Homemade Strawberry Cake Recipe

Picture this: the sweet, intoxicating aroma of ripe strawberries swirling through your kitchen as you bake a cake bursting with luscious flavor and velvety texture. The vibrant pink layers beckon you closer, promising a melt-in-your-mouth experience that tastes like summer in every bite. This Homemade Strawberry Cake Recipe is not just a dessert; it’s a celebration of fresh, fragrant strawberries transformed into a show-stopping centerpiece that’s surprisingly easy to make.

Every step of this recipe fills your home with warmth and joy, and the result is an irresistibly moist cake layered with creamy strawberry frosting and fresh-picked strawberries. Whether you’re sharing with loved ones or indulging in a cozy moment alone, this cake elevates any occasion with its delicate sweetness and stunning presentation. Get ready for a baking adventure that impresses, delights, and satisfies every strawberry lover’s dream.

Why You’ll Love This Homemade Strawberry Cake Recipe

• Ready in 3 hours: While it involves some patience with the strawberry reduction, most of the work is hands-off, making it perfect for a relaxed baking day.
• Uses simple ingredients: You don’t need exotic components—just fresh strawberries, pantry staples, and a few basic dairy ingredients to create magic.
• Perfect for beginners: Clear instructions and easy-to-follow steps ensure anyone can whip up this gorgeous cake without stress.
• Impressive presentation: The pink-hued layers and lush strawberry frosting look stunning and taste even better, perfect for celebrations.
• Customizable: Easily adjust sweetness, swap berries, or add your own touches to make this cake uniquely yours.

Why This Homemade Strawberry Cake Recipe Works

This homemade strawberry cake recipe shines thanks to a few clever techniques. The secret is the strawberry reduction, where fresh berries are simmered down to concentrate their vibrant flavor without watering down the cake batter. This not only enhances the strawberry essence but also adds moisture, making the cake exceptionally tender. Another key is the careful creaming of room-temperature butter into the dry ingredients until the texture resembles wet sand—this technique ensures a tender crumb. Finally, the strawberry cream cheese frosting, enriched with freeze-dried strawberry powder, adds an intense berry punch with a silky smooth finish that beautifully complements the sponge. These thoughtful steps combine for a cake that is light, fragrant, and packed with strawberry goodness.

this Recipe

Ingredients You’ll Need

Simple, fresh ingredients come together to create a strawberry sensation. Each item plays a vital role in building that perfect balance of flavor and texture.

• Quartered strawberries (3 cups): The fresh fruit base for both the cake and fruity reduction.
• Sour cream (3/4 cup): Adds moisture and tenderizes the crumb for a luscious cake texture.
• Milk (1/4 cup): Helps blend ingredients and softens the batter.
• Large eggs (4): Provide structure and richness.
• Vanilla extract (1 tsp): Enhances the natural sweetness and berry flavors.
• All-purpose flour (2 1/2 cups): The foundation of the cake’s structure.
• Sugar (1 1/2 cups): Balances tartness and adds sweetness.
• Baking powder and baking soda: Leavening agents create a light and airy crumb.
• Salt (1/2 tsp): Balances flavor and enhances the sweetness.
• Unsalted butter (3/4 cup): Adds richness and contributes to tenderness.
• Pink food color (optional): For that extra gorgeous strawberry-pink hue.
• Freeze-dried strawberries (2 cups): Ground into powder to intensify the frosting’s strawberry flavor.
• Cream cheese (16 oz): Creates a velvety frosting base with tangy depth.
• Powdered sugar (10 cups): Sweetens and thickens the frosting to perfect spreading consistency.
• Chopped strawberries (3/4 cup): Added between layers for bursts of fresh fruit texture.

Ingredient Substitutions & Tips

• Sour cream: Substitute with Greek yogurt for a slightly tangier taste or buttermilk for a lighter texture.
• Milk: Use any dairy or non-dairy milk like almond or oat milk to keep it dairy-free friendly.
• Butter: For a dairy-free version, try coconut oil, but be mindful it can alter the flavor slightly.
• Freeze-dried strawberries: If unavailable, you can finely chop fresh strawberries and gently fold them into the frosting, though the powder offers a more intense flavor.

How to Make Homemade Strawberry Cake Recipe

Step 1: Prepare the Strawberry Reduction

Begin by pureeing 3 cups of quartered strawberries in a food processor until smooth. Pour this puree into a medium saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, letting it simmer and thicken to about 3/4 cup—this takes 20 to 25 minutes. This reduction intensifies the fruit’s sweetness and moisture, creating a rich base for your cake.

💡 Pro Tip: Stir frequently near the end to prevent burning and get a silky-smooth reduction.

Step 2: Preheat and Prep Pans

Preheat your oven to 350°F (176°C) and line three 8-inch cake pans with parchment paper on the bottom. Spray the sides with baking spray to ensure easy release of the delicate cakes once baked.

💡 Pro Tip: Use parchment circles cut to fit the bottom perfectly to prevent sticking and keep your cakes pristine.

Step 3: Mix Wet Ingredients

In a large bowl, combine the cooled strawberry reduction with sour cream, milk, eggs, and vanilla extract. Once mixed, separate about one cup of this mixture into another bowl. Roughly 1 1/2 cups will remain in the original bowl—set both aside for later use.

💡 Pro Tip: Splitting the wet mixture ensures gradual blending with the dry ingredients for perfect batter consistency.

Step 4: Combine Dry Ingredients and Butter

In your mixer’s large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. With the mixer on low, slowly add in the room temperature butter one tablespoon at a time, letting it incorporate fully before adding more. The mixture should start to look like wet sand, which is a key texture for tender crumb development.

💡 Pro Tip: Don’t rush adding butter; this step is crucial for smooth batter and fluffy cake.

Step 5: Incorporate the Wet and Dry Mixtures

Add the larger portion (about 1 1/2 cups) of the wet strawberry mixture to the dry ingredients with butter and mix on low until just combined. Scrape down the sides, then beat on medium-high speed for 45-60 seconds to aerate the batter. Lower the speed again and slowly stream in the remaining wet mixture. Finish with a brief high-speed mix to ensure everything is homogenous.

💡 Pro Tip: Avoid overmixing to keep the cake tender yet structured.

Step 6: Bake the Cake Layers

Divide the batter evenly across the three prepared pans, smoothing the tops. Bake for 24 to 26 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs. Cool the cakes in pans for a few minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

💡 Pro Tip: Rotate pans halfway through baking for even cooking and consistent texture.

Step 7: Make the Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting

While the cakes cool, blitz the freeze-dried strawberries in a food processor until fine powder forms—about half a cup. In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and softened butter until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar and vanilla, mixing well, then stir in the strawberry powder and a pinch of salt. Set aside.

💡 Pro Tip: For an extra smooth frosting, sift your powdered sugar before adding.

Step 8: Assemble and Decorate the Cake

Level your cake layers by trimming the domes off with a serrated knife, creating flat surfaces for stacking. Place the first layer on a serving plate, spread about 1 cup of frosting evenly, and sprinkle half the chopped fresh strawberries. Repeat with the second layer and remaining strawberries. Finish with the top cake layer and coat the entire cake with the remaining frosting. Pipe decorative borders using your favorite piping tips and garnish with fresh strawberries on top. Chill before serving.

💡 Pro Tip: Chilling the cake after filling helps set layers for a straighter, professional look.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Learn from these common pitfalls:

• Undercooking the strawberry reduction: Leads to a watery batter and weak strawberry flavor.
• Adding cold butter: Makes blending difficult and results in uneven texture.
• Overmixing the batter: Can develop gluten and makes the cake dense.
• Skipping cake leveling: Results in uneven layers and a lop-sided cake.
• Not letting cakes cool completely: Causes frosting to melt or slide off.
• Using fresh strawberries directly in frosting: May cause sogginess instead of powdery color and flavor boost.

Delicious Variations to Try

Once you’ve mastered this Homemade Strawberry Cake Recipe, why not play around with these twists?

Chocolate Strawberry Delight

Add cocoa powder to the batter and fold in chocolate chips for a heavenly chocolate-strawberry combo that’s sure to wow.

Lemon-Strawberry Freshness

Incorporate lemon zest into the batter and frosting to brighten flavors and add a refreshing tang.

Coconut Strawberry Dream

Mix shredded coconut into the frosting and garnish with toasted coconut flakes for tropical flair.

Strawberry Shortcake Inspired

Substitute cream cheese frosting with whipped cream and layer with macerated strawberries for a light, airy twist.

Mixed Berry Medley

Add raspberries and blueberries in the strawberry reduction and between layers for a colorful burst of berry goodness.

How to Serve Homemade Strawberry Cake Recipe

Garnishes

Fresh strawberry slices, mint leaves, or edible flowers elevate the cake’s visual appeal and add fresh notes.

Side Dishes

Pair with a dollop of whipped cream, a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or a refreshing berry compote for balanced indulgence.

Creative Ways to Present

Serve sliced on elegant dessert plates with a drizzle of strawberry sauce or sparkling rosé for special occasions. You can also create mini cupcake versions for parties or assemble a naked cake with visible layers for rustic charm.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Keep the cake covered in the refrigerator, ideally in a cake container or covered with plastic wrap, to maintain moisture for up to 3-4 days.

Freezing

Wrap individual cake layers tightly in plastic wrap and foil, and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before assembling and frosting.

Reheating

For best flavor, serve cold or at room temperature. If you prefer, warm a slice briefly in the microwave for 10-15 seconds to soften the frosting slightly.

FAQs

Can I use frozen strawberries instead of fresh?

Yes, but thaw and drain them well before making the reduction to avoid excess liquid and a watery batter.

What if I don’t have freeze-dried strawberries?

Freeze-dried strawberries are ideal for powdering into the frosting to avoid moisture. If unavailable, you can finely chop fresh strawberries, though the frosting may be softer.

Can I make this cake gluten-free?

Substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free blend designed for baking. Adjust moisture as needed and note texture may vary slightly.

Is the frosting very sweet?

The cream cheese base balances the sweetness, and the strawberry powder adds tartness, resulting in a nicely balanced, not overly sweet frosting.

How do I prevent the cake layers from doming?

Ensure even oven temperature and use cake strips around pans to cook evenly. Leveling the cakes after baking also helps create flat, stackable layers.

Can I make the cake reduction and frosting ahead?

Absolutely! The reduction can be stored in the fridge for a couple of days. The frosting keeps well covered in the fridge for up to 3 days—just bring it back to room temperature before using.

What kind of frosting tip is best for the borders?

A large closed star tip (like Ateco 847) works wonders for the top, and a Wilton tip 22 is perfect for the bottom border, giving a pretty, professional finish.

Can I omit the pink food coloring?

Yes, the pink hue is optional and mainly for aesthetic appeal. The natural strawberry color will still shine through beautifully.

Final Thoughts

Baking this Homemade Strawberry Cake Recipe is like wrapping yourself in a berry-sweet hug from the inside out. It captures the fresh, joyful essence of strawberries in every tender bite, making it a treasured recipe to put in your baking arsenal. Whether for a special celebration or a comforting weekend treat, this cake delivers charm, flavor, and texture that’ll have everyone coming back for seconds.

Have you tried this Homemade Strawberry Cake Recipe? I’d love to hear how it turned out! Leave a comment below. If you loved this recipe, please share it with friends and family. Happy cooking! 🍓

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