Disclaimer

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Originally published: February 2013
Updated & republished: May 2020