• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About
    • Meet Lynn
      • Contact
  • Fresh April Sprinkles
  • Recipes
  • Cookbook

Fresh April Flours logo

July 19, 2017

Fresh Strawberry Cake with Strawberry Buttercream

Pin
Share
Email
Share
Tweet

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe
Soft and fluffy homemade strawberry cake made with fresh strawberries and topped with a creamy strawberry buttercream.Soft and fluffy homemade strawberry cake made with fresh strawberries and topped with a creamy strawberry buttercream.Soft and fluffy homemade strawberry cake made with fresh strawberries and topped with a creamy strawberry buttercream.

Soft and fluffy homemade strawberry cake made with fresh strawberries and topped with a creamy strawberry buttercream.

Fresh Strawberry Cake with Strawberry Buttercream: Soft and fluffy strawberry cake made with fresh strawberries and topped with a creamy strawberry buttercream.

Middle of July already?? How? HOW? That can only mean one thing… We are more than halfway through our cake of the month adventure. How are we doing? Have you made any yet?

I know last month’s cake was a big hit and I saw manyyyy beautifully swirly pictures on IG! Thank you for tagging me!

Let’s see here… In past Cakes of The Month, we’ve made:

  • yellow layer cake with chocolate buttercream
  • dark chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting
  • white layer cake with whipped cream buttercream
  • banana crumb snack cake
  • ice cream sheet cake
  • red, white, & blue swirl bundt cake
See all 2017 Cake of The Month recipes!

Today, we’re visiting a cake that I’ve had in my back pocket for many years. I used to make this fresh strawberry cake often for custom cake customers, and it was wildly popular in the summer months.

The reason I’m bringing it to the blog today is because it showcases one of the best fruits summer has to offer: fresh strawberries.

Fresh Strawberry Cake with Strawberry Buttercream: Soft and fluffy strawberry cake made with fresh strawberries and topped with a creamy strawberry buttercream.

NO GELATIN, JUST REAL STRAWBERRIES

Back in the day, when I developed this recipe, I took to Google and Pinterest to find a homemade strawberry cake that was made with actual fruit. Can you believe it?

Have you ever tried to search for a fresh strawberry cake recipe from scratch? Or a strawberry cake recipe without gelatin? I found a lot of recipes were made with strawberry jelly, jam, or even Jell-O, but that’s not at all what I was looking for.

I wanted soft, fluffy cake dotted with actual bits of strawberries, and a strawberry cake without gelatin. I found strawberry cupcakes from Brown Eyed Baker that I figured I could turn into a cake, and after a few tries, I settled on this lovely little number I’m sharing with you today.

Fresh Strawberry Cake with Strawberry Buttercream: Soft and fluffy strawberry cake made with fresh strawberries and topped with a creamy strawberry buttercream.

HOW TO MAKE FRESH STRAWBERRY CAKE

The ingredients in this fabulous strawberry layer cake are nothing you haven’t seen already in cake. Nothing special, nothing fancy, and no artificial flavors.

You’ll be getting 100% of the strawberry flavor in this cake from actual, juicy strawberries. 2 cups of them! That’s about 16 large strawberries. So much flavor!

Fresh Strawberry Cake with Strawberry Buttercream: Soft and fluffy strawberry cake made with fresh strawberries and topped with a creamy strawberry buttercream.

The cake itself lends to a soft and fluffy texture. You might think this cake should be dense and heavy, but it is absolutely not. It’s basically like eating a strawberry cloud. Can you dig it?

The only thing that makes this easy strawberry cake better is the absolutely creamy dreamy strawberry buttercream that gets slathered all over every inch of it. Ohhh, it is SO GOOD.

THE SECRET TO STRAWBERRY BUTTERCREAM

I spent a whole lot of time trying to make strawberry frosting in my past cake baker life, and I always failed miserably. I never got the right ratio of strawberries to sugar and butter in order to get great flavor and also avoid making a shloopy, drippy mess.

I even tried using strawberry puree, but still didn’t love the result.

Like I said, failed miserably. It wasn’t until I had a lightbulb moment and wondered if freeze-dried strawberries might do the trick. Spoiler alert: they were perfect.

Fresh Strawberry Cake with Strawberry Buttercream: Soft and fluffy strawberry cake made with fresh strawberries and topped with a creamy strawberry buttercream.

We can get freeze-dried strawberries in the dried fruit section of our grocery store, so if you aren’t sure yours carries them, check that section carefully! I was surprised to find them there.

You’ll need to blend up approximately 1 cup of the freeze dried strawberries, winding up with about 1/2 cup of strawberry powder.

That will go directly into your basic buttercream (the same recipe I use here) and it will lend the most wonderful strawberry flavor while also keeping the integrity of your sturdy buttercream intact.

Win win, people!

Fresh Strawberry Cake with Strawberry Buttercream: Soft and fluffy strawberry cake made with fresh strawberries and topped with a creamy strawberry buttercream.

The second you have a taste of this homemade strawberry cake with strawberry buttercream, you’ll wonder where this cake has been all of your summer so far.

It is the perfect way to use up that beautiful produce that is just calling your name every time you’re in the grocery store, and you won’t regret the time it takes to hull and chop all those strawberries. Totally worth the work.

This is, hands down, the best strawberry cake recipe I have ever had. Ever.

And if you want to turn it into a bundt cake, here’s my recipe for strawberry bundt cake with strawberry ganache!

We dined on this sweet and slightly tart cake all 4th of July weekend, and it was a huge hit everywhere it went, which was, surprisingly, a few people’s houses.

In fact (!!!!), our son has proved not to love cake so much (I’m a little heart broken), but he couldn’t get enough of this stuff. Perhaps it was all the fruitiness, who knows, but you definitely need this cake in your life this summer.

Fresh Strawberry Cake with Strawberry Buttercream: Soft and fluffy strawberry cake made with fresh strawberries and topped with a creamy strawberry buttercream.

Besides, just look at those gorgeous strawberry studs and the color of that buttercream! Who can resist that?

Fresh Strawberry Cake with Strawberry Buttercream: Soft and fluffy strawberry cake made with fresh strawberries and topped with a creamy strawberry buttercream.
Print Recipe
4.97 from 52 votes

Fresh Strawberry Cake with Strawberry Buttercream

Soft and fluffy homemade strawberry cake made with fresh strawberries and topped with a creamy strawberry buttercream.
Prep Time20 mins
Cook Time44 mins
Total Time1 hr 4 mins
Servings: 12 servings

Ingredients

STRAWBERRY CAKE

  • 3 and 1/4 cups (390g) all-purpose flour
  • 4 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (224g) unsalted butter softened to room temperature
  • 2 cups (400g) granulated sugar
  • 1 and 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 large egg white
  • 1 cup (240g) milk any
  • 2 cups finely chopped strawberries approximately 16 large strawberries

STRAWBERRY BUTTERCREAM

  • 1 cup (10-12g) freeze-dried strawberries
  • 1 cup (224g) unsalted butter softened to room temperature
  • 4 to 5 cups (480-600g) powdered sugar
  • 1/4 to 1/3 cup (60-80g) milk or cream
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • salt to taste

Instructions

STRAWBERRY CAKE

  • Place oven rack on the middle setting and preheat the oven to 350ºF (177ºC). Grease and flour (or use homemade cake release) two 8" or 9" round cake pans.
  • In a medium size bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl with a handheld mixer, or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter, sugar, and vanilla until pale (approximately 3 minutes). Add the eggs and egg white one at a time, allowing each to incorporate before adding the next one and scraping the. Scrape down the sides of the bowl when necessary.
  • Reduce the mixer speed to low and add the flour mixture in 2 parts, alternating with the milk. Gently fold in strawberries by hand.
  • Divide batter evenly between the two prepared cake pans. Bake cakes for about 40-44 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and the tops are lightly browned. Remove from oven and allow cakes to cool completely on a wire rack before assembling.

STRAWBERRY BUTTERCREAM

  • Using a blender or food processor, process the freeze-dried strawberries into a fine powder. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl with a handheld mixer, or a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium speed until creamy, about 2 minutes.
  • With the mixer on low, add in the powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk or cream. Add the strawberry powder, increase mixer speed to medium, and beat until completely smooth, about 3 minutes. If frosting is too stiff, add more milk. If it is too thin, add more powdered sugar. Add salt to taste.

ASSEMBLE THE CAKE

  • Trim cooled cake layers to create a flat surface. You can do this with a large serrated knife or a cake leveler. Place one layer on a plate or cake stand and cover the top with strawberry buttercream frosting. Spread evenly with an offset spatula.
  • Place second layer on top, cut surface down. For a sturdier cake, refrigerate at this point for about 10 minutes. When cake is slightly chilled, remove from refrigerator and spread more frosting on the top and around the sides. Serve. Leftovers stay fresh, covered tightly, at room temperature up to 5 days and in the refrigerator up to 1 week.
  • Make ahead: prepare cakes and frosting up to 1 day in advance. Cover cakes tightly and keep at room temperature or in the refrigerator until ready to assemble. Refrigerate prepared frosting in an airtight container until ready to use. Unfrosted cake layers may be frozen, wrapped tightly, up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before assembling. Frosted cake can be frozen, wrapped tightly, up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and bring to room temperature before serving.

Video

Notes

This cake can also be made into a bundt cake. Recipe differs only slightly. I paired that one with a strawberry ganache, but you can use any frosting you like.
Recipe adapted from Brown Eyed Baker
Did you make this recipe?Mention @freshaprilflours on Instagram or tag #freshaprilflours!

Related Posts

  • Cinnamon Pinwheel CookiesCinnamon Pinwheel Cookies
  • Strawberry Bundt Cake with Strawberry GanacheStrawberry Bundt Cake with Strawberry Ganache
  • Sugar Cookie BarsSugar Cookie Bars
  • How To Make Football CupcakesHow To Make Football Cupcakes
  • Glazed Mimosa MuffinsGlazed Mimosa Muffins
  • Triple Chocolate Cookie CakeTriple Chocolate Cookie Cake
Pin
Share
Email
Share
Tweet

Filed Under: Cake of The Month, Cakes, Frostings & Icings, Seasonal, Summer Recipes Tagged With: cream, freeze-dried strawberries, milk, powdered sugar, strawberries

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Megan - The Emotional Baker says

    July 19, 2017 at 4:41 PM

    I love this cake of the month series! I wish I had more opportunities to make layer cakes. Next time I make one, it will have to be strawberry. I love that you used fresh and freeze dried strawberries!

    Reply
    • Andrea says

      May 17, 2020 at 8:49 PM

      Made this strawberry cake for my son’s birthday. Turned out denser than most cakes. The flavor was good.
      I didn’t use freeze dried strawberries. I dehydrated fresh ripe strawberries and. Ground them in a small food Processor. Flavor was wonderful, color pretty pink

      Reply
  2. Courtney says

    July 20, 2017 at 6:22 AM

    I have been trying to figure our what to make for my birthday cake next month (yes I am one of those people). I think this might be at the top of the list, I love all the real strawberries in the batter and that buttercream, OMG! The cake looks perfect and fluffy. Thanks for posting your beloved recipe and I will report back if I make it.

    Reply
    • Courtney says

      July 20, 2017 at 6:25 AM

      Oh, one more thing, what is the bake time on this? I think it was supposed to be step 3 but it is not there.

      Reply
      • Lynn says

        July 20, 2017 at 10:40 AM

        Hi Courtney! SO sorry, that was a complete oversight on my part. I didn’t even type out the recipe– I just left my shorthand notes in there! It’s now fixed and all the pertinent information is there 🙂 thanks for pointing that out for me!

        Reply
      • Traci says

        May 12, 2020 at 6:55 PM

        Was there suppose to be baking soda in this recipe? I did alter Slightly as I puréed the strawberries. It was delicious but quite dense so I was unsure if there was suppose to be baking soda and baking powder.

        Reply
        • Lynn says

          May 12, 2020 at 7:26 PM

          Nope, no baking soda. Pureeing the strawberries will give you more liquid and weigh down the batter. It’s not a “light” cake, but it’s certainly not dense.

          Reply
  3. Leah | Grain Changer says

    July 20, 2017 at 2:30 PM

    YES for REAL strawberries! Girl, this looks incredible. And SO SMART to use freeze dried strawberries for the buttercream. I’ve always had a ton of trouble using juicy berries to work in a buttercream, and this is just pure genius. YUM!

    Reply
    • Lynn says

      July 20, 2017 at 8:27 PM

      Exactly– and it’s a darn shame because fruity buttercream is AMAZEEEEBALLS!!

      Reply
      • Karen Kennedy says

        August 10, 2018 at 5:54 PM

        I used an immersion blender to liquefy a couple of ripe strawberries. I added a couple of tablespoons of the liquid to the butter cream and reduced the volume of cream. It was excellent. The icing had a lovely strawberry flavour and was a gorgeous shade of pink. I made this cake for a 65th birthday party it was a big hit. Thanks for the recipe!

        Reply
        • Lynn says

          August 13, 2018 at 6:21 AM

          Thanks for the feedback, Karen! Glad you enjoyed it!

          Reply
  4. Amy says

    July 20, 2017 at 7:07 PM

    Lynn! This is just perfect! Strawberries are everywhere in our supermarkets at the moment and they are so sweet and juicy. I’ve been searching for the best fresh strawberry cake for a long time, and now you’ve created it! I can’t wait to try this out ASAP to make the most of our winter strawberry haul! So beautiful!

    Reply
    • Lynn says

      July 20, 2017 at 8:26 PM

      Thanks, friend! Strawberries are one of the best fruits you can put in a dessert, I think!

      Reply
      • Elizabeth Clark says

        April 9, 2019 at 9:40 AM

        Do you mean 4 sticks of butter in the cake mix? It says 1 cup then 2 sticks (which I know is the equivalent of one cu

        Reply
        • Lynn says

          April 9, 2019 at 10:00 AM

          It should say “1 cup (2 sticks),” but I just switched over to a new site/new formatting, so I’m still working through fixing the formatting issues!

          Reply
  5. Ericka says

    July 23, 2017 at 10:22 PM

    Could this be made into cupcakes? If so, do you have an idea how many?

    Reply
    • Lynn says

      July 24, 2017 at 7:44 AM

      Hey, Ericka! Absolutely. It will make about 32 cupcakes, bake time is 25-30 minutes. Enjoy!

      Reply
      • Ericka says

        July 24, 2017 at 8:09 PM

        Thank you! If I was wanting to half this recipe, what would be your flour and egg suggestion? Thanks!

        Reply
        • Lynn says

          July 24, 2017 at 8:13 PM

          For flour: 1 and 1/2 cups + 2 Tablespoons, and for the eggs: I would drop down to one large egg and keep the whole large egg white.

          Reply
  6. Lissa says

    September 27, 2017 at 1:02 AM

    I think I love you! ❤️
    But seriously, my little girl loves strawberries (doesn’t care for chocolate) so this is her birthday cake. She is one happy 10 year old!

    Reply
    • Lynn says

      September 27, 2017 at 10:59 AM

      Hahaha, well thanks, Lissa! I’m so glad you enjoyed the cake! PS my birthday was yesterday (9/26) so are your daughter and I birthday buddies? Happy birthday to her, whenever it is!

      Reply
  7. Stephanie DeWitt says

    January 10, 2018 at 3:46 PM

    5 stars
    Just made this and cannot wait to eat it!!! Thanks so much for the fresh recipie!

    Reply
    • Lynn says

      January 11, 2018 at 7:45 PM

      I hope you enjoyed it, Stephanie!

      Reply
  8. Barbara First says

    January 23, 2018 at 4:55 PM

    I need to make this in a 9×13 pan. Would the temp. and time be the same?

    Reply
    • Lynn says

      January 23, 2018 at 7:37 PM

      Temperature would be the same, but you’ll want to decrease the baking time. I would try starting with something like 25 minutes and checking from there.

      Reply
  9. Lisa says

    February 5, 2018 at 3:27 PM

    Can frozen strawberries work?

    Reply
    • Lynn says

      February 6, 2018 at 9:29 AM

      Yes, they can. Try to get as much moisture out of them if you can, if you’re going to thaw them. I would probably use them frozen, but you’ll need to chop them up first.

      Reply
  10. Michelle Edwards says

    February 12, 2018 at 5:26 PM

    5 stars
    Delicious! Thank you for this from scratch Strawberry cake recipe. I made this yesterday to bring to work today for a friends birthday. Everyone loved it. I found the freeze dried strawberries at Whole Foods. I followed the recipe as written and it was perfect! So glad I found your website/blog!

    Reply
    • Lynn says

      February 13, 2018 at 1:41 PM

      So glad you and your friends loved it! Thanks for letting me know 🙂

      Reply
  11. Greg says

    February 17, 2018 at 11:21 PM

    This looks amazing. Just curious why no cake flour

    Reply
    • Lynn says

      February 20, 2018 at 9:06 PM

      Cake flour isn’t always necessary in cake. Unless you’re looking for a super soft and delicate crumb, you can get away with just all purpose. Because this cake is packed with real strawberries, we aren’t in the market for a soft crumb here. Something like my white cake (https://freshaprilflours.com/2017/03/29/white-layer-cake-with-whipped-cream-buttercream/) uses all purpose + cornstarch which is equivalent to cake flour.

      Reply
      • Amanda says

        May 4, 2019 at 2:58 PM

        Can you use cake flour? How many cups is it the same ratio ?

        Reply
        • Lynn says

          May 5, 2019 at 6:41 AM

          It’s 1 cup + 2 Tablespoons of cake flour for every cup of all purpose flour.

          Reply
  12. Amanda says

    February 24, 2018 at 5:33 AM

    It looks and sounds amazing! I’m just curious, could I substitute the fresh strawberries for freeze-dried in the cake batter? If so, how much?

    Reply
    • Lynn says

      February 24, 2018 at 6:37 AM

      Hi, Amanda! You probably could, though I’d be concerned you’d be missing out on a mega moisture factor. If you try it, let me know! I would try about a cup.

      Reply
  13. Kelly Saine says

    March 15, 2018 at 6:04 PM

    Would this strawberry cake pair well with cream cheese frosting in your opinion? My mother in law has requested a strawberry cake, but with cream cheese frosting. Thanks in advance for your help!

    Reply
    • Lynn says

      March 15, 2018 at 8:09 PM

      Hey, Kelly! That sounds fabulous. If you don’t have a cream cheese frosting recipe, I have one here. You can always keep the addition of the strawberry powder from this recipe in order to make strawberry cream cheese frosting, but of course, that’s not totally necessary, just a suggestion! Let me know how it works out 🙂

      Reply
      • Kelly Saine says

        December 3, 2018 at 8:15 PM

        5 stars
        Hi! I know this is a super late reply, but my mother in law LOVED your cake! I ended up using your cream cheese frosting recipe as well and I added the freeze dried strawberries to make it strawberry cream cheese frosting. It was amazing! I loved the cake so much that I’m making it for my birthday tomorrow! Thank you for your help and my new go to birthday cake!

        Reply
        • Lynn says

          December 3, 2018 at 8:33 PM

          Oh, I love this report! Thanks for letting me know, Kelly! What a delish combo. I hope you have a wonderful birthday 🙂

          Reply
  14. Anne Walzak says

    April 28, 2018 at 5:37 PM

    Hi, for the icing do I chop up the frozen strawberries or due I thaw them…I’m just a little confused on that part.

    Reply
    • Lynn says

      April 30, 2018 at 6:32 AM

      Hi, Anne– you’ll be using freeze-dried strawberries for the frosting.

      Reply
      • Carolyn Lee says

        May 26, 2018 at 11:40 AM

        5 stars
        I used frozen strawberries to make the buttercream yesterday. ~3/4 cup in a single serve blender jar on a low setting, just until they were chopped down (maybe 10-15 seconds). I used a little less than 1/4 cup milk, and I also chilled it a little before spreading it on the cake. It turned out great, and everybody loved it!

        Reply
        • Lynn says

          May 27, 2018 at 1:27 PM

          So glad that worked for you, Carolyn! Thanks for sharing!

          Reply
  15. Sally says

    May 19, 2018 at 3:06 PM

    5 stars
    Oh my goodness .. this was so good! I did one strawberry and one blueberry!!!

    I actually substituted 1/2 the sugar in the cake with stevia and 1/4 the icing sugar was Swerve confectioners blend! It still did Great!

    The strawberry was my favorite but the blueberry cake was so yummy!!

    Reply
    • Lynn says

      May 20, 2018 at 2:02 PM

      Thanks for sharing, Sally! And IG’ing it! And thanks for sharing your successful substitutions 🙂

      Reply
    • Emma says

      May 6, 2019 at 11:43 AM

      I followed the recipe and my cake cooked un even and tasted like cornbread

      Reply
      • Lynn says

        May 7, 2019 at 6:22 AM

        Hey, Emma! I’m not sure what went wrong, but it sounds like you may have used a wrong ingredient. Unless you used cornmeal instead of flour, there’s hardly a way for this to taste like cornbread, especially if you added strawberries. This is one of my most popular and positively reviewed recipes.

        Reply
    • Betsy says

      July 3, 2019 at 7:02 PM

      Did you use freeze dried blueberries for the frosting and fresh blueberries for the cake? Doing a baby shower and the mom to be isn’t finding out the sex of the baby, so I want one pink and one blue dessert!!

      Reply
  16. Gerri says

    June 26, 2018 at 6:27 PM

    Was just ok. I found it to be a little dry.

    Reply
  17. Luthien says

    June 30, 2018 at 12:08 PM

    5 stars
    I just made these for my niece’s first birthday and they came out great! I used a 1:1 gluten free flour blend, and was a little bit worried about how thick the batter was, but after they cooked with the moisture from the strawberries it was perfect. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Lynn says

      July 1, 2018 at 10:17 AM

      So glad you enjoyed the recipe!

      Reply
  18. Sue Day says

    July 9, 2018 at 5:12 PM

    Can you email me the fresh Strawberry Cake recipe? It looks amazing!

    Reply
    • Lynn says

      July 10, 2018 at 1:16 PM

      Hi, Sue! The recipe is right there on the page. You actually have to scroll past it to comment on the blog. There’s a “print” button so you can print it right from your screen. Thanks!

      Reply
  19. Marilyn Sirkis says

    July 13, 2018 at 7:38 PM

    Tried this Strawberry cake recipe for the first time. Cake was very crumbly which made it hard to ice. Any suggestions?

    Reply
    • Lynn says

      July 14, 2018 at 2:04 PM

      Hey, Marilyn. Cake is fairly crumbly on the outsides normally. I always do a crumb coat to lock in the crumbs and make it easier to ice. Unless you feel the inside was also crumbly, I don’t think anything went wrong.

      Reply
  20. Rasanjali says

    July 16, 2018 at 3:34 PM

    5 stars
    I made this cake for one of my customers…. and it came out absolutely perfect!!! Love the texture and the taste is spot on!! I never liked using extracts and Jello for cakes with fruits and this definitely the winner for me. Thank you so much for sharing this with us.

    Reply
    • Lynn says

      July 18, 2018 at 1:14 PM

      Thanks so much! I’m so glad you enjoyed it 🙂

      Reply
  21. Lea says

    July 28, 2018 at 8:57 PM

    5 stars
    Just made this cake for my son’s 5th birthday, and it was amazing! Everyone loved it. So moist and tasty, and such a beautiful natural color. He requested a strawberry cake, and I feel so lucky I stumbled upon your recipe when looking for one with real fruit! I doubled it and made a two-layer cake and 24 cupcakes.

    Reply
    • Lynn says

      July 29, 2018 at 1:35 PM

      This warms my heart, Lea! Thanks so much for finding me and trusting my recipe. I’m so glad everyone enjoyed it.

      Reply
  22. Mary DeGuzman says

    August 19, 2018 at 2:14 AM

    5 stars
    Lynn, I made this cake tonight and it was delicious! I didn’t have freeze dried strawberries, so I just used the rest of the fresh ones I chopped up for the buttercream. I squeezed as much liquid as I could out of them and it worked out just fine. This recipe is going to be saved! Thank you!

    Reply
    • Lynn says

      August 22, 2018 at 6:16 AM

      Great idea, Mary! So glad you enjoyed the cake.

      Reply
  23. Cynthia says

    October 4, 2018 at 8:21 PM

    This looks amazing. I can’t seem to see where you add the strawberries to the cake mixture in the recipe. Could you please reply and let me know. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Lynn says

      October 4, 2018 at 8:30 PM

      Step 4.

      Reply
  24. Paula Crumpton says

    October 14, 2018 at 8:07 PM

    5 stars
    Love this cake! Searching for a fresh strawberry cake, I chose this one and so glad I did. I did not have freeze dried strawberries so I sliced about 16 and put in my dehydrator for a few hours. Finely chopped them (not quite a cup) used 1/8 cup half and half and the icing was fantastic. Wonderful strawberry flavor! I did chill it before icing cake. Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply
    • Lynn says

      October 16, 2018 at 9:21 AM

      Awesome, Paula! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
  25. Sarah says

    November 29, 2018 at 12:55 AM

    I had a question. If I make this cake can I substitute milk for buttermilk? And should I add sour cream to make it even more moist or is that not a good idea? I love very very moist cake that is not dry at all. Also will I have to double the recipe for a 6in and 8in layer cake? Thank u 😊

    Reply
    • Lynn says

      November 29, 2018 at 8:33 PM

      Hey, Sarah! You can use buttermilk if you’d like, but it’s not necessary. This cake is a very moist cake. I wouldn’t add any sour cream. And if you want to do an 8″ and 6″ cake, you can get away with 1.5x the recipe 🙂

      Reply
  26. Casey says

    December 30, 2018 at 3:47 PM

    I used two 8″ cake pans and it boiled over. I had to stop the baking, dump the pans half way through into a 9×13 pan to save the cake. I hope that it works out for my daughter’s birthday celebration.

    Reply
    • Lynn says

      December 30, 2018 at 8:42 PM

      I’m sorry to hear that, Casey. I’ve had many readers make this with no issue, and I myself have made this cake several times in two 8″ rounds without any problems. I’m glad you found a solution.

      Reply
  27. Cat says

    January 25, 2019 at 12:45 PM

    5 stars
    I’m so glad I found this recipe! I’m with you, I kept looking for cake and buttercream recipes made with FRESH strawberry, but all I found were recipes that relied on jam or jello. I’ve been using an adapted recipe from Martha Stewart for cupcakes for YEARS, but it is pretty dense and I wanted a lighter recipe to make a layer cake for an upcoming bridal shower. This looks just perfect! I also have to freeze the layers due to time, so thank you for including that direction! I wanted to make a 3-layer cake though – do you think I can split this recipe and bake 3 layers? Or should I double the recipe and make 4 layers?

    Reply
    • Lynn says

      January 25, 2019 at 8:12 PM

      Hey, Cat! I hope you enjoy the recipe! It sounds like this is exactly what you’re looking for. If you want to make 3 layers, I suggest making 1.5x the recipe. You’ll get hung up on the eggs, so I would use 4 large eggs and 2 large egg whites. Let me know how it turns out!

      Reply
  28. Andrea says

    February 19, 2019 at 12:21 PM

    Hi Lynn,

    I came across your recipe on Pinterest and it couldn’t have been at a better time, as I am making my niece’s birthday cake for her party this weekend. It’s going to be a Care Bear themed fondant covered cake with either 2 or 4 layers. Probably just 2. But it’s a 12″ round cake. Can you help me with the ingredient amounts? I will probably just be using 2 of my 12″ pans, plus I wanted to make a few extra cupcakes. I start working on it tonight after I get home from work. Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

    Reply
    • Lynn says

      February 22, 2019 at 6:12 AM

      Hi, Andrea! I think I might have seen this a little too late– what did you wind up doing? I would probably just have doubled it to ensure I had enough for the cake and some extra cupcakes.

      Reply
      • Andrea says

        February 22, 2019 at 8:55 AM

        I actually haven’t made the cakes yet…this week hasn’t gone to plan at all so far. However I will get started in about an hour or so on them. I was actually thinking of doubling the recipe too. But when I did calculations on the amount of cups it still doesn’t seem like enough. So to play it safe I think I will make one batch at a time and fill my cake pans up until I’m satisfied and then bake them. That way I can at least make sure that they are fairly even layers.

        Reply
  29. Willie says

    March 23, 2019 at 10:29 PM

    Some one post this to my FB page it looks so good I’m making one right now to take to church for our bake sale.

    Reply
  30. Stacy says

    April 27, 2019 at 3:47 PM

    5 stars
    Just made the cake & this is no doubt the best strawberry cake recipe I’ve ever made. Made no changes whatsoever. Thank u!!!

    Reply
    • Lynn says

      May 4, 2019 at 6:43 AM

      Thank you, Stacy!

      Reply
  31. Elizabeth says

    May 19, 2019 at 4:01 PM

    5 stars
    Made this for my sister-in-law’s birthday. Everyone loved it. I halved the powdered sugar in the buttercream frosting because we don’t eat really sweet things and it was still delicious (albeit thicker). Thanks!

    Reply
    • Lynn says

      May 21, 2019 at 10:12 AM

      So glad you and your people enjoyed it, Elizabeth!

      Reply
  32. Tara says

    May 25, 2019 at 11:28 PM

    4 stars
    Hi! I just made this cake today and it smells and tastes divine. Weirdly, my cakes came out comply differently. I used one batch of batter and put them in the oven on the same shelf to bake at the same time. One came out perfectly risen and golden, and the other was slightly under baked (not as golden as the other) and sunken in the center. Any idea what could have happened here??

    Reply
    • Lynn says

      May 26, 2019 at 6:54 AM

      Interesting. It sounds like maybe some difference in the air flow or heating elements in your oven. I’m not sure what else would cause that!

      Reply
  33. Betsy says

    July 2, 2019 at 6:46 PM

    This looks delicious! I would love to make these as cupcakes for an upcoming baby shower. Can you tell me if this frosting would work well to pipe flowers on the cupcakes? Or would the texture not be right for that? Thank you!

    Reply
    • Lynn says

      July 7, 2019 at 6:48 AM

      Hey, Betsy! This frosting is pipable.

      Reply
  34. Ella says

    September 5, 2019 at 5:36 PM

    5 stars
    This is a fantastic cake and frosting recipe! Of course my grocery does not carry freeze-dried strawberries, so I had to do some quick thinking. I decided to make a strawberry coulis with fresh strawberries. I then pureed the coulis in the blender, strained out the seeds and added some of this thickened coulis to my frosting in place of the cream. Oh my goodness! So delicious and the most gorgeous shade of pink! Just another option for those that can’t find freeze-dried strawberries.

    Reply
    • Lynn says

      September 5, 2019 at 8:15 PM

      Thanks for sharing your adaptations, Ella! I’m so glad you loved the cake 🙂

      Reply
  35. Adrienne Adams says

    September 19, 2019 at 3:35 PM

    5 stars
    This recipe was so great my husband was so upset with everyone leaving him a small piece that I had to make it again. Thank you so much

    Reply
    • Lynn says

      September 22, 2019 at 6:21 AM

      Hahaha, you’re such a great wife, Adrienne! I’m so glad you liked it!

      Reply
  36. Laura says

    November 28, 2019 at 10:07 AM

    Looks great – want to make this two days ahead of time for a birthday but assemble on the day. Will the strawberries in the sponge be okay in an airtight container for two days?

    Reply
    • Lynn says

      November 28, 2019 at 11:36 AM

      Yes! Just keep them in the fridge.

      Reply
  37. D. Whitaker says

    December 2, 2019 at 9:40 AM

    Hello, this looks fabulous!!! Question, cab this be made into a. 1/4 Sheet cake? I have to do a strawberry sheet cake for an event and wanted to know the best way to modify this into one!

    Reply
    • Lynn says

      December 2, 2019 at 9:46 AM

      Yes! This should fit nicely in a 9×13. I would suggest a bake time of 22ish minutes to start and then test it!

      Reply
  38. D. Whitaker says

    December 4, 2019 at 10:32 AM

    5 stars
    Hi Lynn, do you think that I could use a Strawberry reduction in this cake? I baked it already and I really liked it! Just wanted to know if the strawberry reduction would help the strawberry flavor stronger and the color more pink without using food coloring.

    Reply
    • Lynn says

      December 4, 2019 at 8:31 PM

      I think that probably would work! I would try reducing the same amount of strawberries and just addung that in place of the strawberries. Let me know if you try it!

      Reply
  39. Dawn says

    January 4, 2020 at 8:51 AM

    5 stars
    This was the most amazing cake ever! I made in 9×13 pan(lazy way). I used a different buttercream frosting as I did not have freeze dried. I have already shared with other family members as this is one that needs to be passed on! Thank you!

    Reply
    • Lynn says

      January 4, 2020 at 11:35 AM

      Thanks so much, Dawn!

      Reply
  40. Dini says

    January 7, 2020 at 10:47 PM

    Hi, I want to use this strawberry buttercream under fondant. I don’t want to refrigerate the cake after putting fondant decorations. How long can the cake last in room temperature? The cake needs to be delivered on Saturday so do you think assembling on Friday and keeping it at room temperature is a good idea?

    Reply
    • Lynn says

      January 8, 2020 at 9:27 AM

      Yes— instructions for storing at room temp are in the recipe card!

      Reply
  41. deniz says

    February 10, 2020 at 4:47 PM

    was going to make this cake for my sister in law. quick question i dont have a paddle for whipping the butter cream can i use a regular hand mixer to make the icing?

    Reply
    • Lynn says

      February 10, 2020 at 4:49 PM

      Yes— step 2 states hand mixer also works! Enjoy!

      Reply
  42. Mikey says

    February 18, 2020 at 7:23 PM

    What would be the nutritional information for this cake, for example calories, sugar, fat etc per slice or 100grams?

    Reply
    • Lynn says

      February 18, 2020 at 7:26 PM

      Hi, Mikey– sorry, I don’t provide nutrition information for my recipes! It would all depend completely on exactly what ingredients you used. You’re welcome to use an app to calculate this and let me know what you find!

      Reply
  43. Elle says

    April 13, 2020 at 11:03 PM

    Hello,
    So I actually baked this twice! Well sorta… once correctly. Despite reading the recipe twice, I missed the part about adding the eggs and alternating with the milk so the texture was a bit off the first time. But I loved this cake. I just wanted to know if you had a page for frosting and cake baking tips in general. (I always find my inner layer too thin) and my frosting looking a bit uhhh rustic? 😬 if I’m being kind to myself hehe. Love your blog, your directions and your voice is so friendly!

    Reply
    • Lynn says

      April 14, 2020 at 11:34 AM

      Thanks for the comment, Elle! Unfortunately, I don’t have a resource for decorating a cake, but I would like to have one in the future.

      Reply
  44. Lauren says

    April 23, 2020 at 11:53 AM

    How could I make these into cupcakes?

    Reply
    • Lynn says

      April 23, 2020 at 12:54 PM

      Hey, Lauren! This recipe will make about 24-30 cupcakes. Follow the recipe as-is, and bake for about 12-15 minutes. Enjoy!

      Reply
  45. Ellie says

    April 28, 2020 at 4:42 PM

    5 stars
    This is my family’s favorite cake! So delicious! I will say to add the freeze dried strawberry powder gradually to taste, we ended up liking it best using a little less than directed. But this cake is a hit and the recipe is a keeper for sure:)

    Reply
    • Lynn says

      April 29, 2020 at 11:06 AM

      I love this! Thanks for sharing, Ellie.

      Reply
  46. Gunita Singh says

    May 1, 2020 at 11:14 AM

    5 stars
    I made this cake last night. It was so tasty!!! I’m so glad I found this recipe. Thank you!!!!! So yummy!

    Reply
    • Lynn says

      May 1, 2020 at 2:48 PM

      You’re welcome! I’m so glad you enjoyed it 🙂

      Reply
  47. Crenee says

    May 3, 2020 at 10:16 PM

    5 stars
    Finally, a strawberry cake without using gelatin. I have been searching for one for a couple years. The frosting recipe also helped me with making icing that wasn’t runny.

    Reply
    • Lynn says

      May 4, 2020 at 7:42 AM

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply
  48. Rochelle says

    May 4, 2020 at 3:35 AM

    Hi! I’m really excited to try this! It’s 3:30am and it just went in the oven… lol

    Anyways, I’m making this cake for a friends birthday but I’m making a cake with two 10” round bottoms, and one 8” sat on top. Three cake pans… the trick is I’m putting a bottle in the middle and I’m worried it will fall because everything I read says I need to support it! My batter was very thick so from my Research I am understanding it will be quite light. Is there a way to make the cake a bit more dense so it can hold another small layer cake on top? Should I just find dowels? Maybe the bottle (beer bottle laid flat in second layer lol) will support the top small cake?

    Additionally, I’m wondering if you think the cake will be strong enough to stick things in the top without them falling over?

    Sorry for these crazy questions. Thank you so much in advance!!

    Reply
    • Lynn says

      May 4, 2020 at 7:45 AM

      Hey, Rochelle– I never stack cakes without dowels. In fact, a lighter cake is better than a dense cake for stacking. And you should be able to put things in the top of the cake.

      Reply
  49. Tia says

    May 15, 2020 at 12:40 AM

    5 stars
    I turned this into a bundt cake for Mother’s Day and it turned out amazing! I gave pieces away and everyone is asking when will another one be made. I topped it with a glaze but I’ll definitely try the buttercream icing next time! Thanks for sharing the recipe!! It was delicious!

    Reply
    • Lynn says

      May 15, 2020 at 7:59 AM

      Hey, Tia! I made it into a bundt cake too, haha! Here’s that recipe. I used a strawberry ganache that might interest you. Enjoy!

      Reply
  50. Jaime says

    May 15, 2020 at 11:15 AM

    Hello I was wondering if this could be baked in one normal size cake pan ?

    Reply
    • Lynn says

      May 15, 2020 at 11:40 AM

      Like a sheet pan? Yes! This batter will fit in a 9″ x 13″ pan nicely. Add about 4-5 minutes to bake time.

      Reply
  51. Jaime says

    May 15, 2020 at 11:42 AM

    Awesome thank you!

    Reply
  52. Steven Arnold says

    May 24, 2020 at 7:04 PM

    5 stars
    This cake is amazing! Had some strawberries that I needed to use and decided to give this a shot. One of my new favorites!
    I made a whipped cream frosting instead of the buttercream. Perfection!

    Reply
    • Lynn says

      May 25, 2020 at 6:48 AM

      I am so glad you enjoyed this cake!

      Reply
  53. Litza says

    June 17, 2020 at 8:11 PM

    Just made this and it was AMAZING! I followed all the instructions but I didn’t have round cake pans so I used 9×13 inch pan, in which the batter almost came to the top. It almost overflowed while baking but didn’t thankfully. It took about 46-49 mins to cook doing it this way. It was a tiny bit dense but I’m sure it’s because there was too much batter in the pan. Regardless, the cake was ridiculously delicious! Next time I think I will half the recipe or keep it the same and make a 9×13 cake plus a few cupcakes. Thank you for the wonderful recipe. (After writing this review I just measured my pan and it’s actually 7.5 x 11.75 inches! And all these years I always thought it was 9×13! Thanks Pyrex! Ha ha. Anyways it still came out great. Can’t wait to try it again with the right sizes as I’m sure it will be even more delicious if that’s possible. Ha ha!).

    Reply
    • Lynn says

      June 18, 2020 at 2:03 PM

      HAHA! This just made me laugh out loud! I was going to say… This should definitely fit in a 9×13 nicely! So glad you liked it and yes, please let me know how next time goes in an ACTUAL 9×13 😉

      Reply
      • Litza says

        August 2, 2020 at 12:47 PM

        So I have made this (in correct size pans this time) 2 more times plus did them as cupcakes as well and all of them came out delicious! I have to say very happy to have my go to strawberry baking recipe! Thank you!

        Reply
  54. Amy says

    June 20, 2020 at 9:01 AM

    This cake looks amazing. My nephew has requested a strawberry cake with chocolate frosting for his birthday. Have you ever tried this combination?

    Reply
    • Lynn says

      June 21, 2020 at 1:05 PM

      That is a great combo, Amy!

      Reply
  55. Megan says

    July 4, 2020 at 4:56 PM

    5 stars
    This cake recipe is so delicious! I usually don’t care for homemade cakes that I’ve made, but this was phenomenal! So fluffy! We made it as a sheet cake for the 4th of July and it is amazing! We left the strawberries out of the frosting recipe because we wanted a red, white and blue cake, but would love to try the strawberry frosting sometime.

    Reply
    • Lynn says

      July 5, 2020 at 8:18 AM

      I love this! Thanks so much for your review, Megan.

      Reply
  56. Sierra says

    July 8, 2020 at 9:20 PM

    Hi I don’t have an electric mixer, can I do this cake by hand?

    Reply
    • Lynn says

      July 8, 2020 at 10:21 PM

      You should be able to cream butter and sugar without a mixer, but you’ll need a bit of elbow grease! Hope this helps!

      Reply
  57. Jen says

    July 23, 2020 at 5:42 PM

    fyi – 350 in F is 175 in C (I think you have a typo)

    Reply
    • Lynn says

      July 23, 2020 at 8:53 PM

      You’re not the first person to tell me this– but the formula I learned in high school and throughout earning my degree and in the workplace (a chem lab) give us 176.6, which rounds to 177. Can you tell me where 175 comes from??

      Reply
  58. Suzanne says

    July 28, 2020 at 4:07 PM

    This looks so good! I love all the troubleshooting to get just the right flavors!

    Reply
    • Lynn says

      July 28, 2020 at 8:31 PM

      Thanks so much, Suzanne 🙂 I hope you’ll try it!

      Reply
  59. Vanessa says

    July 28, 2020 at 4:08 PM

    Thanks for sharing! Does it keep long?

    Reply
    • Lynn says

      July 28, 2020 at 8:30 PM

      Storage instructions are in the recipe!

      Reply
  60. Dave says

    August 19, 2020 at 9:53 AM

    5 stars
    Our family is expanding and our son’s future mother-in-law’s favorite cake is strawberry. Local berries were in season so that made life easier but what to do for frosting? How to showcase strawberries throughout without getting a weepy mess? Browsing the web, I came across your recipe. It ticked all the boxes I wanted so, what the heck, I used your whole offering. FANTASTIC!! Hands down the best strawberry cake I’ve ever had. No need to ever look for another recipe. The cake is spot on. And the frosting is brilliant. Thank you for sharing the recipe for a truly great cake. Well done!

    Reply
    • Lynn says

      August 19, 2020 at 10:15 AM

      Thank you so much for this review, Dave! It makes me so happy to hear this. Don’t miss the strawberry bundt cake, made with the same base recipe but with a strawberry ganache on top. Congratulations on the expansion of your family 🙂

      Reply
  61. Courtney says

    August 21, 2020 at 1:09 AM

    Baking time suggestion for using three 6×2 inch pans?

    Reply
    • Lynn says

      August 21, 2020 at 7:01 AM

      Hey, Courtney! I’d start with 32-35 minutes and see where that gets you.

      Reply
      • Sheryll says

        October 17, 2020 at 2:38 AM

        Would the amount of batter overflow in two 6 inch pans?

        Reply
        • Lynn says

          October 18, 2020 at 6:46 AM

          For 6″ pans, I’d halve the recipe.

          Reply
  62. Aya Cruz says

    September 1, 2020 at 8:02 AM

    5 stars
    Made the cake for my sister’s birthday, and it was a hit! Super yunmy! My mom’s birthday is coming up and wanted to use the cake recipe without the strawberry. Will it affect the cake or shall I substitute something else for the strawberries? Thank you!!

    Reply
    • Lynn says

      September 1, 2020 at 12:46 PM

      Hi, Aya! Thanks so much for your great feedback. I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe. If you want to make this cake without the strawberries, I’m afraid it won’t work out as nicely as simply omitting them. I’d direct you to either my white layer cake or yellow layer cake. Enjoy!

      Reply
  63. Ronak Mehta says

    October 16, 2020 at 4:42 AM

    5 stars
    Wow. It looks delicious. I love strawberry cakes. So, I will try to make it. Your recipe will help me. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  64. Sheryll says

    October 17, 2020 at 6:23 PM

    5 stars
    I made this cake once and it was soooooo good!!!! Best strawberry cake I’ve had!

    Does the cake freeze well? I plan to make a cake as well as cupcakes with this recipe and don’t want to do everything in one day.

    Reply
    • Lynn says

      October 18, 2020 at 6:45 AM

      Hey, Sheryll! Yes– freezes great. See step 3 labeled “make ahead.”

      Reply
      • Sheryll says

        October 21, 2020 at 2:12 AM

        5 stars
        If I wanted to make a 2 layer 6 inch cake as well as 12 cupcakes…will mutiplying the ingredients by 1.5 work?

        Reply
        • Lynn says

          October 21, 2020 at 7:34 AM

          For either of those options, halving the recipe is sufficient!

          Reply
          • Sheryll says

            October 21, 2020 at 8:07 PM

            5 stars
            So if I plan to do both a 6 inch cake and 12 cupcakes then just do one batch of your current recipe?

  65. Bhuvanesh Manhas says

    November 10, 2020 at 8:40 AM

    Hey! Looks amazing.

    Can this be done without eggs? Please suggest the replacement with yoghurt.

    Reply
    • Lynn says

      November 10, 2020 at 8:47 AM

      Hi! I’ve never made this cake without eggs, so I can’t advise how to proceed. If you try it, let me know!

      Reply
  66. Helan says

    January 6, 2021 at 5:13 AM

    5 stars
    Thanks For Sharing this Amazing Recipe. My Family Loved It. I will be sharing this Recipe with my Friends. Hope They will like it.

    Reply
    • Lynn says

      January 6, 2021 at 12:17 PM

      You’re welcome, Helan!

      Reply
  67. Blog Confeitaria Em Casa Lucrativa says

    January 18, 2021 at 5:38 PM

    5 stars
    This cake recipe is so good. Thank you so much for sharing <3

    Reply
    • Lynn says

      January 19, 2021 at 11:49 AM

      It’s truly my pleasure 🙂

      Reply

Leave a Reply to Lynn Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Meet Lynn

Mom, self-taught baker, cookbook author, biscotti lover, and sprinkle enthusiast. Read More


Search

Never Miss A Recipe

Subscribe to our newsletter.

Browse by Category

Sift Through Archives

My Cookbook

ChowDownBuyNow
COPYRIGHT © 2019 · FRESH APRIL FLOURS · PRIVACY POLICY

DMCA.com Protection Status