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Delicious FRESH Strawberry Cake

This strawberry cake is a spring favorite of mine–and is often my choice of birthday cake. It’s a ‘cheat’ version because you start with a box cake mix. I use a gluten-free yellow cake mix, preferably King Arthur’s, but I think any regular yellow cake mix would also work!
 
Start by prepping your pans(s). I’ve done this cake as a flat sheet cake, a layer cake, cupcakes, and a bundt. It works well in any form! Grease and flour pans. If you are using round-layer cake pans, line them with parchment paper.
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Ingredients
  

Strawberry Cake

  • 2-3 cups fresh strawberries
  • 1 box gluten free or regular yellow cake mix
  • 3 T or 1/2 of a 3 oz package strawberry gelatin (I have used strawberry pudding mix for the bundt cake version)
  • 1/2 vegetable oil
  • 3 eggs
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract

Frosting

  • 1-2 fresh strawberries
  • 4 ounces cream cheese softened at room temperature
  • 4 T 1/2 stick unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
  • 3-4 cups powdered sugar to taste. I prefer the frosting a little less sweet so I use less powdered sugar.

Instructions
 

Instructions for Cake

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare baking pans.
  • Rinse, then pat dry the strawberries. Mash or puree the strawberries, then cook down in a sauce pan until volume is approximately half of where it started. You need 3/4 cup strawberry puree. Cooking down the strawberries intensifies the flavor! Cool before using.
  • Mix together cake mix, gelatin or pudding mix. Add room temperature puree, eggs, oil, and vanilla. Beat until all ingredients are well blended. Mix for an additional 1-2 minutes, scraping down sides of the bowl.
  • Pour batter into prepared pan(s) or cupcake tin.
  • Bake approximately 18-22 minutes, until top is lightly browned and knife comes out clean.
  • Allow cake to cool at least 15 minutes before releasing from the pan.
  • Frost or glaze (to make the frosting thinner for a bundt cake glaze, add a little cream (or alternative milk) until desired consistency is reached.

Instructions for Frosting

  • Rinse and pat dry the strawberries. Discard stem and dice or mash.
  • Add cream cheese and butter to a mixing bowl. Beat until creamy.
  • Add strawberry. Beat to incorporate.
  • Add sugar and continue beating until creamy and desired sweetness is reached.

Notes

I'd love to hear if you make this cake. It's truly amazing!