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The Best Homemade Strawberry Layer Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Close-up of a moist slice of strawberry cake showing two layers of cake filled with bright red fruit and white cream frosting.

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Make this moist strawberry layer cake from scratch, bursting with fresh strawberry flavor and topped with a rich cream cheese frosting. This recipe delivers a show-stopping dessert perfect for any gathering.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup fresh strawberries, finely pureed (about 6 ounces)
  • 1/2 cup fresh strawberries, finely chopped
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened (for frosting)
  • 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted (for frosting)
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened (for frosting)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (for frosting)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh strawberry puree (for frosting)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans. Line the bottoms with parchment paper.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt.
  3. In a separate bowl, beat the softened butter until creamy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
  4. Mix in the buttermilk and vanilla extract.
  5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Do not overmix.
  6. Gently fold in the 1 cup of strawberry puree and the 1/2 cup of chopped strawberries.
  7. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared cake pans.
  8. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  9. Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes before inverting them onto a wire rack to cool completely.
  10. To make the cream cheese frosting, beat the 1 cup of softened butter and softened cream cheese together until smooth.
  11. Gradually add the sifted powdered sugar, beating until combined.
  12. Mix in the vanilla extract and 2 tablespoons of strawberry puree until the frosting is light and fluffy. Add more powdered sugar if the frosting is too thin.
  13. Once the cakes are completely cool, place one layer on a serving plate. Spread about one-third of the frosting over the first layer.
  14. Top with the second cake layer. Frost the top and sides of the entire cake with the remaining cream cheese frosting.
  15. Decorate with fresh sliced strawberries if desired.

Notes

  • For the best fresh strawberry flavor, use ripe, sweet strawberries in your puree and chopped pieces.
  • If you prefer a strawberry buttercream, substitute 1/2 cup of the powdered sugar in the frosting recipe with strawberry jam, reducing the added puree slightly.
  • To make the cake extra moist, you can substitute 1/4 cup of the buttermilk with plain yogurt.

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