Simple Summer Strawberry Cake
This wonderful recipe was sent to me by Karen Tannenbaum, a longtime reader, avid cook and all-around lovely lady. In her email to me, she described a dinner she made that ended with this dessert as “just like a night in heaven.” I was sold. Within a few days, I had the cake in the oven and, sure enough, it was the one of the simplest, prettiest, most delicious cakes I’d ever made.
My favorite thing about this strawberry cake is its simplicity: it’s made with very few ingredients, and you can have it in the oven in under 15 minutes. What’s more, it’s a great way to use up extra strawberries or salvage berries that are less than perfect — and it keeps well for days.
Begin by whisking the dry ingredients together. Set aside.
Beat the butter and sugar until pale and fluffy, then beat in the egg and vanilla.
Gradually add the flour, alternating with the milk, and beat until smooth. The batter will be quite thick.
Transfer the batter to a buttered 9-inch deep dish pie pan (or 9-inch cake pan) and smooth with a spatula.
Arrange the strawberry halves on top of the batter and sprinkle with sugar. Don’t omit the sugar here; it balances the tartness of the berries and forms a deliciously crisp crust on top the cake.
Bake for 10 minutes, then reduce the heat to 325° and bake for 60 minutes more. Cool on a rack. The cake is delicious warm or room temperature, served plain, alongside vanilla ice cream or topped with sweetened whipped cream.
This recipe, sent to me by Karen Tannenbaum, is modestly adapted from Martha Stewart Living (June 2005). My only changes were to reduce the quantity of strawberries by 1/4 pound and alter the method of making the batter. Too see the original recipe and read the rave reviews, click here.
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Summer Strawberry Cake
Ingredients
- 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour, spooned into measuring cup and leveled-off
- 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened, plus more for greasing the pan
- 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar, divided
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup milk (low fat is fine)
- About 3/4 pound strawberries, hulled and halved
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and butter a 9-inch deep dish pie pan or 9-inch square cake pan.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter and 1 cup of the sugar until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla and beat on low speed until well combined. Gradually add the flour mixture, alternating with the milk, and beat on low speed until smooth. (Note: the batter will be very thick.)
- Transfer the batter into the prepared pan and smooth with a spatula (if you use a square cake pan, the batter will only come about 3/4-inch up the sides of the pan -- that's ok). Arrange the strawberries on top, cut side down, so that they completely cover the batter (the recipe calls for approximately 3/4 pound of strawberries; use more or less if necessary). Sprinkle the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar over the strawberries.
- Bake for ten minutes, then reduce the heat to 325°F and bake until the cake is lightly golden and a tester comes out clean, about an hour. Let the cake cool in the pan on a rack. Serve with sweetened whipped cream or vanilla ice cream, if desired.
- Note: Cake can be stored at room temperature for several days, loosely covered.
- Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The cake can be frozen for up to 3 months. After it is completely cooled, cover it tightly with aluminum foil or freezer wrap. Thaw overnight on the countertop before serving.
Nutrition Information
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- Per serving (10 servings)
- Calories: 241
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated fat: 5g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Sugar: 25g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Sodium: 185mg
- Cholesterol: 38mg
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Reviews & Comments
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Hi Jenn. I tried this cake and my kids and I loved it. Thanks for this amazing recipe!
My husband is vegan so can I substitute butter with vegetable oil? What can I use instead of egg and milk?
Glad your kids enjoyed this, Roula! I wouldn’t recommend oil here, but a few vegan readers have mentioned that they’ve used margarine, almond milk, and flax eggs, so you could certainly give it a try. (Please keep in mind that I’ve never tried it with these substitutions so I can’t guarantee the results.) Please let me know how it turns out if you try it! 🙂
Hi Jenn. I will have a house full of guests (15, yikes!) next weekend and want to prepare and freeze some things in advance. Would this strawberry cake do well after freezing or do you think the strawberries would be mushy? I’ve made this many times but it was devoured before I had a chance to put a slice in the freezer!
Thanks in advance and, btw, many of the items I am making next weekend are from your website. So, thank you!!!
I do think you could freeze this cake, Debbie – the berries might not look quite as pretty once defrosted but nothing a little powdered sugar can’t fix. 🙂
Can I ask if the measures are 1 & 1/2? (1-1/2) I don’t want to get it wrong. In the UK we use tablespoons and teaspoons!
That is correct, Hanna, it is 1 and 1/2 cups. Hope you enjoy!
Because I love this cake so much, I doubled the quantity as a trial run (no fruit or sugar on top) using a 21cm round cake tin. Beautiful! Sliced it into 2 layers – one with jam while the cake was still warm, then later put icing on the 2nd layer. Then iced the cake with a butter icing. Fabulous!
Wonderful cake, so easy to make and absolutely delicious. One of my all-time favorite recipes!
Can I make this into cupcakes? If so, how should I adjust the bake time and temperature?
Hi Serena, Instead of converting these to cupcakes, I’d recommend you use this recipe for strawberry muffins.
Ohh yes, I’ve made those before, they were amazing!
Fabulously moist cake. I also did the topping with drained morello cherries and added a little almond essence to the cake batter – delicious!
Wonderful strawberry cake! I decided to cut the strawberries in slices because they tend to fall to the bottom when baking and make holes in the cake.
I have been baking this elegantly simple strawberry cake once a week for several months now, at my mother’s request. She says she wakes many mornings dreaming of its fragrance wafting from the oven. It has become a fixture in our kitchen. I make exactly as written, only with the small addition of a small squeeze of fresh lemon juice in the batter and micro-planed lemon peel stirred in at the end. Wonderful with freshly whipped cream and a sprinkle of nutmeg.
Delicious cake! It looks great, too. I served with fresh whipped cream.
Just like the description – easy and delicious. I made it as written and it was moist and had a wonderful strawberry flavor. Next time, peaches! So, so good!
Perfect summer cake. Light, quick, & easy, served with ice cream on a summer afternoon. Looks lovely with its red berries scattered along the top …. a recipe that always is asked to be shared.
This cake is wonderful but isn’t there a chocolate version I thought I saw one earlier but I can’t find it now?
Hi Susan, I don’t have a chocolate version that’s quite like this. Might you be thinking of this chocolate chip bundt cake?
Beautiful little cake. My five year old niece picked this out and we made it together. Made the recipe exactly, only variation being she felt it needed blueberries on top too and we baked it in an 8inch glass square pan. The whole house loved it and she was very proud. Great recipe!
I make this cake often and it is always lovely. Has anyone tried it with apricots? Wondering if it will work as well…
A fantastic, easy recipe. Every time I have served this cake, guests have asked for seconds…and all but licked the plate clean. Have only used strawberries, but will use plums on the next go-round. Thanks Jenn…I’m a well seasoned cook, with a huge library of cookbooks, but will go to your blog first when looking for new ideas. I have never been disappointed.
😊
This is a fantastic receipe. Easy to make and ALWAYS produces the most delicious cake. Everyone should try it.
This was a disaster!! What a waste of ingredients and time! 😔
Sounds to me like YOU did something wrong. Our cakes turned out GREAT! So it’s not the recipe.
Thanks for another amazing recipe, Jen! You make me look like a more accomplished cook than i actually am. 🙏🏽
Amazes me that some people could leave such a negative review when it’s obvious it was self error! There are literally hundreds of 5 star reviews here! Seriously, get a grip. 😏
I made this recipe tonight with a couple variations…. I didn’t have any strawberries or eggs at home, however, I had blueberries picked directly from my mom’s house and I substituted the egg with a mashed banana… the results were amazingly delicious! I can’t wait to try the actual recipe! Thank you for sharing!
Can you reduce the amount of sugar in the cake recipe only because some of my friends are diabetic and I won’t splenda
Hi Louise, you can reduce the sugar by about 1/4 cup. I wouldn’t cut it any more than that or the texture will begin to change.
Can this cake be frozen
Yes, it freezes nicely!
I came across this when I googled for a cake recipe with actual strawberries baked inside the cake. Thank you so much for this!!! Made it for a family gathering today and everyone absolutely loved it. I live in a tropical country where fresh strawberries are very expensive, so I used frozen instead, and still it came out superbly delicious.
This cake is phenomenal! Can it be frozen? Will the strawberries degrade if I freeze this cake a week before serving it?
Thanks!
Hi Mary, it freezes nicely (and you won’t have a problem with the strawberries degrading).
What a beautiful simple cake! It was light with juicy strawberries just bursting with flavor! Followed the recipe exactly as stated and came out perfectly! Thank you for all your wonderful recipes!
😉 I made the cake yesterday & had the sinking berry experience as well & figured my berries were too big. After reading reviews, turns out..I was right. Patting myself on the back, yes! I rarely follow recipes unless it comes to baking sweets, afterwards I go rogue. I am going to stick with the recipe base because it’s delicious & not too sweet! Thank you for sharing ♥️
okay… yet another recipe to rave to my friends about. As strawberries are not my favourite, made it with apples. Absolutely fantastic!! Will definitely make this again, just thinking of what other fruit can be used.
Thanks so much!
Peaches…yum!!
Another excellent Jenn Segal success story.
I served this at a July 4th gathering tonight and had only crumbs left on the serving plate. I baked it in a tube pan and added blueberries with the strawberries to make it more patriotically red white and blue. Actually, it turned out red white and YUM.
I filled the hole in the center with more blueberries and sprinkled the cake with confectionary sugar and served it with whipped cream. The tube pan made the cake look as though it came from a bakery.
Bummer— no leftovers for morning snacking.
Isn’t it amazing how recipes that have been making the rounds for years keep popping up online although in some cases, with a wee bit of change in ingredients. I’ve been making a version of this berry cake since 2009 after seeing it on Smitten Kitchen who at that time had adapted it slightly from Gourmet magazine.
Only difference in Ms. Perelman’s version is 1/2 cup less flour, a wee bit less sugar due to the lesser amount of flour, the use of both baking powder and baking soda, buttermilk instead of regular milk, and a baking temp of 400 for 25 – 30 mins.
Either way, it’s a delicious cake as well as probably the easiest to put together. It’s become a family and friends favourite dessert in my home. I’ve made it with whatever berries might be in season with raspberries, with strawberries, or a mixture of raspberries, strawberries and blueberries being our favourites.
Now of course I shall have to give your version a go as it’s great fun comparing one to the other as it’s the only way you’ll know which one might turn out to be the number one family favourite, the tried and true, or the new, without trying.
Loving your cookbook btw, it really is a gem.
Cheers!
I just finished making this for the third time. It is fantastic. The cake tastes amazing and the strawberries melted into lovely jammy goodness. Not too sweet, no icing to deal with, very light–this is the PERFECT summer cake. (last time I made this I swapped out about half the butter for applesauce–the cake was still buttery and delicious.)
An absolutely delicious cake that I imagine could accommodate any ripe summer fruit. thank you.
Can you use frozen strawberries and could it be made in Bundt pan
Fantastic recipe. The flavor of fresh summer strawberries, the crunchy sugar topping, the moist butter flavored cake, all contributed to a tasty and satisfying dessert. All who tasted loved, and came back for more. Didn’t change a thing in the recipe.
Would a 9″ springform pan work?
Yes, Oksana, that should work. Enjoy!
This was a great recipe, and then I ruined it for those of you looking for low-fat. To start with it was easier to use the whole cube of butter than take out such a small amount, and I added an extra egg and by accident had two egg whites I put in as well, to balance out the half a cup of plain Greek yogurt that I added, after beating the eggs and sugar for 3 minutes.And that totally fixed the dryness issue, yet left the cake light and tender. I followed all of the rest of the recipe as written, making sure I was heavy-handed with the baking powder as well as quite generous with both strawberries and the amount of sugar I put on top.
The recipe came out a five-star winner – served with ice cream that evening and coffee in the morning. I absolutely will keep this in in my treasured recipes, filed under summer and easy! Thank you so much Jenn for your site here – it’s very helpful and creative!
Can this be stored in freezer if making in advance?
Sure!
Wonderful light cake. Absolutely delicious with the strawberries. Looking forward to trying it with blackberries and peaches. I followed the recipe exactly as written.
Can I use a pyrex 8″ square glass baking dish for this cake recipe? Or do I need to alter anything?
Hi Diane, that should be fine; it may take just a minute or two longer to bake so keep an eye on it. Enjoy!
This strawberry cake is delicious and tender with the perfect amount of sweetness….a definite 5 star recipe again! I followed your advice and used only small to medium berries to prevent them from sinking entirely into cake. Perfect outcome. I served cake warm with vanilla ice cream, using the leftover large quartered fresh berries on the side. Dessert is pretty enough to serve both family and guests. Expect rave reviews!
Thank you for sharing another stellar recipe. I find myself going to your site first when looking for a new recipe and my menu collection has improved considerably. With your well written and evaluated recipes, I don’t need to be concerned about the outcome of trying new ones.
Do you think that these can be made as mini muffins? Recognize not much room for strawberry, but need “finger food” for a gathering.
How long do you think to bake?
Hi Cheryl, I actually have this strawberry muffin recipe I’d recommend. They can be made into mini muffins (I’d start checking them for doneness at about 12 minutes.) Enjoy!
This is a very easy cake to assemble, but boy-oh-boy, am I glad I took it out when I did, after 30 min at the 350 temp. Even then, it was very dark on bottom and a bit dry. Tastes good though!
The recipe tells you “Bake for 10 minutes, then reduce the heat to 325° and bake for 60 minutes more. You didn’t see this?
I made this the other day and got rave reviews from the family. It has lots of flavor and is very easy to make. Definitely recommend.
This turned out delicious and perfect! Thank you for a great recipe! Will be making this again soon!
We truly enjoyed your recipes, and this is a favourite.
I’d like to try this recipe using chopped rhubarb instead of strawberries. Would this work, and if so, what quantity of rhubarb would you use?
Glad you like it, Catherine! I do think rhubarb would be good, but I’d probably mix it with strawberries, otherwise the cake might be a little too tart. I would use the same amount of fruit but substitute half of the strawberries with rhubarb. If you try it, please let me know how it turns out.
Your suggestion worked well. I used sliced rhubarb and smaller chunks of strawberries, enough to cover the top of the batter. The sugar added to the top of the cake batter helped with the tartness of the rhubarb. Thanks for your suggestion!
Glad it turned out nicely -thanks for the follow-up!
Made this so many times. After dinner parties – people love it. Great way to use up berries.
When strawberries are not in season, could I use frozen berries? Thanks!
Yep – that’s fine – hope you enjoy!
Hi Jen, how can I prevent my strawberries from sinking? Sometimes they are just missing from the top! 😂
Hi Shannon, Sorry to hear you had a problem with the strawberries sinking. Did you use really large strawberries? If so, try cutting them smaller. Also, keep in mind that you will get a little sinking– the batter rises up a bit over the strawberries so they may kind of fall into pockets.
The strawberries sank for me too. Not a strawberry in sight. The strawberries were small, so not too heavy. Could this be because I used margarine instead of butter?
Hi Joy, Yes, I think that could have an impact.
Baked the cake last night, it turned out nicely but a little dry. I bake it at 350 for 10 min and 325 for 35 min. More milk maybe?
Hi TS, sorry to hear this turned out a bit dry. Did you cut back on the butter or make any substitutions? When you measured the flour, did you spoon it into a measuring cup and level it off with a flat edge?
Hi Jen. No cut back in butter, but I did cut back in the sugar a little bit. I used a little more than 3/4 c. Spoon flour and level off like i always do. So I’m not sure what it is.
That’s a bit of a head-scratcher – While you didn’t cut it back drastically, using less sugar than a recipe calls for can impact the texture (as sugar does add some moisture). The only other thing that I can think of, although you baked it according to the recipe, is that perhaps it was a bit overbaked.
What do you suggest to add in place of the sugar that I wanted to cut back to keep the cake tender and moist? I will try again and cut back the baking time to see if that help as well. Thank you for helping me trouble shooting 🙂
Unfortunately, there’s really no good substitute for sugar here. I’d just cut back on the baking time and see if that does the trick. 🙂
I need for this cake to serve 12. Could I double the recipe and bake in a 13 x 9 pan?
Yes, that should work. The baking time may be a minute or two longer; just keep an eye on it. Hope you enjoy!
I made this cake for a potluck, it was a bit hit! Absolutely delicious, everyone wanted the recipe. Have you tried this using any different kinds of fruit such as blueberries or peaches?
Hi Sandra, Glad you enjoyed it! I’ve made it with both peaches and blueberries and they were both delicious.
I made this dessert last night, with a couple of mistakes: 1) I used a spring form pan instead of a pie plate, 2) I think I used the wrong size…. 3) Since my spring form pan was too big, the batter was too thin and so I had to make a second batter in a rush!! 4) I forgot to sprinkle the sugar on top 🙂
Was this a disaster in the making?
No! It was delicious and everyone loved it. I served it with vanilla ice cream, but it was just delicious on its own.
Thank you Jenn for all your recipes, I will make this one again for sure!
Tried this recipe twice. It was a hit with friends and family. Trying it out again today
I love this cake. I often make it during the summer when I want to include fresh fruit in a light (but substantional) dessert. This cake is simple to put together and the results are always delicious – not too sweet and just right with a little bit of sugar sprinkled on top before baking. I can whip this up in no time which is always what I’m looking for when I have company. Dairy doesn’t agree with me so I sub orange juice for the milk and I find the results wonderful.
Hi Jenn! How deep does the pan have to be for this cake? Do you think a 9-inch ceramic tart/quiche pan would work? Thank you!
Hi Flo, it should be at least 1 1/2 inches deep, so if your quiche pan is that deep, it should fit the bill!
Can you use frozen strawberries?
Sure, Carol. Enjoy!
I made this beautifuly simple cake with my granddaughter. It’s delicious as is no substitutions are necessary! We ate it with homemade vanilla ice cream – splendid!
This is a wonderfully delicious & light cake. I have even made it with blueberries. Sweetened whip cream goes great with both versions.
My daughter absolutely loves strawberry shortcake – so I used this over the summer as her birthday cake! I made 2 of them, and found a recipe for a sturdy whipped cream frosting. and made this into a strawberry layer cake – turned out great, and my strawberry-loving daughter LOVED it! (I’ve attached the link to the frosting recipe I used)
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/140837/sturdy-whipped-cream-frosting/
This cake is absolutely awesome and very forgiving! The first time I made it, I accidentally added a full stick of butter, and it was still amazing. I made it for a friend, who requested the recipe and then made it for several of her friends, who also requested the recipe and have since raved about it. This cake is a winner!
I’ve made this cake several times. Strawberry is my favorite. I’ve tried it with blueberries too. Perfect as is. Didn’t change a thing.
Hi.. I’m planning to bake this for my toddler’s birthday. Probably double the quantity to make 2 layers?
What frosting would go well with it?
Hi Stv, I’ve never made it that way, but I think a layer cake would work. You could go with a simple cream cheese frosting, or if you want something more strawberry-ish, you could try something like the icing for this cake.
Thank you for your reply!! I’ll let you know how it goes 🙂
I made this in a heart shaped pan and it turned out perfect and beautiful! Thank you!!
I made this simple summer strawberry cake over the summer. My significant other and I thought it was absolutely wonderful! Moist, elegant, and slightly rustic at the same time. And, it looks pretty! I served it with vanilla ice cream but I’d prefer whipped cream next time since it has similar flavors of strawberry shortcake. Read the directions carefully, though…the baking temperature is reduced after 10 minutes in the oven.
This recipe was my go to all summer! Easy to make and a crowd pleaser every time! Truly enjoyed baking this one, even during a heatwave!!
I love this recipe! I make it with dark chocolate chips in the batter and top it with fresh whipped cream. Every recipe of yours is delicious! Thanks for posting!
I made this cake when I moved to California and with strawberry season here and the ample amount of large juicy strawberries I couldn’t pass up making this cake! I love it! So simple and easy. We eat it at breakfast as well warmed up a little bit and with fresh whipped cream. I might add blueberries and or raspberries in the future but for right now I’m all about the strawberries! Thank you for sharing
This cake is simple to make and presents well. I made this for company to rave reviews – I will not be making regular strawberry shortcake again. This is so much better. Tip – make it in a solid red ceramic deep dish pie plate with ruffled edges – gorgeous!
Made this very simple but very delicious cake a number of times and each time it’s been a winner!
Delicious! I love how simple it is to make. It also has a wonderful crackly sweet top that is a great conrast with the rich cake.
This was great! And I even accidentally threw in a whole softened stick of butter. I did not halve, but quartered the strawberries and instead of measuring, pretty much packed the top with strawberries. It was wonderful! Awesome served with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream! Perfect amount of sweetness if you top it with one of those. Loved the texture tooo! Similar to a coffee cake.
I’ve made this with strawberries several times and it was excellent – thank you! Now I happen to have a half crate of peaches I’d like to substitute. How many peaches should I use?
Hi Joanne, Glad you like the cake! Regarding the number of peaches you need, it depends on the size of your peaches, but, like the strawberries, you’ll want about 3/4 lb. Another cake that uses peaches, in case you’ve got a surplus, is this one.
Delicious! I made it 3 times in one week. My 7 yr old loves to help too.
Has anyone made this using browned butter and if so, how much did you use and did you freeze the browned butter then bring it back to room temp? Thank you!
This is an excellent cake with a delicate but sturdy crumb. I made this with no fruit baked in, since I made it as a base for strawberry shortcake, and it was perfect.
When the cake was cool, I cut the cake in wedges and sliced those horizontally, piled on fresh sliced strawberries and whipped cream topped off with some mint leaves.
4th of July perfection!
Thank you for this wonderful recipe. I have made it so many times — varying it a little to suit my needs every now and again. It is incredibly reliable and forgiving — I have doubled it for a 1/4 sheet pan as well as an angel food pan. I have frozen it ahead. I have made it 2 days ahead and left it covered. I have grated orange zest into the batter. I have folded blueberries and sliced strawberries into the batter (1st tossing them in a bit of APF to prevent sinking)… Just a marvelous recipe in its simplicity and delicious flavor. The only thing I consistently do to divert from your recipe is to sprinkle the top of the batter with sparkling sugar instead of standard white. It’s an A+ every time. (I have even shared it on Facebook b/c I love it so much! 🙂
Great suggestions, Julie. Thank you!
Nice cake, nothing special. Needs cream or icecream. Strawberries tasted more like jam than fresh fruit. If I make again, would use different fruit.
Does this cake freeze well? Thank you:)
Yes Claudia, I think it should freeze nicely!
Picked strawberries with my 13 year old Grandson- came home and we made this cake together. It was simple , fun and DELICIOUS- we made 2 more! He even asked for a copy of the recipe to take home.
Vanilla Ice cream with this is a must.
I also made with raspberries- Yummy as well. (Convection bake 325- 55 mins)
This is a delicious cake but how to avoid strawberries sinking to the bottom of the cake? Unfortunately all my strawberries sunken to the bottom despite I rigorously followed the receipe:/
Hi Marsha, Sorry to hear you had a problem with the strawberries sinking. Did you use really large strawberries? If so, try cutting them smaller.
Hi Jenn thanks for your response. I used quite large strawberries but had a few little ones and the little ones sunken as well. My baking dish was quite deep though maybe this is the case? I will try to use a shallow dish next time hopefully this will help? I was also thinking about adding the strawberries a bit later when cake has been in the oven for some time?
As long as you used the correct sized baking dish, the depth shouldn’t present a problem. Keep in mind that you will get a little sinking– the batter rises up a bit over the strawberries so they may kind of fall into pockets. I don’t think it’s necessary to add the strawberries later (as you don’t want to be opening the oven unnecessarily while the cake is in there). I would just make sure you cut them fairly small next time.
Just made this. Oh my goodness!!. So easy and so beautiful. Shared with several friends who absolutely loved it. Served with home made whipped cream. Holds up well for a few days, Moist and delicious !!
This genuinely might be the best cake ever. It was delicious warm and delicious at room temperature. My friend is the head chef at the Capital Club in Atlanta, and he raved about it.
I cooked it in an 8″ square pan, and it cooked perfectly and right up to the top of the pan. Otherwise followed instructions exactly.
Thank you for yet another winner.
Excellent. Easy. Everything except berries was on hand. Better than shortcake in my humble opinion. Thanks.
I have made this delicious and easy cake so many times since last summer when I first discovered this recipe on Jen’s link. Everyone just loves this cake exactly how it is. If you haven’t tried this recipe yet, do so this summer. You won’t be disappointed.
Made this Cake for a Memorial Day B-B Q dessert. I added some leftover blueberries I had on hand in between the strawberries to give it that red, white & blue look. Served with whipped cream. Simple to make and all enjoyed but I felt it absolutely needed ice cream or whipped cream as it was on the dry side. Made it a second time and quartered the strawberries (found 1/2 sized pieces a bit too large), added 1/2 teaspoon lemon oil to the softened butter while beating with sugar, and used whole milk not reduced fat. I hoped by increasing fat, and not altering recipe too much, I might increase moisture in cake. It was moister and really delicious with that hint of lemon yet still a simple cake to make.
Delicious and so easy to make. Thanks!
Looks like a great recipe!
I’ve made this cake countless times now and it always pleases everyone! So simple and so yummy. I also have made this compatible for my son who has a milk allergy (by substituting rice milk and vegan margarine) and it still turns out great!
This was amazing I’m so happy I found a dessert that everyone in my family liked. Thank you again for this amazing website
A perfect summer cake! So easy and so delicious – strawberry shortcake with 1/3 of the effort! Best on the first day made, but it doesn’t last much beyond that. 😉
Any advice for doing this as muffins or cupcake size?
Hi Angela Marie, Instead of turning these into muffins, I have a recipe for strawberry muffins that I would suggest you try.
Thanks for sharing this perfect article. Minimum time is required, It is too easy!!!!!!!
This cake is so easy and quick to make, and it tastes wonderful. I tried to use whole wheat pastry flour, olive oil instead of the butter, and a flax egg, and it is still delicious. I prefer the original version 🙂
Baked double the quantity as a birthday cake. It came out beautiful. The tang of the berry is the perfect foil to the cake. I usually serve it with a little whipped cream and honey. I’ve been wondering if it’s possible to incorporate more strawberry into the cake? Sometimes just on the top feels like not enough strawberry.
Glad you like it Gayatri! I would stick with the amount of strawberries in the recipe. Using more will make the cake soggy. If you’d like, you can serve more on the side with whipped cream for dipping.
First time I made it with strawberries, so good – like shortcake. This time I made it with blackberries and it didn’t disappoint. Easy to make.
While looking for a strawberry cake recipe for a birthday, this one popped up in my search. Although not a birthday cake in the traditional sense it caught my attention being so pretty and easy to make. So I jumped right in and made it about an hour ago! It came out exactly as described and pictured. Delicious! I look forward to making it with peaches and other berries! Thank you!
My cake texture and taste were “not right”. I used soy milk. light butter and turbino sugar. Has anyone else substituted ingredients and had an issue with the taste? Is this one is those recipes you can not skimp on fat?
Btw I’m sure I made many errors in this recipe and when followed it’s fabulous but I am lactose intolerant and on weight watchers. I was hopping to have a bit and share the rest but it doesn’t appear I can do that this time 🙂
Made exactly as written … turned out awesome.
Even though it is only 22 degrees here today & this is said to be a summer dessert I could not pass up the fresh strawberries on sale this week at our local grocery store. I followed directions to a tee adjusting my baking to second from the bottom rack in the oven, 350 for 10 minutes, 325 for 25 minutes in a 9″ round cake pan. It came out perfectly moist & delicious. Thank you for a wonderfully easy recipe!
Do you think I could use a spring form pan instead?
Sure, I think that would work. Enjoy!
I have made it now in a 9 inch spring form pan and a 9 inch square pan and both worked fine!
My two year old daughter wanted to make a strawberry cake for her dad’s birthday, so we made this one together. It was really easy to make and delicious!! She had so much fun helping! We will definitely be making it again, and I’m eager to try it with other fruits.
I’ve made this recipe at least 4 times. Great every time. I need to try this with different fruits. I bet it would be great with cranberries since it wont be as soggy. Dusted with cinnamon and sugar. thanks
Dear Jenn, I’ve been dying to make this recipe for some time. Now I just have some frozen strawberries I’d like to use. Is it possible to adapt the recipe? Also, can I use a square 8″ silicone mold?? Thanks for your marvelous recipes!!
Hi Dianka, You can use frozen recipes with no changes necessary. And I haven’t tried this in a silicone mold, but I think that should work. Just keep your eye on it. Hope you enjoy!
so good and SO easy for a quick dessert
Delicious and so easy to make. I made it a few times this summer with fresh strawberries and again recently with frozen strawberries and both turned out great.
So easy and so good, a new family favorite! Really liked it as is topped with whip cream.. but next time, just because it reminded me of strawberry shortcake, I want to skip sprinkling with sugar so that I can top with additional sliced strawberries mixed with a little sugar (like for strawberry shortcake), and then top with whip cream!
Yum 🙂
This is by far my favorite go-to summer dessert recipe! The only changes I’ve made is to add as many strawberries as will fit and to sprinkle confectioner’s sugar over the top before serving–makes for a lovely presentation. We love it just as it is and don’t add either whipped cream or ice cream.
Great recipe! the first time i made it, it was a touch dry, so I baked it for a little shorter than recommended (~50 minutes) the second time. I also have made it with half strawberries and half peaches and it was a hit. Very easy and straightforward instructions, but my friends and family were VERY impressed 🙂 This recipe is a keeper!
I got a coupon for a free pound of strawberries and wanted something new to do with them. Since finding this blog, it’s always my first stop when looking for new recipes and this sounded simple and I had all the ingredients on hand. The batter gave my thirty something year old hand mixer a real workout but it got the job done.
I ended up baking the cake longer than instructed because the toothpick test kept coming up wet. After the cooling period we cut a slice and found it to be tasty but a bit dry which was my fault for over baking it. I put the rest in the refrigerator, then the next day I cut a slice and it had improved. The day after that it was even better.
Thanks Jenn, this recipe is a keeper!
Hi Jenn
This looks amazing but just need to check, is it Caster sugar or thick granulated sugar? And the over temp 175 is this fan assisted
Hi Leena, you need regular granulated sugar here, not caster sugar, and the baking temp is without the fan. Hope you enjoy!
Totally loved this delicious strawberry cake. Fun to make and tastes utterly delicious. This will be going on my favourite cake list to be made again and again….and will make it for special occasions too. It’s a fantastic recipe! Love it!!
Hello, Jenn, My cake was too crumbly. What did I do wrong? Also it took only 50 min to bake in my oven. Thank you in advance.
Hi Elina, I’m sorry to hear that the cake didn’t turn out quite right. Did you cut back on the butter or make any substitutions? Also, it sounds like your oven might run a bit hot.
Hi Jenn,
Thank you for your answer. I used 6 tablespoons of butter as in recipe, but instead of baking powder I used baking soda. Could it be the issue?
Thank you.
Hi Elina, Yes, that’s likely the cause. Unfortunately, baking powder and baking soda are not interchangeable in recipes.
Super easy, and delicious. Don’t wait for
a special occasion to make it. Any soft fruit or berry works well.
This is a very lovely cake. It is simple to make, with few ingredients, and it has a comforting kind of homey feel to it. I made it yesterday for the first time and because there’s only one piece left, I will make it again today so we can all have another piece!
Hi Jenn,
Just got some local peaches and would love to try your yummy strawberry cake with them. I do not have a scale, so would one cup of sliced peaches be the right amount to use?
Thank you, Marion
Hi Marion, I think you’ll need more than one cup; I would just place them over the batter until the cake is mostly covered (like in the photo), and that should be the right amount. This plum cake recipe is almost identical and might be helpful.
What a fantastic cake!! First class!
I replaced the all-purpose flour with my own home milled flour, in this instance, a mixture of spelt, oats and barley berries.
I reduced the sugar to 50 gr just in the batter and used coconut palm sugar which imparted a delicious flavor to the cake.
I used 5 oz of blueberries in the batter and topped the cake with 7 oz of halved strawberries.
I baked it 10 minutes at 350F, then 35 minutes at 325F, at which point an instant read thermometer indicated it was cooked, as the internal temperature was at 195F (it might have been quicker because I used a glass bunds pan).
I will definitely make it again, in winter, it would be great with apples or pears.
What a great recipe! Thanks for sharing.
This was a big hit. Simply delicious!
A must have recipes, so versatile…
Thank you for your blog and all your fabulous recipes.
What a delightful dessert for summer when the strawberries are at their peak! This turned out so lovely and delicious (served with a scoop of low-fat frozen yogurt). Everyone ate the leftovers for breakfast the next day!
I’ve made this dessert a few times and love it!! I’d like to make it for a bigger crowd. Have you tried to double it and bake in a 9×13 pan with success? Do you think I should increase the baking time?
Glad you like it! Yes, you can double it and prepare in a 9 x 13 dish. Cooking time should be about the same if not a touch longer.
This cake is very good. My mom even asked for the recipe. However, for sone reason most of my strawberries sank to the bottom of the pan?!
Glad you enjoyed it Catie! Are you by chance using really large strawberries? If so, try cutting them smaller.
Really good recipe, which I thoroughly enjoyed. But I have an equipment question. What would you use instead of an electric mixer? My first attempt was with a hand-held mixer, and that gave me the unwanted opportunity to clean the kitchen. I finally ended up with two knives and then the spatula, which worked pretty well. Suggestions?
Hi Giaco, Sorry to hear about the kitchen mess :)! If your method of the knives and then the spatula worked well, that’s a good alternative to stick to. Glad you enjoyed the cake!
My husband let me know this was the best cake he’d ever had. There are three of us and we ate the whole thing in one night. Amazing.
Home from work & baking this a SECOND time already in 1 day. The incredible aroma wafting through the house is Devine! Was & IS incredibly delicious. Turned out as pretty as the picture, yet is a snap to make. My co-workers polished off every last bite & thoroughly enjoyed it. One even commented it looked like one of those recipes you see on the front cover of a magazine. Unable to recommend this moist, easy-breezy cake highly enough. This site is so inspirational – already have 2 other recipes in progress. Since we eat with our eyes first, makes me want to try them all!!! Thank you for sharing your recipes and passion with everyone. Know when you start reading a good book & are unable to put it down? Same deal with your site.
That is so sweet, Kelli. Thank you! I’m so glad the cake turned out well. 🙂
Hi Jenn,
Just wondering if gluten free flour would give me the same results as all purpose. I wanted to make this cake on Friday, because we have friends coming over for dinner.
Hi Michelle, I haven’t tried this cake with gluten-free flour, but I think it should work. Enjoy!
Made this with gluten free flour turned out great no other substitutes needed.
I did have to cut strawberries smaller since I had big strawberries.
It looked good and tasted great! Praise Yahshua for sweet ideas!
I also made icing to go on it and ice cream with real strawberries. Was delicious praise Yahshua!
could this basic cake be used with other fruit?
Sure, Jane. I’ve also made this with peaches or different berries and both worked well.
I’ve already made this three times this summer and it comes out fantastic every time.
I made your summer strawberry cake the other night for a small dinner party. I served it with your strawberry and orange salad with citrus syrup (no mint) and fresh whipped cream. Like all your recipes, it was delicious and I was proud to serve it. I rave about you to friends because you offer terrific recipes, plus you are an educator. I sectioned an orange for the first time based on your instruction and now I’m hooked. Thank you for all you do. Now I have two questions for you: My strawberries sunk into the cake rather than staying on top when the cake was baked, like your photo. And I had to work at getting the cake out of the pan (9″ round coated metal) even though I buttered the pan. It came out perfectly, but it took a little effort. Any suggestions? Thank again for your help! Karen
Hi Karen, I’m so glad to hear you’re enjoying the recipes! Regarding the strawberries sinking to the bottom, two questions– are you using really large strawberries? If so, try cutting them smaller. Also, are the strawberries fresh or frozen? And, if the cake was sticking despite you buttering the pan, you may want to try a baking spray with flour like this one.
Perfect. Will try both of your suggestions, Jenn! Thank you …
Made this today and it was absolutely delicious. Super easy to make too. I thought it tasted a bit like pound cake so that helped make it a winner. Will try it with blueberries sometime and I am sure it will be just as great. Thanks for another winning recipe.
I have put in a handful of blueberries twice when I made it (fourth of july cake) and that worked just fine 🙂
I have made this cake 3 or 4 times last summer and it was delicious and a BIG hit with guests. The question I have is- I have some buttermilk to use up- can i use that here instead of regular milk? I
Love, love this cake.
This is a keeper. I’ve made this several times for the family and it’s gone by the end of the night. I will try to change it up and use cranberries.
Hello Jennifer, The strawberry cake using cake flour turned out to be really good and was very pretty. I will however try this same recipe with all purpose flour and see if there is a significant difference in taste.
Can I use cake flour, rather than all purpose for this strawberry cake recipe?
Hi Brenda, Based on the weight of the strawberries, I think all purpose flour is better suited for this recipe. If you only have cake flour at home and feel strongly about using it, use 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons cake flour for every cup of all-purpose flour. If you do make it with cake flour, I’d love to hear how it turns out!
Can you make this ahead then freeze it?
Yes Sabrina, this should freeze nicely.
This cake is fantastic, so simple to prepare in no time at all. I made it twice over the memorial day weekend with no leftovers, my husband declared that I must make this cake all summer. The first time I made with no changes. The second time I added a little almond extract because that’s what’s you put in your outstanding strawberry muffins, added some chocolate chips and sprinkled the top with Sugar in the Raw instead of the white sugar. This is a keeper and have no choice but to make it often.
This is a very popular recipe at my house. I just wanted to note that it is a very forgiving recipe. I have forgotten the baking powder, the egg, and even the vanilla — not all at the same time though! – and it is still a very delicious cake.
I have made this with strawberries, cut to size, and with raspberries. Going to try with blueberries today.
I personally prefer less baking powder, makes for a denser cake. But no matter how I have made it, it is delicious.
Jenn,
I’ve been itching to make this cake & it is on this week’s agenda with local berries. My question is, have you ever made it with Demerara sugar? I get really good results with it when making quick breads (like zucchini or pumpkin) and muffins. It makes the top extra crunchy but the inside is great. However, I have never used it in a regular cake recipe. Thoughts?
Hi Fran, I have never tried the batter with Demerara sugar, so I can’t say for sure how it will affect it. You could certainly use it for the portion that gets sprinkled on top of the strawberries. If you prepare the whole cake with Demerara sugar, I’d love to know how it turns out!
I have made it with brown sugar when I was out of white sugar- the entire recipe with brown sugar not just the topping — and my children prefer the cake with brown sugar. I’ve made it about 6 times now.
That’s great to know it works with brown sugar Anne– thanks!
Hi, Jenn! I did it both ways & I think, for a cake, the regular sugar in the batter makes more sense. While the Demerara makes a nice crusty top with a tender interior, I think that contrast is better suited to a bread or a muffin. Sprinkling it on the top is sufficient. Also, the one with all Demerara sugar was made with fresh local berries (so VERY juicy) & the crusty top pulled from the berries a bit more, making it slightly less pretty. I think that would be less ‘pronounced’ with the same berries & the less crusty top. Sooo, as usual, the recipe is perfect as written, IMHO!
Thanks for the full review Fran — definitely helpful for other readers!!
Jennifer,
I made this cake yesterday with my granddaughter. Another wonderful recipe!!! Everybody loved it! I’m thinking that the next time that I make this one that I might add a couple tablespoons of Grand Marnier. If I do that, should I reduce the milk by a like amount?
Thanks again for all of the wonderful recipes that you are kind enough to share with all of us recipe challenged folks!!!!!
Hi Jim, So glad you enjoyed it! I think the Grand Marnier would be delicious and, yes, good call to reduce the milk by the same amount. Please let me know how it turns out.
Great recipie.Already made once and everyone loved it. 🙂 If I want to double the recipie,what size round pan should I use..? Thanks. Meenal
Hi Meenal, I’m glad you like the cake! I would use a 9×13-inch pan; cook time should be about the same, maybe a touch longer.
This cake is the perfect complement to any dinner. If you are looking to impress your guests or family without having to work too hard you have found the right recipe.
Thank you again Jenn.
Sara
Does Stevia work as well as sugar in this recipe? This diabetic loves anything strawberry! Didn’t rate the recipe because I haven’t made it yet!
Emma, I’ve never tried this with Stevia (or any product like it) so I couldn’t say for sure- sorry! If you do prepare it with Stevia, I’d love to know how it turns out!
Often the best desserts are the simple ones, and that’s what I found with this recipe. Delicious! It couldn’t be easier to prepare…and it was lovely in presentation. I’m going to try it with other fruit this summer…what a great recipe to use with whatever fruit is in season!
I made this cake for the lovely ladies of my Bible study group. Since they are a forgiving group of ladies I am confident in trying new things on them . But when I prepare your recipes there is never any forgiveness needed. Instead, I receive much praise!!! This cake is lovely. It seems much like a strawberry shortcake. It was very easy to prepare and baked up beautifully!!! I served it fresh whipped cream and I had no leftovers. I definitely will be putting this in my baking repertoire !!
I have made this cake 3 times within 2 weeks already for birthday’s. It is so delicious and easy to make. I did not change a thing and it comes out perfect everytime. The aroma in the house when it’s baking is heavenly.
This cake is fabulous!!!!!!! My kids favourite and mine too ? I would like to bake this as muffins.. Is that possible? For how long and temp?
Thanks!!
Sherlyn
Hi Sherlyn, I would suggest using this recipe for strawberry muffins instead. Hope that helps!
Hi
I’m looking to made a 2-layer strawberry cake. Do you think this recipe would work, or is it too heavy? Thanks for any input
I think it would probably work. Please let me know how it turns out if you make it!
Great, easy recipe. It turned out delicious. I had the giant strawberries so I cut them a bit too small so the cake rose over them. I also set the timer for 10 minutes to turn the oven from 350 to 325. I reset the timer and forgot to turn down the oven until 15 minutes later. It still turned out great.
I am going to try this next with the Morello cherries from Trader Joe’s as cherries are my favorite fruit. I think I will cut them in half.
My wife also loved this cake.
Hi Jenn,
I would like to avoid eggs if possible. Can you suggest a good substitute for egg or any alteration to the recipe to skip the egg?
Hi Archie, I don’t have much experience with egg substitutes but here’s a link with some options: http://www.thekitchn.com/5-vegan-substitutes-for-eggs-in-baking-tips-from-the-kitchn-136591. Hope that helps!
Just made a vegan version with Miyoko’s cultured butter, vanilla almond milk and a flax/chia “egg”–there was a flax powder/chia seed mix I had on hand so mixed 1tbs of that w 3 tbs water. It turned out great (maybe a little less dense than if it wasn’t vegan).
Excellent recipe. Simple yet delicious. Looks very attractive too. I made it for Easter egg hunt party and this desert was perfect for the occasion. I served it with a scoop of ice cream topped with fresh strawberries. This dish was GONE within a few minutes and people were asking for more! Thanks for the recipe.
Hi jenn! I’ve made so many of your recipes and they are all fantastic!! My goal is to make all of them. I made the strawberry cake and again was so excellent, however I made it in a 9×9 cake pan and the cooking time was only 30 mins for me. Are you sure on the cooking time? Seems way too long.
Hmm… did you reduce the oven temperature to 325 after the first 10 minutes of baking?
Hi Jenn, yes I did reduce the temp to 325. I baked it in a 9×9 cake pan but it only came up halfway in the pan so it only took 30 mins to cook.
Feel free to check it sooner, Denise, but I’ve never had an issue with it overcooking.
Jenn,
This cake looks so awesome! Is it possible to make it in tiny aluminum loaf pans? I’m participating in a bake sale fundraiser and this looks like a cake that will get people salivating.
Much aloha for all your beautiful recipes and the love that shines through them!
Cathy
Cathy, I think you could get away with that, but will need to adjust the cooking time. Let me know how they turn out!
Thanks for a great recipe! I made it vegan friendly by removing the egg and dairy milk. I replaced it with 3/4 of coconut milk, 4 tbsp of coconut oil and 1 tbsp of apple cider vinegar. So delicous 🙂
I just made this again, I love this recipe so much. I forgot to say I left out the butter too, so no butter, eggs or dairy – just the coconut milk (3/4 cup) and coconut oil (4 tbsp) as mentioned 🙂
Hi Jenn,
Would freeze dried strawberries work instead of the fresh ones?
Thanks! Sarah
Dear Jenny,
Can I substitute frozen cherries for this cake?
Yes Kerena, that should work. However, because the cherries are a little heavier than strawberries, they may sink to the bottom a bit.
Dear Jenny,
I made this strawberry cake today. The cake is nice and moist. But the cake easily fall apart when I cut it. Is this right?
Thanks.
Connie
Hi Connie, That doesn’t sound right. Happy to help troubleshoot. Did you make any substitutions?
Can I substitute apples for strawberries and turn this into a Fall cake?
Hi Edith, I would much rather have you try my French Apple Cake, which is one of my all time favorite recipes.
https://www.onceuponachef.com/2011/09/french-apple-cake.html
Looks delicious! – I will try that instead, Thanks!
Could you substitue cranberries?
Thank you!
Hi Libby, I think fresh cranberries would be too tart in this cake. Sorry!
Hi, Jen! I made your cake this morning with frozen raspberries and strawberries. So easy and super delicious! I followed the rest of your recipe exactly! My boyfriend and his parents loved it! Thank you! 🙂
Great recipe! I switched out a bit of butter for olive oil and it gave the cake a nice crispy texture on the outside, and very soft on the middle (great cake making secret to try! a bit of olive oil)
Wonderful dessert! Not too sweet and it was great with gluten-free flour. No one even knew it was gluten-free!!!
Hi Jenn,
I’m new to baking and loved the recipe. The cake was tasty but a bit soggy on the bottom, even after cooking for well over an hour. Could my oven be running too cold?
Hi Peter, Sorry the cake came out soggy. You might have just had very juicy strawberries. Were they fresh or frozen?
The strawberries were fresh and fairly big. I did mash up a few extra strawberries and added them to the batter. Could that be the problem?
Yes, that would do it 🙂
Thanks for another great recipe! My first time trying this. My husband loves it! I used frozen Strawberry’s… For the 1 cup sugar+ 2 Tbls… I used brown and sprinkled white on top. I also from one one of your reviews, added the dollop of sour cream to keep the cake moist.
Can this recipe be made with frozen strawberries?
Hi Susan, So sorry for the late reply. And, yes, it can be made with frozen strawberries.
Absolutely delicious! So simply and everyone loves it! Thank you!
This is a simple and delicious recipe. Made it yesterday and the whole family loved it! I personally think that the texture is fantastic. Goes very well with vanilla ice cream. Thanks for sharing.
This was deeelish! I only had about 2 tbs of butter so I substituted with coconut oil and it turned out so great! Also used a mix of organic cane sugar and organic brown sugar and was just fine. Oh, and I used frozen strawberries and didn’t mind them at all.
Very delicious and easy recipe. I have made it several times also alternating between strawberries and blueberries. Stays moist for many days!
Hi Mary, did you use the same amount of sugar for the blueberries as you did for the strawberries?
I made this for my husband’s birthday which was in July with strawberries from the farmers market. Strawberries were bursting with flavor.And as most of your recipes turn out , this recipe also was an absolute success. I also had my Aunts and Uncle visiting me from India during that time and they loved it so much that they wanted to take them to India.Awesome recipe.
I love this cake so much that I made 3 times on the same week just to have people taste it. It was a total success and everyone loved it. Also, I shared your link to about 10 people who asked for it.
One of my favorite thing about the cake is its simplicity and amazing flavor, I call it my happy cake 🙂
I like that name 🙂
So simple to make
I made this with mixed berries, and everyone loved it. It is a really nice, simple, summer cake. Serve with or without ice cream.
This is the best…moist cake and strawberries! So simple to make and beautifully studded with fruit. Didn’t change a thing, but may use the cake again with other fruit. Thanks, Jenn!
This is a beautiful cake, but a bit thick and dry. Although it’s a very tasty cake, it’s a little on the dry side, people kept asking for a glass of milk.
Hi Erika! Did you spoon/level the flour rather than “scooping” the cup? It is an extremely thick batter, but none I’ve made have been dry. I always add a good dollop of sour cream or yogurt to every cake recipe, which safeguards against a dry cake. I don’t measure, but I’d say I use about 1/3 C in this one. This recipe is really worth trying again, I promise!
Hi Jenn,
This cake looks delicious. I just finished making the Asian slaw with ginger-peanut dressing…yum! Can I use skim milk in this recipe? Thanks.
Hi Ruthie, Yes skim milk will work 🙂
As always, delicious! I used cake flour and reduced the sugar, as I also used fresh cherries in lieu of strawberries.. turned out a treat. Of course with the cherries being more dense, some submerged in the cake, which just gave it a burst of juicy flavour!
I do have a question however, I was thinking that this would be a delightful cake for rhubarb. Do you think that chopped rhubarb folded into the cake would work, and if so, how much would you recommend?
Thanks again for yet another mouth watering recipe!
Hi Caroline, I do think rhubarb would be good, but I’d probably mix it with strawberries, otherwise the cake might be a little too tart. I would use the same amount of fruit but substitute half of the strawberries with rhubarb. If you try it, please let me know how it turns out.
hello mrs.Jen
sorry to trouble you.
My batter was not thick like i expect it to be,instead it quite fluid.What should i do?.?
Hi Belt, Sorry you had trouble with the batter. Did you make any substitutions?
nope, I tried to bake the batter anyway
it was a bit sticky, but still delicious
I guess I add too much milk and flour, will try to make a better one next time C:
This recipe frustrates me no end as first time I made the cake the strawberries all sunk and the cake colour was pink although the taste was delicious. The second time I did it it was perfect! No sunken strawberries and the cake looked like the one in the picture and tasted once again delicious. I’ve just made another one and haven’t done anything different but once again all strawberries have sunk!
Hi Shirley, Are you using fresh or frozen strawberries?
My family loved this cake. Can it be made using other fruits?
Hi Jan, Yes, I know from experience that other berries and peaches work well.
we in the uk work in gms or pounds and ounces. your cake looks great but your recipe means nothing to me.
Hi Derna, I am in the process of updating all of my recipes with metric measurements. This one has been updated — just click on “metric measurements” in the top right corner of the recipe.
Has anyone tried using this with frozen strawberries??? Does it come out or work the same??
Made this twice, both times came out very good. Next time I think I’ll add even more fruit, but that’s just me.
Hi Jen, I’m from the UK and work in grams not cups, any chance you could post a conversion? Can’t wait to try this recipe!
Hi Rachael, I’ve just updated the recipe with metric (I’m in the process of doing this with my other recipes as well). On the recipe, you will see a button where you can select cup measures or metric. Hope that helps!
This looks great. Is there a substitute for the butter?
Hi Bernie, Margarine would work. Enjoy!
Thanks for your response. Could I use Canola Oil or would that change the consistency too much?
Hi Bernie, Oil won’t work in this recipe — sorry!
luv luv your strawberry cake recipe❤️❤️ I have to get a red pie dish like yours..
Could you share the brand? Thanks in advance…jeanne
Hi Jeanne, Wish I could be more helpful but I just checked and it doesn’t say anything on it. I bought it at the supermarket. Sorry!
I got a red pan just like in the photo from Target.
This sounds so delicious and I am looking to make this right now. Can I use salted butter as I don’t have unsalted?
Hi Iris, Yes, that’s fine; just reduce the salt in the recipe to 1/4 teaspoon.
This is the first recipe I’ve tried from this site, and it is probably my favorite home baked cake of all time. Followed the instructions exactly and ended up with a perfect summery cake. Worked fine with King Arthur flour. I think it may have been benefitted by the quality of limited edition strawberries I picked up from Central Market. The 2 tbls of sugar seems like a lot when you’re pouring it onto the strawberries, but they really do need that much. This is one I’ll make several times this summer. Thanks!
Hi Jenn,
I have been using many of your recipes for my son and husband and all have been a success. I tried the strawberry cake for my nieces and it tasted good; however aside from the strawberries getting overlapped by the batter, does the type of pan make a difference in the sinking of the strawberries? I used a square pan. I did have a cake pan but since a deep dish pie pan was used in the recipe, I was a bit unsure.
Thanks!
Hi Nabeela, It would only make a difference if you used a different size pan than what was called for (the shape though does not matter). Hope that helps!
My question: I am really excited to try this recipe! I have a family member who does not eat eggs -any suggestions for a substitution for the egg in this recipe?
Thanks!
Hi Kathy, I don’t have any experience with egg substitutes but here’s a good link with options: http://www.thekitchn.com/5-vegan-substitutes-for-eggs-in-baking-tips-from-the-kitchn-136591. Please let me know how it turns out!
Thanks for the suggestions! I’ve used vinegar and baking soda in other recipes with great success. Looking forward to trying it with this recipe!
Hi Jenn,
Do you think I could substitute the strawberries with mango? Thanks, I am not sure if that would be wierd.
Hi Leah, Yes, I think that would work.
Will the cake’s consistency be affected if I reduced the sugar to 3/4 cups instead? Because I’m baking for a friend whose son has ADHD. And I’m using a regular round 9″ cake tin, how should I adjust time temperature and bake time?
Hi Camellia, You can reduce the sugar but the cake might taste a bit too tart. Cook time and temp will be about the same.
Hi! I tried with reduced sugar and the cake tasted just as great! I am wondering if I can adjust the recipe to 1 1/2 portion. Just to make the cake thicker? How should I adjust the time and temp?
Hi Camellia, Cook time and temp will be about the same. Please let me know how it turns out 🙂
Hi Jenn! I just tried baking 1.5 portion for this lovely cake! I used only 1 cup of sugar for this attempt and baked an additional 10 mins at 160°C. The cake is pretty well done, a bit too soft/moist in the middle. But overall, the feedback was great!
Love this cake, I’ve made it a few times. I’d like to bring to a picnic in a few weeks. I need to double it, and would like to cut into squares to serve. What are your suggestions for pan size and cooking time?
Thanks, love your recipes!
Hi Bronwyn, Glad you are enjoying the recipes! I would use a 9×13-inch pan; cook time should be about the same, maybe a touch longer.
This cake is so easy and a WOW at parties. Great for Brunches. Very refreshing and lite…perfect summer cake. I buy strawberries at Costco and when I notice we are not eating them fast enough I always make this cake!
very good and very delicious recipe and easy to make I use brown rice flour instead white flour it turn out very good.
Hi Jenn – I’ve made the Simple Summer Strawberry Cake twice now. It’s so easy and delicious. However, I don’t know what I’m doing wrong as both times, the strawberries sank to the bottom and doesn’t look like the one you have on the picture? Any suggestions on how I could make it look like yours? Thank you!
Hi Shirley, Are you by chance using really large strawberries? If so, try cutting them smaller.
so easy and so super yummy! Thank you!
This simple Strawberry Cake was really just that….simple, straight forward comforting flavor and texture. Will make again!!
The cake is fantastic! I enjoyed it with a side of vanilla ice cream. Thank you Jenn for posting the recipe.
Hello, a quick query: do you only butter the pan or butter and flour (which is what I usually do for cakes)? Thanks! And thanks so much for this website, I have discovered it recently, but it is totally my favorite!
Hi Ilaria, Glad you are enjoying the site! It’s only necessary to butter in this case because the cake is served straight from the pan.
Hi Jenn,
I made this last night and it looked beautiful and was easy to make, but it tastes quite dry. Could I have over mixed it?
Hi Mary, Sorry the cake came out dry. It’s a very moist cake so I don’t think over-mixing would cause the problem. Did you cut back on the butter or make any substitutions?
No, although I have been known to cut back on the butter, I didn’t with this recipe. I had to go out for a few hours before dinner, so I did whip the butter and sugar, left it on the counter covered and then finished making the recipe a few hours later, would that make a difference?
Hi Mary, Probably not; I would try reducing the cook time a bit next time. Your oven may run a little hot.
I never tire of trying your recipes, Jen, they have never gone wrong! My boss and workmates loved this strawberry cake, my 3 kids wanted more of this.. I had to (which I was more than happy to do) bake this twice for a friend who never got to taste this the first time as the whole thing “melted in her daughters’ mouths”, love it!
Can I use box cake mix.
Made this and thought it was great. Used my KitchenAid mixer to do it. A photo of it was my first post on Facebook and it looks identical to yours. Thanks!
How funny! Don’t know which came first, but this looks like the same *exact* cake (picture and all) that is on Martha Stewart’s website… “Strawberry Cake.”
Hi Annabel, Yes, you’re correct. The recipe was originally published in Martha Stewart Living many years ago and sent to me by one of my readers. (You’ll find the source and link cited over the recipe and on the printed recipe page.)
Hi I tried this recipe and my friends loved it.They are waiting for next cake.I loved your red baking dish too.would you share the brand name please.
So glad you enjoyed it! I wish I could tell you the brand of the pie dish but it all it says is “Stoneware” — if it helps, I actually got it at the supermarket in the cookware section.
This is simple to make with ingredients I had on hand and strawberries that needed to be used quickly. It’s tasty and got rave reviews from my family.
I just made this and everyone loved it. Thank you!
I’m assuming I would thaw frozen fruit for this recipe, correct? Thanks, Julie
Hi Julie, You can defrost the fruit but it’s not necessary — either way will work fine.
Thank you for getting back to me so quickly. I made it with frozen sweet cherries and just cut back the sugar in the recipe. Delish! I can’t wait to try it with other fruits.
Hi Jenn,
Can I use frozen berries for this cake.
Hi Angie, Yes, frozen berries should be fine.
Hi Jenn,
Could I replace the strawberries with cranberries and how much should i use if so, thank you. 🙂 L. Andrews
Hi Linda, I think you can replace the strawberries with about 1/2 pound fresh cranberries. Please let me know how it turns out.
I have made this cake now several times, and it has become a family and friend favorite. I’ve used strawberries the most, but have also used blueberries and a blueberry peach combination with great success as well. I frequently serve it with a butter cream sauce or a lightly sweetened whipped cream. Since I live in a higher elevation, sometimes cakes give me trouble and require some fiddling, but this recipe did not, and has been successful every time just as written. Thank you for a perfect recipe!
just made this cake and it was delicious! thank you for the recipe i shared it to my fb friends loooooooveeeee it!
I made this strawberry pie the other day. I made a mistake by taking it out of the oven too early when I saw it was getting a little too brown. I should have just reduced the oven temperature and let it bake for full 70 minutes as stated in the recipe. The pie was not fully baked in the center 🙁 However, the edges were fluffy and fully baked and tasted yummy :). I will try to make this pie one more time sometime this month.
Everyone loved the strawberry cake!! It was simple to make and quick to disappear… can’t wait to make it again.
I made this for my fiancé and his relatives – it was a hit! My fiancé can’t get enough of it!
Only change I did was – using almond milk and blueberries. Best recipe! Thank you so much ((: can’t wait to try this with other fruits!
Hi Jen,
I just found your website and I am inspired to try so many of your dishes. I need a brunch dessert tomorrow so I’m going to bake this cake (and can’t wait). I ususally don’t have milk on hand, do you think I can substitute it with almond milk?
Thank you, Diane
Hi Diane, Welcome to the site! I think almond milk will work just fine. Please come back and let me know how it turns out 🙂
If I’m using a glass pie dish, would I use the same temperature setting for the oven?
Hi Ana,
Great question. I would reduce the oven temp by 25 degrees to be safe.
Strawberry cake: can this be frozen?
Hi Anne, Yes, I think it would freeze just fine.
Are you sure the strawberries won’t get mushy freeaing? I did use Italian Plums and it was delicious. Plan to make more of these cakes..Thank you
Hi Anne, They are already (pleasantly) mushy once baked, so it doesn’t make a big difference.
I made this cake for company as a breakfast coffee cake and everyone loved it. It was easy to make and I will definitely make it again and again. I’m thinking of trying frozen blueberries when fresh strawberries aren’t available.
Another home run. You and Ina Garten have made me look like a cooking goddess for family and friends. This says a lot as my family of foodies used to not let me in the kitchen! This cake is outstanding—thank you so much for your easy-to-follow, fresh, and stunning recipes. Trying this again with raspberries. You rock!
I loved this cake!!! It was AWESOME! and my toddler and mom thought so too. My mom came upstairs to the second floor to ask me what I had in the oven and can she have some? Mind you, my mom has always been the cook/baker of the family. I doubled the recipe and made (2) 9 inch round cakes. I’m vegan so I left out the egg and added 1/3 cup apple sauce and 1 teaspoon sour cream. I also added 1 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon. I also soaked the strawberries in Baileys Irish Rum Cream before placing them on top of the cake batter and sprinkling the sugar on the top. This was so so so good. And then I added more insult to injury (i.e. my hips) by whipping up some strawberry frosting using fresh strawberries. My son and I were licking the bowl literally. I need to make these into cupcakes. I was nervous about doubling the recipe but it turned out great. Thank you so much for this recipe Jenn. It was simply and easy. This is my new go to. I will try to adapt it and maybe do a strawberry shortcake like concoction.
On July 4th. we were served Strawberry Shortcake at a party. The enjoyment lingered and when I read Jenn’s posting of Strawberry cake, I had a gut level feeling that this was going to be my “from now on” tweaking of a shortcake recipe. Last night’s dessert (and this morning’s breakfast) hit paydirt. I have a new “go to” whipped cream to serve with fruit based desserts, and it paired stunningly with this cake…1 cup heavy cream, 1/4 cup buttermilk, 3 tb. brown sugar, 2 tsp. lemon juice, 1/2 tsp. vanilla. Combine and chill the ingredients well, and whip to desired peak.
Thank you Jenn for what you’ve shared
Cheers,
Jeff
Hi Jeff, Your buttermilk whipped cream sounds wonderful. Thank you for sharing!
i altered the recipe a bit by using melted butter as i was using a whisk, this made my batter a lot thinner. I expected my strawberries to sink more because of this. However they all stayed at the top where i placed them.
I enjoyed making and eating this recipe and is now one of my favourites.
I have to get in on these reviews. I made this with a pound of sliced strawberries that had marinated with sugar for an hour and was blown away by the total deliciousness. I have made it twice and had to stop making it because I ended up eating it for breakfast, having some after lunch with my tea and then, dinner! I am from SC and I do plan to make it using peaches. The peaches from SC are like eating cake they are so good, but the ones you buy in the grocery store here in NY, not so much. Perfect for this cake and will let you know how it goes. I am so happy everyone loves this and had great results.
what type of sugar is used in this recipe? 🙂
Hi Fatma, It’s regular granulated sugar.
Thankyou 🙂 ill try the recipe out it looks amazing
This cake was easy to make and yummy. With strawberries ripening so quickly, this was a great way to use them. I overlapped the strawberries on the top (probably used over 1 lb). My husband had it warm with vanilla ice cream; I had it solo and loved it.
I made this for a July 4th gathering and it was huge hit! I followed the recipe as written and found it to be the “just right” amount of sweet. Worked great with a little side of ice cream. Thanks for the great recipe!
I made this for my 10 year old son, his friend, and myself. It was so good that the whole thing was gone within the day I made it! I prepared the recipe as is with the exception of not sprinkling sugar on top. The strawberries I used were very sweet and came out tasting like strawberry jam. I will definitely be making this again and very soon. I’m thinking peaches and raspberries combined next time. 🙂
Omg this is the perfect summer receipt. I substituted stawberries for blueberries. It turned out perfect. So moist and delicious. I love making recepies that are simple and quick to make. Served it to friends asvpart of our sunday brunch. Everyone raved about it and wanted the receipt. Just one thing important to know you oven. It turned up the themp yo 375 degress as the other was just not hot enough for my oven.
Really enjoying your website and the stories. Making cornmeal muffins tonight for dinner. Receipt sounds delicious.
can I use raspberries for this recipe too
Glynis,
I made it with raspberries last week and it was a huge it at a neighbourhood gathering. Enjoy!
This an easy and delicious and a good way to use up any kind of extra fruit. I made it with blueberries and some nectarines, with a sprinkling of sugar in the raw on top. Excellent alone or served with a dollop of whipped cream. Good summer time dessert.
I wanted to make something a little different than strawberry shortcake for a Fourth of July dessert and this fit the bill perfectly! The only change I made was to sprinkle turbinado sugar on the berries instead of granulated sugar – to give it a bit of a crunchy topping. We served with vanilla ice cream and it was a hit. The leftovers made for a nice breakfast. I will definitely make this again, possibly substituting blackberries or raspberries, and I might add some citrus zest.
Love the idea of the turbinado sugar, Liesel.
Summer Strawberry Cake: Made this cake for the 4th. It was so simple to make and the flavor was very fresh. I will have this cake added to my permanent dessert rotation. Thanks!
A beautiful, simple dessert. Made it with some local raspberries a few days ago and everyone at the gathering loved it! Reminds me of something our grandmothers would have served. Just pure, simple goodness 🙂
I made this cake yesterday with fresh strawberries from our garden . Rather than to use the butter I used organic coconut oil it turned out so delicious , crazy good ! Thank you for sharing this recipe !
Hi V, how much of coconut oil did u use for the above measurement? And do u think canola oil would work too?
I made this for a Fourth of July party and it was a hit! This is one of the easiest and tastiest cakes I have ever made. The strawberries that I got were unfortunately on the tart side, so I macerated them before putting them on the cake to bake. It turned out really well. I will definitely be making this cake again!
I had to make this! Used fresh buttermilk since I had some on hand, and served the cake with lightly sweetened whipped cream. Delicious! Very appealing photo of the cake in that red pie dish, too. Once again, thank you, Jenn!!!
I made this cake for the 4th of July and it was so delicious!! Love this recipe! My family loved it too. From one foodie to another, thank you for all the great recipes you put out!
I have this cake in the oven right now for a 4th of July party. All of my strawberries are now covered in batter with some even sinking to the bottom of the pan. The batter was very thick as you described it would be. Any idea what I did wrong? It does smell delicious though.
Hi Jackie, the strawberries do sink a bit – some to the bottom. The batter rises up over them so they kind of fall into pockets. Should be just fine 🙂
Ok. Thank you. It smells delish and I can’t wait to cut it. I have tried dozens of your recipes and there isn’t one that I haven’t loved and made repeatedly!
Excellent not too sweet and I used not too ripe strawberries so I sprinkled them with the 2 tablespoons of sugar before hand and let them sit while I was making the batter, came out just perfect. So easy and quick. Thank you for this wonderful summer recipe.
Baked this tonight for myself and two grown sons. Served with lightly sweetened whipped cream and it was stellar. I made no alterations to the recipe and it turned out very light and the contrast between the tart berries and the sweet, but not too sweet cake was perfect. Definite winner. Thanks!
I had a leftover strawberries I needed to use and this was a perfect match. I used some vanilla sugar I had on hand to sprinkle on top. Served with whipped cream. My 9″ cake pan is the dark metal so the cake was done in 45 mins after turning the temp down to 325. I love all things strawberry.
This sounds amazing. I can’t wait to try it out.
I love every single recipe that I have tried so far. If I’m ever in need of inspiration I always know where to look.
Thank you for all your hard work. Its very much appreciated
Jenn….we don’t have fresh local strawberries right now. Past season and I don’t like the ones shipped in from California . Do you think a substitution of peaches would work? We are in Georgia and fresh blueberries and peaches are in season and are wonderful.
Hi Janet, I do think peaches would work, but a combination of peaches and blueberries might be better. The cake is quite sweet, so using tart fruit balances it all out.
Yummy and easy!
Can I make this without margarine or butter?
Hi Beth, Unfortunately, I think it needs one or the other. Sorry!
How do you think the cake would turn out with cherries instead of strawberries? Drowning in cherries right now.
Hi Shayna, I think that cherries would be delicious. I’ve been imagining all the possibilities with this cake…peaches, blueberries, blackberries, etc. 🙂