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A slice of Strawberry Cake on a dessert plate with one bite missing.
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Strawberry Cake

This easy Strawberry Cake starts with a boxed cake mix, strawberry Jell-O, fresh strawberries and is topped with a homemade frosting!
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 12
Calories 391kcal
Author Brandie Skibinski

Ingredients

For the cake:

  • 1 pint fresh strawberries (or 1 cup crushed fresh strawberries)
  • 15.25 ounce box French vanilla cake mix (I use Duncan Hines)
  • 3 ounce box strawberry gelatin mix (Jell-O)
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • ¼ cup water

For the frosting:

  • ½ block (4 ounces) cream cheese, softened to room temperature
  • ⅓ cup unsalted butter, softened (you can use salted if that is all you have)
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 Tablespoon milk (more if needed to get desired texture)

Instructions

For the cake:

  • Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Spray 9x13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray (I like the kind with flour in it.)
  • Rinse 1 pint fresh strawberries with water, then gently dry them with a paper towel. Remove the stems and dice.
  • Put strawberries into a large Ziploc bag and start crushing them up using a rolling pin or other heavy object. This will probably take you a minute or two. Set aside.
    Smashed strawberries in a Ziploc bag.
  • In a large bowl, combine 15.25 ounce box French vanilla cake mix with 3 ounce box strawberry gelatin mix. Mix until combined.
    Cake mix and strawberry jell-o mix in a bowl.
  • Then stir in 4 large eggs, 1 cup vegetable oil and 1/4 cup water.
    Oil, eggs, and water being added to a cake mix.
  • Once that is combined, add in 1 cup of the smashed strawberries. You will want to gently stir those in by hand.
    Strawberries being added to cake batter.
  • Then pour batter into prepared baking dish.
    A baking dish with cake batter.
  • Bake on the middle oven rack for about 30-33 minutes.
    NOTE: Oven times can vary so please go by doneness, not just time. Stick a toothpick in the center, if it comes out clean, it is good to go.
    A baked strawberry cake.
  • Allow cake to cool completely before adding frosting.

For the frosting:

  • Using an electric mixer, mix together 1/2 block (4 ounces) cream cheese, softened to room temperature and 1/3 cup unsalted butter, softened. Mix until smooth, creamy and lump-free.
    Butter and cream cheese in a bowl.
  • Then mix in 2 cups powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and 1 Tablespoon milk. Mix until smooth and creamy.
    NOTE: After mixing, if you find it needs a bit more milk to become creamy, add just a very little bit at a time until you reach your desired consistency.
    Powdered sugar and milk being added to make a frosting.
  • Slather frosting onto cooled cake. Put the cake back into the refrigerator for about an hour to help the frosting set up.
    A frosted Strawberry Cake in a baking dish.
  • Then slice and serve! I like to top each piece of the strawberry cake with a slice of fresh strawberry .
    A slice of Easy Strawberry Cake with cream cheese frosting and a sliced strawberry.

Video

Notes

  • Please refer to my FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions) and ingredient list above for other substitutions or for the answers to the most common questions.
  • If you have leftover smashed strawberries, you can add those into the frosting if you'd like. You may need to add a bit more powdered sugar to the frosting to adjust. 

Nutrition

Calories: 391kcal | Carbohydrates: 65g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 12g | Sodium: 444mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 46g
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