Easy Strawberry Cake

Indulge in the sweetness of this Easy Strawberry Cake made with a box mix and Jello! Bursting with fresh strawberries, it’s a delightful treat that’s simple to make and impossible to resist.

For more strawberry recipes try our, fresh Strawberry Cream Cheese Pie, Strawberry Gooey Butter Cake, Easy Strawberry Shortcake, and  Strawberry Cheesecake Lush Dessert.

Five Reasons You’ll Love Easy Fresh Strawberry Cake

1. Irresistible flavor. The sweetness of sun-ripened strawberries gives the vanilla cake a rich homemade taste. The white cake with strawberries recipe is lifted, and the flavors are enhanced by adding strawberry Jello.
2. Easy to make. Thanks to a boxed cake mix, jello, fresh strawberries, a few pantry staples, and 15 minutes of prep time.
3. It’s gorgeous! Vanilla cake with strawberries and Jello blend for a beautiful deep pink crumb. Combined with the fluffy, light pink strawberry buttercream creates a beautiful presentation. Artfully arrange more strawberries for a truly stunning cake.
4. It’s versatile. You can change up the flavor of the cake mix or add other fruits, such as bananas, blueberries, or raspberries, for a different flavor combination.
5. You’ll love it. This strawberry cake is so delicious you’ll want to make it all year. It’s perfect for birthdays, special occasions, or an “any” day treat.

Fresh Strawberry Cake Recipe Ingredients

Easy strawberry cake is a beautiful summer dessert recipe using simple pantry basics with white vanilla cake and Jell-O. Fresh strawberries provide vibrant color and a balanced touch of sweetness and tartness.

For specific amounts, please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.

Strawberry Cake Ingredients:

• White Cake Mix – I use Duncan Hines Classic White or French Vanilla. Do NOT follow the directions on the box, you want to follow the directions I’ve provided below.
• Strawberry Jell-O – do not prepare Jello. Combine the dry, powdered Jello with vanilla cake mix.
• Strawberries – washed, dried, and hulled. Mash or finely chop the fruit, keeping in mind how you would like them to look in the cake batter. 
• Oil – is what keeps the crumb moist. Use any neutral vegetable oil you prefer. 
• Milk – or water can be used.
• Large Eggs* – It is essential to bring eggs to room temperature before adding them to the batter to ensure even baking and better mixing.
• Optional Garnish: fresh strawberries. If you make this fresh strawberry cake recipe in advance, hold off on putting the fresh strawberries as garnish until you are ready to serve.

Baker’s Note:* Eggs icebox cold, and you’re in a rush? Use a warm water bath for cold eggs. Place them in a bowl of warm, NOT hot, water for 10-15 minutes.

Strawberry Frosting Ingredients:

• Confectioner’s Sugar – powdered sugar is the silky base to creamy strawberry frosting.
• Strawberries – fresh, ripe strawberries mashed or finely chopped.
• Butter – you want the butter softened enough, but not melted, to easily blend in and dissolve the powdered sugar.

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How To Make Easy Strawberry Cake With A Box Mix & Jello

A white cake with strawberries is convenient and easy for busy households and novice bakers. Combining Jello and cake mix makes it easy to whip up a simple, foolproof strawberry dessert anytime.

When you are making this recipe, you’ll want to use the full recipe at the bottom of the page.

For The Cake:

You only need a few basic tools: an electric mixer, a spatula, a wire rack, and a lightly greased 9×13-inch cake pan with non-stick spray.

1. Add boxed cake mix, jello mix, strawberries, oil, and water to a large bowl and mix until combined.
2. Beat eggs in, one at a time.
3. Pour into prepared pan and bake for 30-35 minutes.
4. Cool completely, then frost with strawberry buttercream.

For The Frosting:

Three Ingredient frosting with fresh strawberries is sure to please!

1. Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. 
2. Add strawberries and mix until combined.

Tip: Freeze-dried strawberries are a great option for the icing. Fresh strawberries can have a lot of moisture for frosting making the crispy strawberries a great option. Simply grind the freeze-dried strawberries into a chunky powder and add to the icing a little at a time.

Recipe Notes and Tips

• Fresh, red strawberries give the best color to the strawberry icing and a fuller, natural strawberry flavor to the vanilla cake mix. 
• After washing, strawberries should be patted dry to remove any extra moisture, and any green or white flesh should be removed.
• Make sure the strawberry cake is completely cooled before frosting. This helps the strawberry frosting to adhere to the cake and keep it from melting/sliding.
• Monitor bake time closely because the amount of juice in strawberries can vary. This easy strawberry cake is done when a toothpick in the center comes out clean.
• To produce a more moist and decadent strawberry cake texture, use milk instead of water because of the butterfat in milk.  
• Bake and transport cake in a lidded, disposable aluminum baking pan when attending get-togethers like a 4th of July picnic.

How To Store This Cake

If you’re storing the cake at room temperature, place it in an airtight container or cover it tightly in plastic wrap for up to two days. I recommend refrigerating it after a couple of days.

Refrigerate/Leftovers

Strawberry cake can be refrigerated for up to a week if it is airtight. The refrigerator tends to dry out baked goods faster, so keeping your cake covered is crucial.

Freeze

For longer storage, wrap the strawberry cake tightly in plastic, then aluminum foil, and freeze for up to 2 months.

Thaw the cake overnight in the refrigerator and let it come to room temperature before serving.

Variations

• Use crispy freeze-dried (NOT dehydrated) strawberries in the frosting in place of fresh strawberries. Easily achieve the perfect strawberry flavor by grinding freeze-dried strawberries into a fine powder using a food processor. Gradually incorporate the powder into the creamed butter and sugar, a few tablespoons at a time to suit your desired taste.
• Use a strawberry cake mix for intense strawberry flavor.
• For strawberry cupcakes, bake for 18 to 20 minutes, cool them on a wire rack for 10 minutes before taking them out of the tin, then cool them completely on the wire rack.
• For a round layer cake use three 8-inch round cake pans or two 9-inch round cake pans and bake for 28-31 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
• Add a little lemon juice to the frosting, for a strawberry lemonade flavor.
• Adding shredded coconut and pecans can make this easy strawberry cake recipe taste like something your grandmother would have made.