Strawberry cream cake brings together the perfect harmony of sweet, juicy berries and light, creamy frosting layered between fluffy vanilla cake. This quintessential summer dessert captures the essence of the season with its vibrant colors and fresh flavors. Whether you’re celebrating a birthday, hosting a garden party, or simply treating yourself after a long week, this recipe delivers an impressive yet approachable dessert that’s sure to become a family favorite. The natural sweetness of fresh strawberries paired with delicate cream creates a cake that’s refreshing rather than overly rich.
Why You’ll Love This Cake
This strawberry cream cake recipe will quickly become your go-to dessert for several compelling reasons:
- Stunning presentation: The contrast between ruby-red berries, white cream, and golden cake creates a showstopper with minimal decorating skills required
- Versatile for occasions: Works beautifully for everything from casual family gatherings to more formal celebrations like birthdays or anniversaries
- Make-ahead friendly: Components can be prepared separately in advance, making your day-of preparations stress-free
- Customizable: The basic formula allows for seasonal variations using different berries or fruits depending on what’s fresh and available
The beauty of this cake lies in its simplicity—allowing quality ingredients to shine without complicated techniques or specialty equipment.
History and Fun Facts
The strawberry cream cake has delightful connections across global dessert traditions:
- In Japan, the “strawberry shortcake” (as they call their version of strawberry cream cake) is a traditional Christmas dessert, symbolizing the red and white colors of the season
- Victorian England popularized strawberries and cream as a combination, which eventually evolved into elaborate layered desserts for special occasions
- The modern American strawberry cream cake draws inspiration from European tortes, Japanese precision, and the classic strawberry shortcake
- Strawberries were considered medicinal in medieval times before becoming the beloved dessert ingredient we know today
Ingredients You’ll Need
For the Cake:
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 cup buttermilk, room temperature
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ cup water
For the Cream Filling and Frosting:
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream, cold
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup sour cream
For the Strawberry Layer:
- 4 cups fresh strawberries, divided
- 3 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
Step-by-Step Strawberry Cream Cake Method
- Prepare the strawberries: Hull and slice 3 cups of strawberries. Mix with sugar and lemon juice in a bowl, then set aside to macerate for 30 minutes. Reserve the remaining cup of strawberries for decoration.
- Make the cake layers: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line two 9-inch round cake pans. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In another bowl, combine buttermilk, oil, eggs, vanilla, and water. Gradually mix wet ingredients into dry until just combined. Divide batter between pans and bake for 25-30 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely on wire racks.
- Prepare the cream filling: In a chilled bowl, whip the heavy cream with powdered sugar and vanilla until stiff peaks form. In a separate bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth, then fold in the sour cream. Gently fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture until smooth and fully incorporated.
- Assemble the base: Place one cake layer on your serving plate. Spread a thin layer of cream filling on top, then arrange a layer of the macerated strawberries (drained from their juice) over the cream.
- Complete the cake: Add the second cake layer. Frost the top and sides with the remaining cream mixture. Arrange the reserved fresh strawberries on top in a decorative pattern. For best results, refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving to allow flavors to meld.
Strawberry Cream Cake Tips and Twists
Essential Tips:
- Ensure all dairy ingredients for the frosting are properly chilled for the best whipping results
- Pat dry the macerated strawberries before layering to prevent soggy cake
- Level your cake layers with a serrated knife for professional-looking results
- Chill your mixing bowl and beaters in the freezer for 15 minutes before whipping cream
- Use a cake board or cardboard round for easier transport and serving
Delicious Variations:
- Mixed Berry Cream Cake: Substitute half the strawberries with blueberries and raspberries for a colorful twist
- Citrus Strawberry Cream Cake: Add lemon or orange zest to both the cake batter and cream for a bright, citrusy note
- Chocolate Strawberry Cream Cake: Replace one-third of the flour with cocoa powder for a chocolate base that pairs wonderfully with the strawberries
Storage, Reheating, and Make-Ahead Tips
Storage:
- Store assembled cake in the refrigerator, loosely covered with plastic wrap or in a cake carrier, for up to 3 days
- For best appearance and texture, consume within 48 hours of assembly
- Never freeze a fully assembled cake as the texture will significantly deteriorate
Reheating:
- This cake is best served chilled or at cool room temperature
- If refrigerated, remove from the fridge 15-20 minutes before serving to take the chill off
Make-Ahead:
- Bake cake layers up to 3 days ahead; wrap well in plastic wrap and store at room temperature
- Prepare cream filling up to 24 hours ahead and refrigerate in an airtight container
- Macerate strawberries up to 3 hours ahead, keeping refrigerated
- For best results, final assembly should be done at least 1 hour but no more than 8 hours before serving
Serving Suggestions
Elevate your strawberry cream cake experience with these complementary pairings:
- Serve with a small scoop of high-quality vanilla bean ice cream for an indulgent contrast of temperatures
- Pair with fresh mint-infused iced tea for a refreshing summer dessert course
- Create a strawberry sauce from the reserved macerating liquid by simmering it until slightly thickened, then drizzle on plates before adding cake slices
- For special occasions, add a glass of champagne or Prosecco to complement the sweet berry flavors
- Garnish plates with additional fresh berries and mint leaves for a professional presentation
FAQ About Strawberry Cream Cake
Can I use frozen strawberries instead of fresh? While fresh is ideal for the best texture and appearance, you can use thawed frozen strawberries for the filling layer. However, use only fresh berries for decoration on top.
How do I prevent my cake from becoming soggy? Drain macerated strawberries well before assembly and create a barrier of cream between the berries and cake. Assemble no more than 8 hours before serving for best results.
Can I make this cake dairy-free? Yes, substitute plant-based butter in the cake, and use coconut cream and dairy-free cream cheese alternatives for the frosting. The texture will be slightly different but still delicious.
Is it possible to make this as cupcakes instead? Absolutely! Fill cupcake liners ⅔ full, bake for 18-20 minutes, then core each cupcake to fill with cream and diced strawberries before topping with more cream and a berry.
How can I ensure my whipped cream frosting stays stable? The addition of cream cheese helps stabilize the whipped cream. You can also add ½ teaspoon of unflavored gelatin (bloomed in 1 tablespoon cold water, then melted) to the cream while whipping for extra stability.
Enjoy Your Homemade Strawberry Cream Cake
Now that you’ve mastered this strawberry cream cake recipe, you can confidently create a dessert that balances elegance with approachability. The combination of tender cake, luscious cream, and juicy strawberries creates a perfect harmony of textures and flavors. Don’t be surprised if friends and family request this as their birthday cake of choice or if it becomes your signature dessert for summer gatherings. Remember that the quality of your ingredients—especially the strawberries—will shine through in the final product, so choose the ripest, most fragrant berries you can find for truly spectacular results.
Strawberry Cream Cake: A Perfect Summer Dessert
Ingredients
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 cup buttermilk, room temperature
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 4 cups fresh strawberries, divided
- 3 tbsp granulated sugar for berries
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream, cold
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup sour cream
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line two 9-inch cake pans. Combine dry ingredients in one bowl, wet ingredients in another, then mix together until just combined. Divide batter between pans.
- Bake cakes for 25-30 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely on wire racks.
- Hull and slice 3 cups strawberries. Mix with sugar and lemon juice, then set aside to macerate for 30 minutes. Reserve remaining berries for decoration.
- Whip heavy cream with powdered sugar until stiff peaks form. In another bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth, fold in sour cream, then fold in whipped cream until combined.
- Place one cake layer on serving plate. Spread with cream, then drained macerated strawberries. Top with second cake layer and frost entire strawberry cream cake with remaining cream.
- Decorate with reserved fresh strawberries and refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving.
Notes
Explore More Recipes on Our Blog
If you enjoyed this recipe, you’ll love these other delightful treats from our kitchen:
For more berry-based desserts with the same fresh appeal, check out our Easy Easter Birds Nest Cookies Recipe which features a similar sweet-tart profile. The Strawberry Shortcake Recipe offers another classic approach to showcasing beautiful strawberries. And if you’re looking for a different showstopping dessert, our Best Carrot Cake Cookies Recipe brings the beloved flavors of carrot cake to a convenient cookie format. For special occasions requiring an elegant presentation like this strawberry cream cake, you might also appreciate our White German Chocolate Cake Recipe for another impressive layer cake option.