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The Best Strawberry Cake with Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting

by Jessie Daye

First published: June 19, 2025 | Updated: June 22, 2026

This moist natural strawberry cake is extremely decadent and made with only fresh and freeze-dried strawberries—no artificial flavoring. Since freeze-dried strawberries contain a considerable amount of sugar, I added just one additional cup of granulated sugar to the recipe. If you prefer a sweeter cake, you could also add strawberry jam to the batter. For a more vibrant pink color, try using crushed freeze-dried raspberries, as they tend to have a deeper hue. You can also add a drop of food coloring if you want a brightly colored cake. I did not add any food coloring to my cake or frosting.

Recipe below!

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My gingham tablecloth linked here: https://amzn.to/4t219rb

The Best Strawberry Cake with Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting

Author: Jessie Daye
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Ingredients

  • Ingredients

Method

  1. 1. Make the strawberry puree by slicing 2 pounds of strawberries and adding them to a saucepan. Gently smash them with a fork and simmer over low-medium heat, stirring often, until reduced to about 1 cup (25–30 minutes). Cool completely. Use 3/4 cup for the cake and save the remaining 1/4 for the frosting. Remove from heat and allow to cool. ** If your strawberries are not very sweet or it’s not strawberry season add 1/4 cup of strawberry jam to this mixture while you are cooking it down.
  2. 2. Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch pans (8” works as well) and line the bottoms with parchment paper.
  3. 3. Whisk dry ingredients together in a medium bowl (cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.) Set aside.
  4. 4. In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar together on high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in the 3 egg whites and two eggs until combined.
  5. 5. Mix in the sour cream or yogurt and vanilla bean paste until fully combined.
  6. 6. With the mixer on low, alternate adding the dry ingredients and milk until just combined.
  7. 7. Fold in the 3/4 cup reduced strawberry puree and the crushed freeze-dried berries for flavor and color.
  8. 8. Divide the batter between pans and bake for 22-25 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool on racks while you prepare the frosting.
  9. 10. To make the frosting beat the cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add freeze-dried berry powder, * remaining 1/4 cup strawberry puree, vanilla, salt, milk, and confectioners’ sugar. If the frosting is too thick add another teaspoon of milk until it’s smooth.
  10. 11. Frost the cooled cakes then chill 20–30 minutes before adding the sliced strawberries to the outside right before serving. Do not add the strawberries hours beforehand as the juice will slowly make them slide off.

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38 comments

  • Sherrie Corbett

    Hello – Question – The recipe ingredients say "1/3 cup (75g) plain yogurt, room temperature" – but the directions say "5. Mix in the sour cream". Is it yogurt or sour cream in the recipe? Thank you for your clarification. Sherrie Corbett

    • Jessie Daye

      Oh shoot! I meant to say you could use yogurt or sour cream – either works. I used yogurt in my video. I’ll change the directions now. Thank you!

      • Sherrie Corbett

        Thanks for responding – I appreciate it!

  • kristi

    Can I use something other than cream cheese in the frosting?

  • Alyssa

    Is Greek yogurt okay to use? Or did you use regular yogurt?

  • Rachel Norman

    I made this yesterday and it turned out great! Thank you!

  • Heidi Thompson

    I’m confused, the recipe calls for 3 egg whiskey and 2 whole eggs but the instructions only say to add 1 whole egg + egg whites. Is it 1 or 2 whole eggs added? Thanks! Hope it works out!

  • Can I put these in the fridge overnight and frost in the morning?

  • Claudia

    Anyone else had to bake longer than 25 minutes? I’m baking for the first time at my new apartment and it has a super old oven (Amana?) and batter is still raw in the middle at 35 minutes

    • Natalie Germann

      Mine was only 20 so must just depend on the oven

  • Can you substitute egg replacer for the eggs?

  • Ingrid

    In the beginning of the article you mention setting aside 1/4 cup of the puree for the frosting yet it’s not mentioned when making the frosting.

    • Natalie Germann

      I noticed that and for some reason I didn’t have enough of the freeze dried strawberries left so I used the puree.. I halved the recipe and had way extra puree and not enough freeze dried lol just pulled out of oven and hope it’s amazing, batter tasted good and frosting is to my liking!

  • I saw you added the cakes to two 9inch pans, would two 8inch pans work as well? Or will the temperature and timing change when baking?

  • Marilyn

    Is there a place we can print the recipe?

  • Mary Beth Oakley

    This came out very dense for me. I followed the directions, and it was very, very dense, and doesn’t take like strawberries. Also, the recipe mentions saving 1/4c of the strawberry purée for the icing, and then it doesn’t appear in the icing part of the recipe.

  • Kimberly

    This was amazing! YES it’s dense and heavy like a Susie cake — she literally mentions that in the description and it’s amazing!!! For the remaining 1/4 puree you simply add it to the frosting. I’m not sure why everyone is so confused over here.

  • This cake came out very very dense. There was also come confusion with the recipe vs the video on instagram. Some steps were skipped over on the video. I find it easier to follow videos, but it led to some confusion. I would not recommend this recipe. 🙁

  • Jennifer from NY

    This cake was delicious! Dense yes like a Susie cake but so good !! I added jam to my layers and it was delicious.

  • Jennifer from NY

    Have you ever made this into a sheet cake?

  • This cake is so delicious, moist, full of fresh strawberry flavor! The icing! So good. We wet actually short a half cup of powdered sugar, and it was perfect.
    Will definitely be making this again.

  • Erica Hilliard

    What are your suggestions for a gf cake

  • I plan to make this for my sister’s birthday this weekend. I was wondering regarding the eggs I see that it’s a total of three one whole egg and two egg whites. My question is could I use three full eggs? I was told back in the day that the egg yolk brings moisture and fat to the cake have you ever tried it with three full eggs?

  • Jennifer Ardoline

    I can’t wait to make this and I think I’m gonna try lemon curd in between the layers

  • Hello where’s the recipe?

  • Would you tweak anything to make cupcakes?

  • Hi Jessie,
    I am excited to try this cake. Is there a way we can print this recipe. It would be easier to go through the recipe from paper than from screen. Thank you.

  • Can the vanilla bean paste be substituted for vanilla extract?

  • Julie de la Fuente

    Could this be made as a 9 x 13 sheet cake? Would you alter the cook time or temp?

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Hi, I'm Jessie. 

I’m a Los Angeles mama, home renovator, and lifelong creative, sharing the things that make everyday life a little more beautiful. I believe food is one of the best ways to bring people together, which is why I love cooking: it turns an ordinary Tuesday into something worth remembering. From recipes I make on repeat to DIY projects, home design, and a little bit of real life in between — welcome to my corner of the internet. I’m so glad you’re here.

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