There’s just something about a homemade strawberry cake that transports me back to childhood birthdays and summer picnics. The vibrant color, the fresh, sweet aroma, and that undeniable taste of real strawberries – it’s pure joy in every bite. If you’ve ever dreamt of baking a strawberry cake that’s moist, bursting with flavor, and beautiful enough to be the centerpiece of any celebration, you’re in the right place. Forget those dry, artificially flavored imposters; we’re diving into the secrets of creating a truly perfect, from-scratch strawberry masterpiece.
Why you’ll love this dish
If you’re wondering why you should dedicate your time to whipping up a homemade strawberry cake, let me tell you, the reasons are plentiful. First off, the flavor simply outshines any store-bought version. You control the quality of ingredients, ensuring that sweet, authentic strawberry taste truly shines through. It’s also incredibly rewarding to present a cake you’ve created yourself, especially one as stunning as a fresh strawberry cake. It’s perfect for spring gatherings, summer celebrations, or simply when you’re craving a slice of pure happiness. Plus, the process itself, from creaming butter to seeing that beautiful pink batter come to life, is a wonderfully mindful and satisfying experience.
> “I used to think strawberry cake was just for special occasions, but after trying this recipe, I’m finding excuses to bake it all the time! The fresh strawberry flavor is absolutely incredible.” — Happy Baker
The cooking process explained
Making this perfect homemade strawberry cake involves a few key steps that ensure maximum flavor and moisture. We start by preparing the fresh strawberries, often pureeing some to incorporate directly into the batter for a natural pink hue and intense berry taste. The cake batter itself follows a classic creaming method, where butter and sugar are beaten together until light and fluffy, creating a tender crumb. Dry ingredients are then alternated with wet ingredients (including our strawberry puree!), ensuring a well-mixed but not overmixed batter. Once baked and cooled, the layers are then frosted with a luscious strawberry buttercream, often enhanced with finely diced fresh strawberries for an extra burst of flavor and texture.
What you’ll need
Gathering your ingredients is the first step on your journey to strawberry cake bliss. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Fresh Strawberries: The star of the show! Choose ripe, vibrant berries.
- All-Purpose Flour: For the cake’s structure.
- Granulated Sugar & Confectioners’ Sugar: For sweetness in the cake and frosting.
- Unsalted Butter: At room temperature, for richness and tender texture in both cake and frosting.
- Large Eggs: Also at room temperature, for binding and moisture.
- Baking Powder & Baking Soda: For lift and a tender crumb.
- Salt: To balance the sweetness.
- Milk or Buttermilk: Provides moisture and tang. Buttermilk adds a lovely tenderness.
- Vanilla Extract: Enhances all the other flavors.
- Heavy Cream (for frosting): Helps achieve a light, fluffy buttercream.
Directions to follow
Let’s break down the baking process into easy-to-follow steps:
- Prepare Strawberries: Wash, hull, and slice your fresh strawberries. Puree about 1 cup of strawberries until smooth. Dice another cup for adding to the frosting or between layers.
- Preheat Oven & Prep Pans: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 8-inch round cake pans, or line with parchment paper.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- Cream Butter & Sugar: In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes.
- Add Eggs & Vanilla: Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
- Alternate Dry & Wet: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in three additions, alternating with the milk (or buttermilk in two additions), beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined after each addition; do not overmix.
- Fold in Strawberry Puree: Gently fold in the strawberry puree until incorporated.
- Bake: Divide the batter evenly between the prepared cake pans. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool: Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10-15 minutes before inverting them onto a wire rack to cool completely.
- Make Frosting: While cakes cool, prepare your strawberry buttercream. In a large bowl, beat softened butter until creamy. Gradually add confectioners’ sugar, alternating with a splash of heavy cream, until smooth and fluffy. Beat in remaining strawberry puree and any diced strawberries (optional).
- Assemble & Frost: Once cakes are completely cool, level the tops if necessary. Place one cake layer on your serving plate. Spread a generous amount of frosting over the top. Place the second cake layer on top and cover the entire cake with the remaining frosting.
- Garnish: Decorate with fresh strawberry slices or whole berries.
How to plate and pair
A homemade strawberry cake is a showstopper on its own, but you can elevate the experience with a few thoughtful touches. Serve slices on elegant plates, perhaps with a sprig of fresh mint for a pop of color, or a light dusting of confectioners’ sugar. For an extra treat, a dollop of freshly whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream makes for a delightful accompaniment. This cake pairs beautifully with a light, sparkling rosé or even a simple glass of iced tea on a warm day. It’s perfect as the grand finale to a spring brunch or a celebratory dinner.
Keeping leftovers fresh
Proper storage is key to enjoying your homemade strawberry cake for days to come. If your cake has a cream cheese or fresh fruit frosting (which this strawberry buttercream often mimics in delicate-ness), it’s best stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Allow slices to come closer to room temperature for about 15-20 minutes before serving for the best flavor and texture. You can also freeze individual unfrosted cake layers, double-wrapped in plastic wrap and then foil, for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before frosting. Frosted slices can also be frozen for about a month, but be aware the texture might change slightly upon thawing.
Helpful cooking tips
Achieving that “perfect” status with your homemade strawberry cake doesn’t have to be daunting. Here are a few invaluable tips I’ve picked up along the way:
- Room Temperature Ingredients: This is crucial! Butter, eggs, and milk at room temperature emulsify better, leading to a smoother batter and a finer, more tender cake crumb.
- Don’t Overmix: Once you add the flour, mix only until just combined. Overmixing develops gluten too much, resulting in a tough, dry cake.
- Strawberry Puree vs. Extract: Using fresh strawberry puree directly in the batter provides an authentic, natural flavor and color that artificial extracts can’t match. Cook down some of your puree slightly for a more concentrated flavor if your berries aren’t super sweet.
- Cool Cakes Completely: Attempting to frost warm cakes is a recipe for disaster (and melty frosting). Be patient and let them cool entirely.
- Leveling Layers: For a professional look, use a serrated knife to carefully level the tops of your cooled cake layers. This creates an even surface for stacking.
Creative twists
While this classic homemade strawberry cake is fantastic as is, don’t be afraid to experiment!
- Lemon-Strawberry Delight: Add 1-2 tablespoons of lemon zest to both the cake batter and the buttercream for a bright, tangy counterpoint to the sweet strawberries.
- Chocolate Chip Swirl: Fold in a handful of mini chocolate chips into the batter for a fun, surprising textural and flavor element.
- Coconut Cream Dream: Substitute some of the milk for coconut milk in the cake, and add toasted shredded coconut to the frosting for a tropical flair.
- Boozy Berries: Macerate some of the fresh strawberries in a tablespoon of Grand Marnier or a strawberry liqueur before using them for garnish or between layers.
- Gluten-Free Version: Swap out the all-purpose flour for your favorite 1:1 gluten-free baking blend to accommodate dietary needs.
Common questions
Can I use frozen strawberries?
While fresh strawberries are ideal for the best flavor and texture, you can use frozen strawberries. Thaw them completely and drain any excess liquid before pureeing and using in the recipe. Note that the color and intensity of flavor might vary slightly.
My cake layers are sinking in the middle, what happened?
Several factors can cause a cake to sink: oven door opened too early, overmixing the batter, too much leavening agent, or inaccurate oven temperature. Ensure your oven is calibrated and avoid opening the oven door during the first 2/3 of baking time.
How far in advance can I make this cake?
You can bake the cake layers up to 1-2 days in advance, wrap them tightly in plastic, and store them at room temperature. The strawberry buttercream can also be made a day in advance and stored in the refrigerator; bring it to room temperature and re-whip before frosting. Assemble and frost the cake no more than 1 day before serving for peak freshness.
Classic Homemade Strawberry Cake
Equipment
- Small bowl
- Fine-mesh sieve
- 8-inch round cake pans
- Wire rack
- Electric mixer
- Serrated knife
Ingredients
For the Cake
- 2.5 cups all-purpose flour
- 1.5 teaspoons baking powder
- 0.5 teaspoon baking soda
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1.5 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and finely diced (1 cup for batter, ½ cup for macerating)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice optional, for macerating berries
For the Strawberry Buttercream Frosting
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 4-5 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 0.5 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 0.25 cup heavy cream or milk
- 0.5 cup fresh strawberries, puréed and strained
- salt Pinch
For Garnish
- Fresh whole or sliced strawberries
- fresh mint leaves Optional
Instructions
Preparation
- Macerate ½ cup diced strawberries with 1 tablespoon sugar and optional lemon juice for 15-20 minutes. Purée and strain ½ cup of strawberries for the frosting.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare two 8-inch round cake pans by greasing and flouring them or lining with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
Cake Batter
- In a large bowl, cream softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy (3-5 minutes).
- Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla extract.
- Gradually add dry ingredients in three additions, alternating with buttermilk in two additions, mixing until just combined and starting and ending with dry.
- Gently fold in 1 cup of finely diced strawberries.
Baking and Cooling
- Divide batter evenly between prepared pans and bake for 28-32 minutes, or until a wooden skewer comes out clean.
- Cool cakes in pans for 10-15 minutes, then invert onto a wire rack to cool completely.
Strawberry Buttercream
- Beat softened butter until creamy, then gradually add sifted powdered sugar, alternating with heavy cream/milk and strained strawberry purée. Beat until light, fluffy, and smooth, adding a pinch of salt and vanilla extract. Adjust consistency with more cream or powdered sugar as needed.
Assembly and Garnish
- Once cakes are completely cool, level the tops with a serrated knife if necessary. Place one cake layer on a serving plate and spread with a generous layer of strawberry buttercream, then add a spoonful or two of macerated strawberries.
- Place the second cake layer on top and spread the remaining buttercream over the top and sides of the cake.
- Decorate with fresh whole or sliced strawberries and optional mint leaves. Chill for at least 30 minutes before slicing and serving to allow the frosting to set.