10 Best Strawberry Cake Recipes You Need to Try

There’s something magical about strawberry cake. It’s fruity, fresh, and somehow works for every occasion—birthdays, summer cookouts, or just because you want cake. Whether you like classic strawberry shortcake, a moist homemade cake, or a quick box mix upgrade, I’ve got you covered.

I’ve made a lot of strawberry cakes over the years—some turned out amazing, some… let’s just say I won’t talk about them. But through all the trial and error, I’ve found 10 of the absolute best strawberry cake recipes—everything from homemade, gluten-free, and vegan options to easy box mix hacks and the famous strawberry crunch cake.

Let’s get into it!

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📌 Quick Comparison: Which Strawberry Cake is Right for You?

Cake Type	Best For	Why You’ll Love It
Classic Fresh Strawberry Cake	Birthdays, summer parties	Moist, fluffy, and packed with real strawberries
Easy Box Mix Strawberry Cake	Fast & foolproof	Simple, delicious, and requires zero baking skills
Strawberry Crunch Cake	Nostalgic childhood flavors	Crunchy topping, creamy filling, and a bakery-style look
Strawberry Shortcake Cake	Light, fresh dessert	Not too sweet, perfect with whipped cream
Strawberry Jello Cake	Retro & fun	Extra moist and loaded with strawberry flavor
Strawberry Pound Cake	Tea parties, brunch	Dense, buttery, and perfect with coffee
Vegan Strawberry Cake	Dairy-free & plant-based	Still fluffy and rich without eggs or milk
Gluten-Free Strawberry Cake	Allergy-friendly	Just as moist and fluffy as the real deal
Strawberry Tres Leches Cake	Special occasions	Soaked in strawberry-infused milk for ultimate moisture
Strawberry Poke Cake	Easy, crowd-pleasing	Super moist with a fun, colorful look

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1. Classic Fresh Strawberry Cake (From Scratch & Totally Worth It)

If you want the ultimate homemade strawberry cake, this is the one. It’s light, fluffy, and packed with real strawberry flavor.

What Makes It Amazing?

✔ Uses fresh strawberries for real flavor
✔ No artificial colors or flavors
✔ Perfectly moist without being dense

This cake is light, fluffy, and bursting with fresh strawberry flavor—no artificial colors or flavors!

Ingredients:

• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 2 ½ tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 ¾ cups sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract
• ½ cup strawberry puree (blend fresh strawberries)
• ½ cup milk

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and grease two 9-inch cake pans.
2. In a bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt.
3. In another bowl, cream together butter and sugar until fluffy.
4. Add eggs one at a time, then mix in vanilla and strawberry puree.
5. Alternate adding dry ingredients and milk until smooth.
6. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
7. Let cool, then frost with strawberry buttercream frosting.

✅ Tip: Use freeze-dried strawberry powder in the frosting for extra flavor!

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2. Easy Box Mix Strawberry Cake (Fast & Foolproof)

If you need a quick strawberry cake for a birthday or party, this box mix hack makes it taste homemade.

Take a simple box mix and make it taste homemade with a few easy tweaks.

Ingredients:

• 1 box strawberry cake mix (Duncan Hines, Betty Crocker, etc.)
• 1 cup milk (instead of water)
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• 3 large eggs
• ½ cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
• ½ cup chopped fresh strawberries

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a cake pan.
2. Mix all ingredients in a large bowl until smooth.
3. Pour batter into pan and bake according to box instructions.
4. Let cool and frost with cream cheese frosting.

How to Upgrade It:

✔ Use strawberry cake mix but swap water for milk
✔ Add sour cream or Greek yogurt for extra moisture
✔ Throw in fresh chopped strawberries for texture

✅ Tip: Swap milk for buttermilk for extra richness.

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3. Strawberry Crunch Cake (The One Everyone Asks for Again & Again)

This is the iconic ice cream bar-inspired cake with that crispy strawberry-vanilla crumble topping.

This cake tastes like the Good Humor strawberry shortcake ice cream bars!

Ingredients:

For the Cake:

• 1 box strawberry cake mix
• 1 box vanilla cake mix
• 1 cup milk
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• 3 large eggs

For the Crunch Topping:

• 1 cup crushed vanilla wafers
• ½ cup freeze-dried strawberries, crushed
• ¼ cup melted butter

Instructions:

1. Bake both cakes separately and let them cool.
2. Mix crushed vanilla wafers, freeze-dried strawberries, and melted butter for the crunch topping.
3. Frost cake layers with vanilla frosting, then press crunch topping onto the sides and top.

✅ Best Part: That crispy, buttery topping takes this cake from good to incredible.

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4. Strawberry Shortcake Cake (Not Your Basic Shortcake)

Think of this as a giant, layered shortcake instead of the biscuit-style version. It’s light, creamy, and feels fancy without being hard.

What Makes It Special?

✔ Uses butter cake layers instead of biscuits
✔ Filled with fresh strawberries & whipped cream
✔ Light, airy, and not overly sweet

This cake is a giant version of the classic strawberry shortcake dessert.

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 ¼ cups sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ cup milk
• 2 cups fresh strawberries, sliced
• 2 cups whipped cream

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a cake pan.
2. Mix flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.
3. Cream together butter and sugar, then add eggs and vanilla.
4. Alternate adding dry ingredients and milk, then bake for 25-30 minutes.
5. Let cool, then layer with whipped cream and fresh strawberries.

✅ Tip: Let the cake sit for a few hours so the flavors soak in—it gets even better overnight!

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5. Strawberry Jello Cake (Retro, Fun & Super Moist)

This is the cake your grandma probably made, and it’s still a winner because it’s insanely moist and packed with strawberry flavor.

What You’ll Need:

✔ White cake mix
✔ Strawberry Jello powder
✔ Fresh strawberries & whipped topping

This is the classic “poke cake” with Jello—it’s bright, fun, and deliciously moist!

Ingredients:

• 1 box white cake mix
• 1 box strawberry Jello
• 1 cup boiling water
• ½ cup cold water
• 2 cups whipped topping

Instructions:

1. Bake cake according to package instructions.
2. Poke holes all over with a wooden spoon handle.
3. Mix Jello with boiling water, then stir in cold water.
4. Pour over cake, let it soak in, then chill for 2 hours.
5. Frost with whipped topping and garnish with strawberries.

✅ Best Part: It’s super fun and colorful!

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6. Strawberry Pound Cake (Dense, Rich & Perfect with Coffee)

If you love buttery, dense cakes, this strawberry pound cake is a must-try.

What Makes It Good?

✔ Uses butter + sour cream for rich flavor
✔ Has chunks of fresh strawberries throughout
✔ Pairs perfectly with tea or coffee

Perfect for tea parties, brunch, or just because.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 2 cups sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ cup milk
• 1 cup chopped strawberries

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 325°F.
2. Cream butter and sugar, then add eggs and vanilla.
3. Mix in flour, baking powder, and milk until smooth.
4. Fold in strawberries and bake for 60-70 minutes.

✅ Tip: Drizzle with lemon glaze for an extra flavor boost.

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7. Vegan Strawberry Cake (Dairy-Free, Egg-Free & Still Delicious)

Just because you’re plant-based doesn’t mean you have to miss out on good cake.

How It Works Without Eggs?

✔ Uses applesauce or flax eggs as a binder
✔ Almond milk + coconut oil for moisture
✔ Still fluffy and light!

No eggs? No problem!

Ingredients:

• 2 ½ cups flour
• 1 ½ tsp baking soda
• 1 cup strawberry puree
• ¾ cup coconut oil
• 1 cup maple syrup
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar

Instructions:

1. Mix dry ingredients, then add wet ingredients.
2. Bake at 350°F for 30 minutes.

✅ Tip: Top with coconut whipped cream for a dairy-free dream cake.

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8. Gluten-Free Strawberry Cake (So Good, You Won’t Miss the Gluten)

If you need a gluten-free cake that’s not dry or crumbly, this is it.

Secret to Success?

✔ Use a mix of almond + gluten-free flour
✔ Add Greek yogurt for moisture
✔ Make sure to use real strawberry puree

A gluten-free cake that’s moist, fluffy, and just as delicious as the real thing!

Ingredients:

✔ 2 cups gluten-free flour blend (with xanthan gum)
✔ 1 ½ tsp baking powder
✔ ½ tsp baking soda
✔ ½ tsp salt
✔ 1 cup strawberry puree (fresh strawberries blended)
✔ ½ cup Greek yogurt (adds moisture)
✔ ¾ cup granulated sugar
✔ ½ cup butter or coconut oil, melted
✔ 3 large eggs
✔ 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a 9-inch cake pan.
2. In a bowl, whisk gluten-free flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
3. In another bowl, beat sugar, melted butter, eggs, and vanilla until smooth.
4. Mix in strawberry puree and Greek yogurt.
5. Gradually add the dry ingredients, stirring until just combined.
6. Pour batter into the prepared pan and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
7. Let cool completely, then frost with strawberry buttercream or whipped cream.

✅ Tip: Add almond flour (½ cup) to the gluten-free flour mix for an even better texture!

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9. Strawberry Tres Leches Cake (Super Moist & Next-Level Good)

This cake is soaked in a strawberry-infused three-milk mixture, making it ultra moist and rich.

Why It’s Amazing?

✔ Light sponge cake absorbs the sweet milk mixture
✔ Strawberries add a fresh, fruity twist
✔ Topped with fluffy whipped cream

A Latin-inspired twist on strawberry cake—this one is soaked in a rich, strawberry-infused milk mixture and topped with whipped cream.

Ingredients:

For the Cake:
✔ 1 cup all-purpose flour (or gluten-free blend)
✔ 1 tsp baking powder
✔ ½ tsp salt
✔ 5 large eggs, separated
✔ ¾ cup granulated sugar
✔ 1 tsp vanilla extract
✔ ½ cup milk

For the Tres Leches Mixture:
✔ 1 cup strawberry milk (store-bought or homemade)
✔ 1 cup sweetened condensed milk
✔ 1 cup evaporated milk

For Topping:
✔ 2 cups whipped cream
✔ 1 cup fresh strawberries, sliced

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a 9×13-inch pan.
2. In a bowl, mix flour, baking powder, and salt.
3. Separate egg whites and yolks. Beat yolks with ½ cup sugar until pale, then add vanilla and milk.
4. In another bowl, whip egg whites until stiff, then slowly add ¼ cup sugar.
5. Fold whites into yolk mixture, then gently mix in dry ingredients.
6. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 25-30 minutes.
7. Once cooled, poke holes all over the cake using a fork.
8. Mix strawberry milk, condensed milk, and evaporated milk and pour over cake. Let it soak overnight.
9. Top with whipped cream and fresh strawberries before serving.

✅ Tip: For an extra fruity punch, blend strawberries into the milk mixture!

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10. Strawberry Poke Cake (Colorful, Fun & Easy to Make)

This one’s super easy and always a hit.

How to Make It:

✔ Bake a strawberry or vanilla cake
✔ Poke holes and pour strawberry sauce or Jello inside
✔ Frost with whipped cream & sprinkles

This fun, colorful cake is perfect for parties—the strawberry sauce seeps into every bite, making it incredibly moist!

Ingredients:

✔ 1 box white or vanilla cake mix (or homemade vanilla cake)
✔ 1 cup strawberry sauce or puree
✔ 1 cup sweetened condensed milk (optional, for extra moisture)
✔ 2 cups whipped cream or cream cheese frosting
✔ 1 cup fresh strawberries, diced

Instructions:

1. Bake the cake according to box instructions (or make a homemade vanilla cake).
2. Let the cake cool for 10 minutes, then poke holes all over it using the end of a wooden spoon.
3. Pour the strawberry sauce (or puree) over the cake, letting it soak in.
4. For extra richness, pour a thin layer of condensed milk over the cake as well.
5. Chill for at least 1 hour in the fridge.
6. Spread whipped cream or frosting evenly on top and decorate with fresh strawberries.
7. Slice and serve chilled!

✅ Best Part: It’s super moist and looks cool when you cut into it!

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There’s a Strawberry Cake for Everyone

Whether you want a fancy homemade cake, an easy box mix hack, or something totally unique, there’s a strawberry cake here for you.

So, which one are you making first?