Strawberry Cake
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Need an impressive cake that’s still easy to make? Bake this amazing Layered Strawberry Cake with a homemade strawberry frosting. It starts with a boxed cake mix that is easily dressed up for a homemade cake that’s full of strawberry flavor.

Boxed strawberry cake mix is quite tasty, but this fun strawberry cake recipe is absolutely amazing! Add delicious fruity flavor with strawberry jello mixed into a simple white cake mix. Then whip together some butter and powdered sugar for the perfect strawberry buttercream frosting. Before you know it you have a high-quality cake with a beautiful, moist crumb and a pretty pink color! It’s seriously just perfect.
Strawberry treats, like this cake and strawberry brownies, are so fruity and delicious. I’ve been know to whip out this cake recipe for birthdays. I mean, who wouldn’t want a bright pink, strawberry cake on their birthday! You’re going to love having a staple recipe, like this, in your recipe vault. So here you go!
Why You’ll Love this Strawberry Cake Recipe
- Not only does this strawberry cake have an incredible flavor, but it’s also got an amazing bright pink color. Perfect for parties!
- Make a bakery quality dessert with just simple ingredients you can find at the grocery store. Seriously, it’s truly so easy to do!
- You only need 8 simple ingredients to make this recipe. Many of them are things you probably already have in your pantry and fridge.
Ingredients for Strawberry Cake
- White cake mix – Grab a box of your favorite white cake mix at the grocery store to use in this recipe.
- Egg whites – To make the most light and fluffy cake use egg whites instead of whole eggs.
- Sugar free strawberry jello – I prefer to use sugar free jello to lower the total amount of sugar in this strawberry cake.
- Canola oil – Canola oil helps to bring together the dry ingredients and make a deliciously moist cake.
- Frozen unsweetened strawberries – Add fresh strawberry puree to the batter and frosting to make everything extra fruity and tasty.
- Water – Help bring together the cake batter with a bit of water.
- Powdered sugar – Make some homemade buttercream icing with powdered sugar. And you’ll mix in some strawberries to flavor it too!
- Butter – Soften the butter before making the frosting. I recommend using unsalted butter instead of salted.
Helpful Tools
- Cooling rack
- 9 inch cake pans
- Icing knife
- Mixing bowls
- Stand mixer or hand mixer
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Cake stand
How to Make Strawberry Cake
- Grease & flour two 9-inch round cake pans and then set them aside. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- In a large mixing bowl combine cake mix and strawberry Jell-O mix until completely mixed. Then add the egg whites and oil and beat until well blended.
- Mash the strawberries in small bowl or puree them in a food processor or blender. Set aside 3 Tablespoons for icing.
- Add water and remaining berries to the cake batter and mix well. Then pour into the prepared pans.
- Bake in preheated oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 20-25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the middle of the cake. Cool for 10 minutes then remove from the pans, onto a wire rack and cool completely.
- To make frosting, combine softened butter and the 3 Tablespoons of reserved strawberries in a small bowl. Gradually beat in powdered sugar with a hand mixer or stand mixer (with paddle attachment) until light and fluffy.
- Place one of the cooled round cakes on a serving platter and then top the cake with half of the icing. Then place the other round cake on top of the frosting.
- Finish frosting the outside of the cake with the strawberry buttercream. Add any decorations or sprinkles, slice and serve!
How to Store Leftover Strawberry Cake
I like to use a cake plate that has airtight lid to store leftover strawberry cake. But you can also store each slice in airtight containers as well! You can also carefully wrap the cake in plastic wrap, just know that it may effect the outside layers of frosting.
FRIDGE: Store leftover cake in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
FREEZER: You can absolutely freeze homemade strawberry cake! Store in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months. Allow to thaw before consuming.
What can I add to a strawberry cake?
There are lots of fun things you can add to this cake! For more strawberry flavor and color, blend up some freeze-dried strawberries to mix into the cake or frosting. You can also add a layer of strawberry jam between the cake layers.
A little squeeze of lemon juice and some lemon zest would be tasty in the frosting too. A splash of vanilla extract would create extra depth of flavor as well. Add things like chopped walnuts or pecans to the top of the cake for a nutty addition. Shaved coconut, chocolate shavings, and sprinkles are all great additions to the top of the cake too!
Can I use a different type of icing?
You can totally use a different icing! I like this buttercream, but strawberry cream cheese frosting would be so yummy too. Chocolate buttercream makes this cake taste like chocolate covered strawberries.
Whipped cream frosting and plain vanilla frosting also work. If you need to save some time, you can use store-bought frosting as well!
Pro Tips for the Best Strawberry Cake
- Allow the cake layers to cool completely to room temperature before adding frosting and stacking them. If you don’t let them cool, the icing may melt and slide off the cake.
- Gently combine the wet ingredients and dry ingredients and don’t over-mix the cake batter. Over-mixed batter could result in dense cake!
- If you’d like a deeper pink color in your frosting, add a drop or two of pink food coloring and gently mix it in.
This easy strawberry cake is a total game changer! So flavorful, moist and seriously crazy simple to make.
More Strawberry Recipes You’ll Love!
- These Strawberry Pancakes are a wonderful breakfast treat. Top with strawberry reduction for the most fruity combination!
- We love Strawberry Poke Cake for a summer time dessert. It’s light and refreshing!
- Need a really really easy recipe? Then check out this quick Strawberry Dump Cake.
- Combine sweet and salty with this Strawberry Pretzel Salad.
Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats so I can see your yummy treat!
Strawberry Cake
Video
Ingredients
- 15.25 ounces white cake mix
- .3 ounces sugar-free strawberry jello (1 package)
- 4 egg whites
- ⅓ cup canola oil
- 1 cup frozen unsweetened strawberries thawed
- ½ cup water
- ⅓ cup butter softened
- 2 ⅓ cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Grease & flour two 9 inch round pans, set aside. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- In a large bowl combine cake mix and strawberry Jell-O mix until completely mixed. Then add egg whites, & oil. Beat until well blended.
- In a small bowl or food processor, mash strawberries. Set aside 3 Tablespoons for icing. Add water and remaining berries to batter and mix. Pour into prepared pans.
- Bake in preheated oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 20-25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the middle of the cake. Cool for 10 minutes. Remove from pans to wire rack and cool completely.
- To make frosting combine softened butter and 3 Tablespoons reserved strawberries in small bowl. Gradually beat in powdered sugar until light and fluffy.
- Place one of the cooled round cakes on serving platter. Top the cake with half of the icing. Then place the other round cake on top of the frosting. Finish frosting the outside of the cake.
Reva Patterson says
This is a wonderful cake everyone loves it cant go wrong having this fo company or anyone A 5 star cake for sure!!!!!!!
Julie says
Awesome! I’m so glad everyone loved it!
CORALIE CICALA says
so excited to make it today for my 13 year olds bday! he LOVES strawberries!! i am making it for tomorrow. should i ice it tomorrow or store it completely made(iced) in fridge? thanks!
Julie says
I would make it completely, with the icing, and store for tomorrow. I hope he loves it!
Katherine says
Hello…your recipe says to use 0.3 oz jello powder. Is this correct or is it 3 oz? Please reply asap…I thought it was 3 oz but now I’m worried if this was a typo or not and I’m about to make it 😉 Thank you!
Julie Evink says
It calls for sugar free so the size is correct. I’m guessing you grabbed regular which is fine, just a little sweeter.
rUTH kORNGABLE says
I wondered if it would be possible to use a canned Strawberrry soda INSTEAD OF WATER. i HAVEMADE A
CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH DR PEPPER OR COKE THAT IS WONDERFUL. WHAT DO YOU THINK?.
Julie says
I certainly have never tried it but it sounds intriguing! If you try it out let me know how it goes!
Roberta says
Was disgusting. I had a sickening taste in my mouth for hours afterwards. Waaaay too sweet.
Esther says
Question do I make the gelatin mix prior to adding it to cake mix or so I add the powdered gelatin just like that to the cake mix?
Julie Evink says
You combine the dry gelatin and the dry cake mix together. You do not make the gelatin.
Esther says
MThanks so much!
REGINA says
Hi !
LOOKS SO GOOD I’M GONE TRY!
Julie Evink says
Enjoy Regina!
Amy says
I kept true to the cake recipe for the birthday party but did use fresh berries and Cream cheese to the icing. It was Awesome!! The smell was beautifully rich with strawberry! Love Love Love this cake:-)
Julie Evink says
So glad you enjoyed it! What a great birthday treat! Thanks for rating/commenting 🙂
Beth Patterson says
How much cream cheese did you use?
Armida says
Can you use 3 whole eggs instead of the 4 egg whites?
Julie Evink says
I’m sorry I’ve never tested it like that!
Amy says
Hello,
This looks perfect for my 4 yr old daughter’s b-day cake request. Few questions to ask??
1. Fresh or Frozen berries does it matter?
2. She asked for mint icing. I’m thinking of making Cream Cheese icing then adding peppermint extract with the same strawberry amount you used in your icing. Does that sound good?
3. I usually add Almond extract to store bought cake mixes to give it a bakery taste. Does anyone else think it helps store bought cake mixes taste 10 times better?
Julie Evink says
I used frozen berries that I thawed. I would think fresh would work too. I think if you want mint flavor in the icing that would be the way to do it. Almond extract is always a wonderful addition!
Dolores says
Not tired of this recipe. Just saw this and out off all the strawberry cake recipes I have decided to make this one.
Julie Evink says
I hope you enjoyed it!
Ann Wells says
I have been making this cake since the early ’60s. Always a crowd pleaser. My granddaughter requested it for her birthday. I have made it in layers, bundt, cupcakes and 9 x 13. All worked fine. I always use frozen strawberries.
Julie Evink says
Ooo I need to try new versions!
Sarah L. says
I have been looking for a simple strawberry cake recipe for cupcakes for a wedding. This sounds good. I see someone asked about using whole eggs instead. Have you tried since you were asked? Thinking about trying three whole eggs instead of four whites. Guess I could also buy a box of just egg whites. Thought I would see what you think. Thank you
Julie Evink says
I would test it before I would assume it would work if you are using it for a recipe for a wedding. I’ve never tried it like that!
James Smith says
This looks so good! Going to make it. But one question. Can I use whole eggs as well or does it have to be only egg whites?
Julie Evink says
I have never tested it with whole eggs so I would just use the egg whites!
Laverne says
Hi! Can I make this cake in a 9×13 pan?
Julie Evink says
Hi! I guess I’ve never tried so I can’t really say for sure but I think it would work!