Strawberry Dream Cake
This cheery Strawberry Dream Cake is a delicious strawberry cake using a shortcut white cake mix, with the addition of fresh strawberries added in, for more real strawberry flavor!
Servings: 12 Servings
Calories:
Ingredients
Strawberry Cake
- 1 15.25 oz white cake mix regular size boxed
- ½ cup milk of choice
- ¾ cup canola or vegetable oil
- 4 large eggs room temperature
- 3 ounces strawberry gelatin powder
- 1 cup finely chopped strawberries or smashed up strawberries
Strawberry Frosting
- ¾ cup freeze-dried strawberry powder or 8-10 ounces of quartered fresh or frozen strawberries, pureed (To puree - Just add 1 cup of quartered strawberries to blender and blend until smooth)
- 1 ½ cups unsalted butter room temperature
- 6 cups powdered sugar
- ⅓ cup heavy cream or whole milk add more if needed
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Optional: 8 ounces cream cheese softened - add to frosting for Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting, making sure cream cheese is softened and whipped before adding it to frosting
Instructions
How to Make the Dreamy Strawberry Cake
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly spray 2 8x8 baking pans with non-stick spray or Baker’s Joy.
- Using a mixer, mix together the cake mix, eggs, milk, and vegetable oil well. Mix in the 1 cup of mashed strawberries and the (dry) strawberry gelatin.
- Mix 3 minutes, stopping to scrape the sides of the bowl a couple of times.
- Divide the batter evenly among layer pans or pour into two 8-inch pans for 30-33 minutes.
- Cool the cake layers for 10 minutes in the pan before removing them to a wire rack. Wait until the cake is completely cool before frosting.
Strawberry Frosting
- Using mixer beat the butter on medium-high speed until creamy, about 2 minutes. Add powdered sugar, strawberry powder or pureed strawberries/or combo of both, heavy cream/milk, and vanilla. Beat on low speed for 30 seconds, then switch to high speed and beat for 2 minutes.
- Add 1-3 more tablespoons of heavy cream/milk if needed to thin out, if desired.
- Optional: If you want strawberry cream cheese frosting, mix in 8 ounces of softened cream cheese (mix before adding to make sure it’s soft, without lumps) to frosting mixture at the end. You can also add it in, after you have mixed the butter.
Notes
- For two 9-inch pan bake 28-31 minutes.
- For three 8-inch pans bake for 28-30 minutes.
- For 9x13 pan bake 28 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.