If you’ve ever made strawberry cake from scratch and felt like it tasted more like plain vanilla… you’re not alone. This Strawberry Cake is different, and once you try it, you’ll understand why it’s a fan-favorite.
The standout move is simple but powerful: you cook down strawberry puree until it’s thick and concentrated. That means you get bold strawberry flavor without throwing off the cake texture. Trust me—don’t skip the reduction step.
And that frosting? It’s not “pink sugar.” It’s tangy, creamy, and loaded with strawberry flavor in a way that actually works.
Why You’ll Love This Strawberry Cake
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- Big real-strawberry flavor: A reduced strawberry puree gives you true fruit taste in every bite.
- Soft, fluffy crumb: Using cake flour and careful mixing keeps the Strawberry Cake light and tender.
- Frosting that actually tastes like strawberries: Freeze-dried strawberries add punchy flavor without making the frosting watery.
- Perfect for celebrations: This is a gorgeous from-scratch layer cake for birthdays and holidays.
- Make-ahead friendly: You can prep the strawberry reduction the day before to make bake day easier.
- Better than bakery: It’s bakery-style, but made right in your own kitchen.
Reader Review: “I made this Strawberry Cake for a birthday and everyone thought it was from a bakery. The strawberry flavor is so real, and the frosting is dreamy!”
Ingredients for Strawberry Cake
Strawberry reduction
- Fresh strawberries (about 1 pound): This becomes your strawberry “concentrate” for the cake batter.
- Swap: Frozen strawberries work in a pinch—thaw first, puree, then reduce on the stove.
- Nothing else needed: No sugar, no lemon—just strawberries. The flavor gets stronger as it reduces.
Cake batter
- Cake flour: Makes the crumb extra soft and fine (that bakery-style texture).
- Swap: If you only have all-purpose flour, you can make a quick DIY “cake flour” (see Notes in the recipe card).
- Baking powder + baking soda: Helps the cake rise and stay light, even with the strawberry reduction.
- Salt: Keeps the sweetness from tasting flat.
- Unsalted butter: Adds richness and classic cake flavor.
- Tip: Let it soften so it creams well with the sugar (this helps the cake rise).
- Granulated sugar: Sweetens and helps the cake stay moist.
- Egg whites: Keep the cake light and help the pink color stay bright.
- Swap: Carton egg whites are fine—measure carefully.
- Sour cream: Adds tenderness and a slight tang (so good with strawberries).
- Swap: Full-fat plain Greek yogurt.
- Vanilla extract: Rounds out the strawberry flavor.
- Whole milk: Adds moisture and helps the batter mix smoothly.
- Swap: 2% milk works; avoid skim if you can.
Strawberry cream cheese frosting
- Freeze-dried strawberries: These grind into a powder that flavors frosting without watering it down.
- Important: Don’t use chewy “dried strawberries” (they won’t powder well).
- Brick-style cream cheese: Gives a sturdy, tangy frosting that spreads beautifully.
- Tip: Avoid spreadable tub cream cheese—it’s too soft.
- Unsalted butter: Smooths the frosting and helps it hold its shape.
- Powdered sugar: Sweetens and thickens.
- Milk + vanilla + pinch of salt: Adjusts the texture and brings the flavor into balance.
How to Make Strawberry Cake
- Puree & reduce the strawberries. Blend fresh strawberries until smooth, then simmer the puree over medium-low heat for about 25–35 minutes, stirring now and then. You want it thick and reduced to about 1/2 cup. Let it cool completely (warm puree can melt your butter and throw off the batter).
- Prep your pans and oven. Heat the oven to 350°F. Grease two 9-inch round cake pans, line with parchment, then grease again. Parchment is your best friend for clean cake releases.
- Whisk your dry ingredients. In a bowl, whisk cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. This spreads the leaveners evenly so the layers bake up tall and even.
- Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Beat softened butter and sugar for about 3 minutes, until pale and airy. This step builds structure—don’t rush it.
- Add egg whites, then sour cream and vanilla. Mix until combined, scraping the bowl as needed. Your batter should look creamy and smooth before the flour goes in.
- Add dry ingredients and milk. Mix on low and stop as soon as the flour disappears. Overmixing can make the cake tough.
- Stir in the cooled strawberry reduction. The batter turns a pretty pastel pink and feels slightly thick. If you want a brighter color, add 1–2 tiny drops of pink or red gel food coloring (optional).
- Bake, cool, and frost. Bake about 24–26 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool in the pans for about an hour, then finish cooling on a rack. Once fully cool, frost and stack your layers.
Tips for Perfect Strawberry Cake
- Cool the strawberry reduction fully: Warm puree can make the batter greasy or cause uneven baking.
- Use room-temperature dairy: Butter, milk, sour cream, and cream cheese blend smoother and help the batter trap air.
- Don’t overmix after flour: Mix just until combined for the fluffiest crumb.
- Line pans with parchment: It prevents sticking and helps your layers come out clean.
- Chill the frosted cake briefly: A 20–30 minute chill helps you slice neat pieces without smearing frosting.
Variations & Substitutions
- Cupcakes: Use the same batter for strawberry cupcakes; bake in a lined muffin pan until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Sheet cake: Bake in a 9×13-inch pan; start checking for doneness around the 30-minute mark.
- Lighter frosting: Swap the cream cheese frosting for a vanilla buttercream and add strawberry powder for flavor.
- Extra berry vibe: Add a thin layer of strawberry jam between cake layers (keep it thin so it doesn’t slide).
- Gluten-free: Use a trusted 1:1 gluten-free baking flour that’s meant for cakes (texture may be slightly different).
- Lemon twist: Add 1–2 teaspoons lemon zest to the batter for a bright strawberry-lemon combo.
Make-Ahead & Freezing
- Make-ahead: Reduce the strawberry puree up to 2 days ahead; store covered in the fridge and bring to room temperature before using.
- Fridge storage: Keep frosted Strawberry Cake covered in the fridge for 3–5 days. Let slices sit at room temperature for 15–20 minutes for the best texture.
- Freezing layers: Wrap cooled cake layers tightly in plastic wrap, then foil. Freeze up to 2 months. Thaw wrapped at room temperature.
- Freezing frosted cake: Freeze slices on a tray until firm, then wrap and store in a freezer container. Thaw overnight in the fridge.
Serving Suggestions
- Fresh strawberries on top: Simple, pretty, and adds a fresh pop.
- A scoop of vanilla ice cream: Classic and perfect for warm weather.
- Whipped cream and extra strawberry powder: For a light, pretty finish.
- Coffee or tea: A cozy pairing for a weekend treat.
- Party platter: Add a bowl of mixed berries on the side for a fun “build your bite” vibe.
If you make this Strawberry Cake, I’d love to hear about it. Leave a rating, drop a comment, and tell me: do you like your Strawberry Cake extra tangy (more cream cheese) or extra sweet (more powdered sugar)?
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Strawberry Cake (Best Ever, Moist, Bakery-Style)
- Total Time: About 4 hours (includes cooling/assembly; faster if reduction is made ahead)
- Yield: 10–12 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
A fluffy, from-scratch Strawberry Cake made with real strawberry reduction and a tangy strawberry cream cheese frosting. Bright berry flavor, soft crumb, and perfect for birthdays and spring/summer parties.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake
- 2 1/2 cups cake flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
- 5 large egg whites, at room temperature
- 1/3 cup sour cream, at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup whole milk, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup cooled strawberry reduction
- Optional: 1–2 drops pink or red gel food coloring
Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting
- 1 cup freeze-dried strawberries
- 8 ounces brick-style cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon whole milk (plus more if needed)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Optional Garnish
– Fresh strawberries, sliced
Instructions
- **Make the strawberry reduction:** Puree the strawberries until smooth. Pour into a small saucepan and simmer over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until thick and reduced to about **1/2 cup** (usually 25–35 minutes). Cool completely (make ahead if you want).
- **Prep:** Heat oven to **350°F**. Grease two 9-inch round cake pans, line with parchment, then grease again.
- **Mix dry ingredients:** Whisk cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.
- **Cream:** Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add egg whites and beat until combined. Mix in sour cream and vanilla.
- **Finish batter:** Add dry ingredients and mix on low. Slowly pour in milk and mix just until combined. Stir in cooled strawberry reduction (and food coloring if using).
- **Bake:** Divide batter between pans. Bake **24–26 minutes** or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool in pans about 1 hour, then remove and cool completely on a rack.
- **Make frosting:** Grind freeze-dried strawberries into a fine powder. Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add powdered sugar, strawberry powder, milk, vanilla, and salt. Beat until fluffy; add a tiny splash of milk if needed.
- **Assemble:** Frost one layer, add the second layer, then frost the top and sides. Chill 20–30 minutes for clean slices.
Notes
– **DIY cake flour (if needed):** For every 1 cup cake flour, use 1 cup all-purpose flour minus 2 tablespoons, then add 2 tablespoons cornstarch. Whisk well.
– **Make-ahead:** Make the strawberry reduction up to 2 days ahead; refrigerate covered and bring to room temperature before using.
– **Freeze-dried strawberries:** Must be freeze-dried (crisp), not chewy dried strawberries.
– **Tools:** 9-inch cake pans, parchment rounds, mixer, blender/food processor, fine-mesh sieve optional.
- Prep Time: 45 minutes (plus cooling)
- Cook Time: 25 minutes (plus reduction time)
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American