This easy Strawberry Cake has a soft and moist crumb and is bursting with fresh strawberry flavor. You’ll absolutely love it with the irresistible fresh strawberry sauce drizzled over the top. Watch the video tutorial and see why this is my favorite summer strawberry recipe.

Easy Strawberry cake with a slice cut out surrounded by fresh strawberries

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

Helpful Reader Review

“This cake is fabulous. I have made it several times and will be printing it to have in my recipe file. Only the keepers get printed. The texture is wonderful – not too light and crumbly, but not overly dense. The sweetness is just right.” – Jayel ★★★★★

Strawberry Cake Video

Easy Strawberry Cake

This strawberry cake is winning in every way: simple ingredients, easy to make, perfect for entertaining, and completely yummy. Everything about this cake is good. This is a crowd-pleasing dessert, but (so you can’t say I didn’t warn you) it disappears fast!

This recipe is based on our wildly popular Blueberry Cake, which was an instant hit. Part of what makes this such an easy cake is that there’s no frosting or layering required, but the strawberry flavor really pops, especially when you drizzle every slice with the 2-ingredient strawberry sauce.

Slice of easy strawberry cake drizzled with strawberry sauce

Ingredients for Strawberry Cake

The ingredients here are pantry staples. This cake is loaded with fresh strawberries inside and out. Between the cake and sauce, you will need almost 2 pounds of strawberries.

  • Eggs – at room temperature
  • Sugar – you can adjust sugar to taste if you have very sweet or very tart strawberries
  • Sour cream – adds flavor and richness to the cake. You can substitute plain whole-milk Greek yogurt.
  • Oil – creates a soft and moist crumb. You can use either extra light olive oil or vegetable oil
  • All-purpose flour – forms a soft crumb without being too dense or heavy. You can substitute 1:1 gluten-free flour (it was tested with Cup4Cup Multipurpose Flour).
  • Baking powder – leavening that gives rise to the cake
  • Fresh strawberries – you will need 12 oz for the cake and 16 oz for the strawberry sauce. You can use frozen strawberries for the sauce but fresh strawberries are preferred for the cake. My best tip for buying strawberries is to smell them – they should have a sweet strawberry aroma.
Ingredients for cake with fresh strawberries

Natasha’s Tip for Rinsing Strawberies

Rinse strawberries under cool running water just before using them, then pat them dry with a clean towel. Do not wash produce with soap, detergent, or commercial produce wash since it can be absorbed by strawberries.

How to Make Strawberry Cake

  • Prep – Butter a 9-inch springform pan (a springform helps with easier release for serving) and line the bottom with parchment paper. Dice half of the strawberries and cut the rest in half.
  • Mix Wet IngredientsBeat the eggs and sugar on high speed for 5 minutes, or until the mixture looks thick, pale, and fluffy. Mix in the sour cream, oil, and vanilla.
  • Mix Dry Ingredients and Combine– Whisk the dry ingredients together in a separate bowl, then add them to the batter in three additions, mixing just until combined. Don’t overmix.
  • Add batter to the pan – Pour half of the batter into the pan and sprinkle the diced strawberries over the top. Add the remaining batter, then place the strawberry halves over the surface, cut-side down, pressing them in slightly.
  • Bake – Bake for 45 to 55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool in the pan for 15 to 20 minutes before removing the ring.
Fresh strawberry cake served with strawberry sauce

Tips for the Best Strawberry Cake

  • To quickly bring eggs to room temperature – place cold eggs into a bowl of warm water (not hot) for 5-7 minutes, then dry them with paper towels and use them in the recipe.
  • Do not overmix – Once the flour is incorporated, stop mixing so the cake stays soft and tender.
  • Measure flour correctly – Spoon the flour into a dry measuring cup and level the top with a straight edge. Watch my easy video tutorial on how to measure ingredients correctly.
Strawberry cake dusted with powdered sugar

To Serve the Cake

Once the cake has cooled to room temperature, dust the top with powdered sugar and serve individual slices drizzled with the strawberry sauce – it’s so good it will make you want to lick your plate! It’s also really good over Dutch Baby Pancakes, Waffles, Crepes or French Toast.

Can I turn this into a 2-layer cake?

This works best as a single layer because it is a heavier cake. For a layered cake, we recommend our Strawberry Sponge Cake.

Slice of easy strawberry cake - one of our favorite strawberry recipes

If you love strawberries, this strawberry cake is a must-try. I’d pass you a generous slice if I could, covered with plenty of strawberry sauce, of course.

Strawberry Cake

4.94 from 463 votes
Fresh strawberry cake served with powdered sugar and strawberries
This easy Strawberry Cake is soft, moist, and loaded with fresh strawberries. Serve it with a simple 2-ingredient strawberry sauce for a fresh and easy dessert.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Cooling time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Ingredients 

Servings: 10 slices (9″ cake)

Strawberry Cake Ingredients:

Strawberry Sauce Ingredients:

Instructions

Cake Prep:

  • Butter a 9-inch springform pan and line the bottom with parchment paper. Preheat oven to 375˚F. Prepare the strawberries for the cake: dice 6 oz and cut the remaining 6 oz in half.

How to Make Strawberry Cake:

  • Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, use an electric hand mixer or stand mixer to beat the eggs and sugar on high speed for 5 minutes, until thick and pale. Add the sour cream, oil, and vanilla, then mix on low speed just until combined.
  • Mix Dry Ingredients and Combine: In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture in three additions, mixing just until no dry streaks remain. Do not overmix.
  • Add Batter to the Pan: Pour half of the batter into the prepared pan. Sprinkle the diced strawberries over the batter, then spread the remaining batter on top. Arrange the halved strawberries over the surface, cut-side down, pressing them lightly into the batter.
  • Bake at 375°F for 45 to 55 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center, avoiding a strawberry, comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. Mine was done at 50 minutes. Let the cake cool in the pan for 15 to 20 minutes before removing the ring.
  • To Serve: Run a thin spatula around the edge of the cake to loosen it from the pan, then transfer it to a cake plate. Serve slightly warm or at room temperature. Dust with powdered sugar, if desired, and spoon the strawberry sauce over individual slices.

How to Make Strawberry Sauce:

  • While the cake bakes, add the strawberries and sugar to a blender or food processor and purée until smooth. Taste and add more sugar, if needed.

Notes

Strawberries: Use fresh, thoroughly dried strawberries in the cake. Thawed frozen strawberries can be used for the sauce.
Oil: Extra-light olive oil or neutral vegetable oil will give the cake the mildest flavor.
Gluten-Free Substitution: You can substitute all-purpose flour with 1:1 gluten-free flour (it was tested with Cup4Cup Multipurpose Flour).
Measuring flour: Spoon flour into the measuring cup and level the top instead of scooping directly from the container.

Nutrition Per Serving

368kcal Calories51g Carbs4g Protein16g Fat4g Saturated Fat44mg Cholesterol91mg Sodium293mg Potassium2g Fiber29g Sugar195IU Vitamin A46.9mg Vitamin C90mg Calcium1.8mg Iron
Nutrition Facts
Strawberry Cake
Amount per Serving
Calories
368
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
16
g
25
%
Saturated Fat
 
4
g
25
%
Cholesterol
 
44
mg
15
%
Sodium
 
91
mg
4
%
Potassium
 
293
mg
8
%
Carbohydrates
 
51
g
17
%
Fiber
 
2
g
8
%
Sugar
 
29
g
32
%
Protein
 
4
g
8
%
Vitamin A
 
195
IU
4
%
Vitamin C
 
46.9
mg
57
%
Calcium
 
90
mg
9
%
Iron
 
1.8
mg
10
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: easy strawberry cake, strawberry cake
Skill Level: Easy
Cost to Make: $
Calories: 368
Natasha's Kitchen Cookbook

Try My Best Strawberry Recipes

If you enjoy sweet summer strawberries as much as we do, then you will love these top-rated strawberry recipes:

4.94 from 463 votes (145 ratings without comment)

Leave a Comment

Recipe Rating




Comments

  • Merry Straub
    July 15, 2017

    can I sub raspberries instead?

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      July 15, 2017

      Hi Merry, I think raspberries would work well here 🙂

      Reply

  • Shelley
    July 15, 2017

    Delicious!!
    I make this same cake with drained cherries from a jar.
    (I also use plain greek yogurt instead of sourcream.)

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      July 15, 2017

      I’m glad you love the recipe Shelley! Thanks for sharing your tip and great review!

      Reply

  • Nataliya
    July 15, 2017

    The cake is in the oven!!! I cannot wait 🙂

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      July 15, 2017

      Please let me know what you think Nataliya!

      Reply

  • Melissa Griffiths
    July 15, 2017

    My mouth is watering just thinking about all the strawberries in this cake! Yum, yum, yum!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      July 15, 2017

      It is so delicious! You will LOVE it Melissa!

      Reply

  • Mary
    July 15, 2017

    Hello Dear Natasha, Can’t wait to make it! Can I use yogurt instead of sour cream???

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      July 15, 2017

      Hi Mary, a couple of my readers have reported good results using plain Greek yogurt. I hope you love the cake! 🙂

      Reply

  • Audrey
    July 15, 2017

    This looks absolutely delicious!
    Do you think rhubarb would work too?

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      July 15, 2017

      Hi Audrey, to be honest, I don’t have much experience with rhubarb – it was just one of those things we never ate growing up so I haven’t tested that. If you experiment, let mek now how it goes 🙂

      Reply

  • Stephanie
    July 15, 2017

    Hi! I was wondering if I could use greek yoghurt instead of the sour cream?
    Thanks

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      July 15, 2017

      Hi Stephanie, a couple of my readers have reported great results using plain Greek yogurt instead of sour cream 🙂

      Reply

  • Jessica Orika
    July 15, 2017

    That picture looks yummy! Now I’m tempted to give your recipe a try. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      July 15, 2017

      Hi Jessica, Thank you and I hope you love it!

      Reply

  • Ratna
    July 14, 2017

    Hi Natasha I live in India and sour cream is not easily available . Pls suggest a substitute of one cup sour cream in this recipe

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      July 15, 2017

      Hi Ratna, several of my readers reported great results using plain Greek Yogurt instead 🙂

      Reply

  • Julia Tzavaras
    July 14, 2017

    Can’t wait to make this cake. Have been following you all the way from Melbourne, Australia. I’ve also got a mixed Ukrainian/Greek background so have the best of both worlds. 😊

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      July 14, 2017

      Hello Julia! Thanks for following! You’re gonna love this simple, delicious recipe! Please let me know what you think when you decide to make it. 🙂

      Reply

  • Mary Mueller
    July 14, 2017

    We used apricot, added orange zest to the batter, then glazed with apricot jam we had just made. Left off the powdered sugar, but added a dolor of whipped cream…YUM

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      July 14, 2017

      That sounds delicious Mary! Thanks for sharing your review with other readers!

      Reply

  • Dina
    July 14, 2017

    I checked your websites and realized what I was craving 😂 Luckily I had everything on hand! It’s sooo good, especially when it’s still warm with that sauce, yum 😋

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      July 14, 2017

      That’s great Dina! I’m glad to hear you love it! Thanks for sharing your excellent review!

      Reply

  • Masha
    July 14, 2017

    Why do you add oil? That much?!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      July 15, 2017

      Hi Masha, the cake needs it to form correctly and it adds moisture.

      Reply

  • Areej
    July 14, 2017

    Hi natasha i love your recipes,I definitely gonna try this recipe because my kids love strawberries,i have one question i am going to try out your trimasu cake can you tell me how to make strong coffee with instant espresso for trimasu.

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      July 15, 2017

      Hi Areej, I would suggest following the instructions on the package of your instant espresso powder. The one I have says 1 packet to 6 oz of hot water 🙂

      Reply

  • Areej
    July 14, 2017

    Hi natasha i love your recipes I recently tried your tresleche cake on my husband birthday last week and it was hit👍Everyone loved it😊I am definitely gonna try this recipe and let you know how it turned out because my kids love strawberries.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      July 14, 2017

      I’m glad he loved his birthday cake! Please let me know what the family thinks about this recipe!

      Reply

  • Ellen
    July 14, 2017

    Looks amazing! Would this work with raspberries?

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      July 14, 2017

      Hi Ellen, I do think this would work well with raspberries. I would probably leave the raspberries whole 🙂

      Reply

      • Ellen
        July 17, 2017

        made it with raspberries and it was delicious! everyone was raving about it. I left the raspberries on top whole but cut the ones between the layers into 4. thank you for an amazing recipe!

        Reply

        • Natasha's Kitchen
          July 17, 2017

          You’re welcome Ellen! That sounds delicious, I’m glad everyone enjoys the recipe! Thanks for sharing your review with other readers!

          Reply

  • Regina Kats
    July 14, 2017

    Natasha, this cake looks amazing! One correction 450g is 16oz. 12oz is about 340g. You might want to correct it in your recipe.

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      July 14, 2017

      Regina thank you so much for bringing that to my attention! Fixed!! 🙂 I sure appreciate your help 🙂

      Reply

  • Natasha
    July 14, 2017

    Hi Natasha, love your website, been using forever. Question about this cake, can I use cherries instead of strawberry, have lots of cherries now?

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      July 14, 2017

      Hi Natasha, yes I do think halved and pitted cherries would work well. I would suggest not overloading the cake with cherries though. Ideally 12 oz and not more than 16 oz. Let me know how you like it with cherries! 🙂

      Reply

  • Jean
    July 14, 2017

    Does the cake / berries get bad if not eaten in 1—2 days ??

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      July 14, 2017

      Hi Jean, it is best on day one and should be refrigerated if not eaten the same day. I have enjoyed this up to 3 days after making it but it has never lasted longer than that :).

      Reply

  • Jenny from jennyisbaking.com
    July 14, 2017

    Oh boy, this one has my name written all over I love simple recipes! I love strawberries! Wow, I think I would add even more strawberries, just for good measure.
    I am currently working on an apricot cheesecake idea, will report back once I got that one right.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      July 14, 2017

      You will love the strawberry cake recipe! Please let me know how the cheesecake turns out! 🙂

      Reply

As Featured On

Never Go "Hangry" Again!

Get weekly updates on new recipes, exclusive giveaways plus behind the scenes photos.