Strawberry Frosted Sheet Cake is a perfectly light and fluffy strawberry cake and best of all, it’s made from scratch with NO cake or jello mix. It’s full of fresh and freeze-dried strawberries and topped with an easy buttercream cream cheese frosting.
Strawberry picking was on our summer bucket list but it’s been so busy that we sadly missed out on getting around to it this year.
So I did the next best thing I could think of, I stocked up on fresh local strawberries when I spotted them for a great price last month and have been adding them to salads and as many desserts as I possibly can.
It’s made in this 9×13 cake pan I received from KitchenAid back in June and it was the perfect size for sharing with a crowd.
There is no strawberry gelatin powder added like most strawberry sheet cakes and is made completely from scratch. I used fresh and freeze-dried strawberries that I blended into powder using my coffee grinder to brighten it up the color. If you can’t find any freeze-dried strawberries – you can also a drop or two of food color to add some color if you like but feel free to leave it out if you prefer.
The fresh fruity flavor makes it a nice and light dessert and is sure to be a hit at any potluck, shower or summer party.
Yields 10
Strawberry Frosted Sheet Cake is a light and fluffy strawberry cake made from scratch. It's full of fresh strawberries and topped with a cream cheese frosting.
35 minCook Time
35 minTotal Time
Save RecipeIngredients
2 1/2 cups cake flour (see notes for substitute)
1 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons freeze dried strawberries, blended into powder (I used my coffee grinder)
3/4 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups fresh strawberry puree (I pureed about 2 1/2 cups (1 pint) fresh strawberries)
8 strawberries, diced
2 large eggs, room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3/4 cup buttermilk, room temperature (see notes for substitute)
1-2 drops of Red or Pink Food Color **optional if desired
7-8 strawberries, sliced for garnish if desired
Cream Cheese Frosting
2/3 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
3 1/2 - 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1 - 2 tablespoons heavy cream
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° F. Line a 9X13 baking pan with parchment paper leaving an overhang and set aside.
- Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and freeze dried strawberry powder together and set aside. Cream butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy (about 3 minutes) in a large bowl using a mixer set at medium-high speed.
- Add strawberry puree and eggs, one at a time, blending each addition thoroughly.
- Scrape down sides of bowl and beat in vanilla extract and optional food coloring. Reduce mixer speed to low and add the flour mixture by thirds, alternating with the buttermilk and ending with a final addition of the dry ingredients. Fold in diced strawberries.
- Pour batter in prepared pan and bake on the middle rack of oven until a tester inserted in the center of each cake layer comes out clean -- about 25 to 35 minutes.
- Cool in pan for 30 minutes then lift cake out with parchment paper and cool completely on a wire rack before topping with frosting. Slice into squares and top with strawberry slices before serving if desired.
For the icing:- In a large bowl with a hand mixer (or in a stand mixer) cream butter until light and fluffy (about 2 minutes). Add softened cream cheese and beat until smooth and no lumps remain. Add the vanilla and mix well. Turn mixer on low and slowly add the powdered sugar and mix until smooth. Add 1 tablespoon of heavy cream and turn mixer back to medium and mix until light and fluffy. Add additional heavy cream or powdered sugar to reach desired consistency. Frost on cooled cake using an offset spatula.
Notes
Slightly adapted from Country Living
Buttermilk Substitute: Add 1 tablespoon vinegar to a measuring cup. Fill the measuring cup up with milk until it reaches the 1 cup line. Let sit 5 minutes or until mixture looks slightly curdled. You can also use lemon juice.
Cake Flour Substitute: For every cup of flour you need to substitute do this: Measure out 1 cup of all-purpose flour. Remove 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour and return to your flour bag. Replace the removed flour with 2 tablespoons of cornstarch. Sift the flour several times to incorporate the mixture completely.
More strawberry desserts:
Strawberry Cheesecake Icebox Cake
Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Bars
Slow Cooker Strawberries and Cream Cheesecake
Strawberries Rhubarb Coconut Popsicles
Disclosure: I created this post in partnership with KitchenAid and received the mixer and bakeware for recipe testing purposes as part of a Summer Afternoon Tea Party series. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.
