A slice of strawberry layer cake on a green plate

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This strawberry layer cake is the first dessert of the year; oh and it’s a good one! Tonya (one of the ladies in our church), made this cake for her son’s birthday. While chomping down my second slice; I asked her for the recipe. It was delicious and I’m sharing this goodness with you.

Also, I’ve finally tried the alternate way of making the biskvit cake layers and they turned out perfect (I believe this to be the a more “fool-proof” recipe. Oh and the strawberry/chocolate decorations were ridiculously easy (plenty of oohs and ahhs over the 3D chocolate); see the tutorial here.

Oh oh and one more thing; the beauty of this strawberry layer cake is that you can really easily cut everything in half (6 eggs, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup flour….blah blah) to make a smaller cake and it will turn out just as dang good.

Strawberry Layer Cake Ingredients:

12 large eggs, room temp, divided
2 cups granulated sugar, divided
2 cups all-purpose flour, divided *measured correctly

Frosting Ingredients:

1 cup heavy whipping cream
16 oz cream cheese, softened at room temp
3/4 cup granulated sugar

Filling/Decor:

2 lbs Fresh strawberries (1 1/2 lbs to blend and put inside the cake and 1/2 lb to decorate)
Chocolate chips to melt and decorate the top; optional

Strawberry Layer Cake

Baking strawberry layer cake Layers:

If you’ve never made a European Sponge Cake, watch this video for the basic version and see just how simple it is!


Preheat oven to 350˚F.
1. Grease and line only the bottom of a 9×13″ cake pan with parchment paper (line 2 pans if you have 2). I have found that it’s best not to line or grease the sides of the pan or the cake becomes somewhat miss-shaped.
You will bake your cake layers separately so for each biskvit layer:

2. In the bowl of an electric mixer, whisk together 6 eggs and 1 cup sugar on high speed for 10 minutes and it will be 3-4 times in volume

Two photos of mixing bowls with batter for a strawberry layer cake

3. Sift in 1 cup all-purpose flour and use a spatula to gently fold it in just until well incorporated and no more clumps of flour remain. Scrape from the bottom of the bowl to make sure there aren’t any trapped pockets of flour, but don’t overwork the batter or it will deflate.

Two photos of flour being added to the batter for strawberry layer cake

4. Transfer your batter to the lined baking pan and bake at 350˚F for 17-20 min or until top is golden and toothpick comes out clean.

Strawberry Layer Cake-8

(While the first layer is baking, start working on your second cake layer repeating steps 1-3 above). Remove baked cake  from the pan by running a thin edged spatula around the sides to loosen it, then let it cool to room temperature before removing the parchment paper.

Two photos of sponge for a strawberry layer cake one baked and one unbaked

Strawberry Filling:

Cut strawberries into halves or quarters and place them in the bowl of a food processor; pulse 15 times or until the consistency of a chunky applesauce; set aside

Three photos of strawberries being clean and placed into a food processor

Frosting:

Beat together cream cheese and 3/4 cup sugar until smooth (1 min). Add 1 cup heavy whipping cream and beat on high speed until fluffy (3 minutes)

Four photos of the process to make a cream for a strawberry layer cake

Assembly:

1. Cut each cooled cake layer in half. Place the first layer on your serving dish (this cake is too big and heavy to transfer so put it on the dish you’re serving it on).

Strawberry Layer Cake-9

2. Spread the first layer with 1/3 of the strawberry puree. Spread just a thin layer of frosting (just a thin layer or you won’t have enough to frost the sides in the end) on the second half and place it over the first layer so the strawberries and cream are hugging. Repeat with the next layers.

So the order from the bottom up is: cake; strawberry; cream; cake; strawberry; cream;cake; strawberries; cream; cake; cream (frost the top and sides with remaining frosting)

Three photos of pureed strawberries and cream being spread on a sponge for a strawberry layer cake

Decorate the top with fresh strawberries and chocolate (see chocolate decorating tutorial here

Strawberry Layer Cake_-13

A close up of a slice of a strawberry layer cake

A slice of strawberry layer cake with halved strawberries on top and beside it

Strawberry Layer Cake Recipe

4.90 from 130 votes
Author: Natasha of NatashasKitchen.com
Prep Time: 1 hour
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes

Ingredients 

Servings: 14 -18

For the Cake:

Frosting:

  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 16 oz cream cheese, softened at room temp
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar

Filling/Decor:

  • 2 lbs Fresh strawberries, 1 1/2 lbs to blend and put inside the cake and 1/2 lb to decorate the top
  • Chocolate chips to melt and decorate the top; optional

Instructions

Baking the Cake Layers: Preheat oven to 350˚F.

  • Grease and line only the bottom of a 9x13" cake pan with parchment paper (line 2 pans if you have 2). I have found that it's best not to line or grease the sides of the pan or the cake becomes somewhat miss-shaped.
  • You will bake your cake layers separately so for each biskvit layer: in the bowl of an electric mixer, whisk together 6 eggs and 1 cup sugar on high speed for 10 min. it will be 3-4 times in volume.
  • Sift in 1 cup all-purpose flour and use a spatula to gently fold it in just until well incorporated and no more clumps of flour remain. Scrape from the bottom of the bowl to make sure there aren't any trapped pockets of flour, but don't overwork the batter or it will deflate.
  • Transfer to lined baking pan and bake until top is golden and toothpick comes out clean 17-20 min.
  • (While the first layer is baking, start making your second cake layer repeating steps 1-3 above)
  • Remove baked cake from the pan by running a thin edged spatula around the sides to loosen it, then let it cool to room temperature before removing the parchment paper.

Strawberry Filling:

  • Cut strawberries into halves or quarters and place them in the bowl of a food processor; pulse 15 times or until the consistency of a chunky applesauce; set aside.

Frosting:

  • Beat together cream cheese and 3/4 cup sugar until smooth (1 min). Add 1 cup heavy whipping cream and beat on high speed until fluffy (2-3 minutes).

Assembly:

  • Cut each cooled cake layer in half. Place the first layer on your serving dish (this cake is too big and heavy to transfer so put it on the dish you're serving it on)
  • Spread the first layer with 1/3 of the strawberry puree. Spread a very thin layer of frosting on the second half and place it over the first layer so the strawberries and cream are hugging. Repeat with the next layers. So the order from the bottom up is: cake; strawberry; cream; cake; strawberry; cream;cake; strawberries; cream; cake; cream (frost the top and sides with remaining frosting).
  • Decorate the top with fresh strawberries and chocolate (see chocolate decorating tutorial below)
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Strawberry Layer Cake
Skill Level: Medium
Cost to Make: $$
Natasha's Kitchen Cookbook

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4.90 from 130 votes (32 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




Comments

  • Monica
    May 29, 2013

    Hi Natasha,
    How do you recommend halving the recipe? Bake one 9×13? 8×8? Round? How would that change the baking time?
    Thanks, Monica

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      May 29, 2013

      The baking time will be the same. I’d use 2 8×8’s or 2 rounds

      Reply

  • Nelli
    May 25, 2013

    Hi guys,
    Has anyone tried to make the cake with strawberry jam or strawberry spread?

    Reply

  • Roxanne
    May 25, 2013

    This cake was easy and amazing!! I baked mine in 9″ round cake pans, made 4 then cut them in half…came out AMAZING. There is 6 of us at work…took it in on Monday, by Wednesday it was gone!! Will make this again and again. Layers of goodness! Did use skewers to hold all 8 layers together. Kudos to you and your recipe!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      May 25, 2013

      Thank you Roxanne for the good report, I’m glad that everyone enjoyed it :D.

      Reply

  • Alissa
    May 16, 2013

    Hi Natasha,

    I’m planning to use this recipe for a friend’s birthday party (2 days from now) and I was thinking of baking the cake portion tonight so it can cool overnight and then doing the strawberries and frosting and assembling tomorrow night, for the party the following afternoon. Does that make sense – will the frosting hold up and look ok if it’s left overnight? I can also assemble everything at my friend’s house if it might be better to do that day. Just wondering if it makes a difference for how everything holds together. Thanks!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      May 16, 2013

      That should be fine. So are you making the frosting just before assembling the cake or are you making it the night before?

      Reply

      • Alissa
        May 23, 2013

        I ended up making the cakes 2 nights before, and then making the strawberry filling and frosting in the morning before the party. I did two 9″ chocolate cakes, and I doubled the frosting recipe (but I didn’t double the amount of cream cheese, which was an accident, but it came out great). I had a little left over strawberry filling and frosting, but since I had sliced off the top, rounded portion of the cake layers to level it, I made some mini layered cake in a tuperware container with the leftovers 🙂 Everyone at the party loved it and the cake looked really nice! Thanks for the recipes!

        Reply

        • Natasha
          natashaskitchen
          May 23, 2013

          Great job Alissa, I’m glad everyone at the party loved it :).

          Reply

  • Masha
    May 11, 2013

    This is a fabulous recipe! It worked out beautifully and was super easy. I am “stealing” the icing for other cakes. Thanks so much!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      May 11, 2013

      You’re very welcome. I’m so glad you found yourself a versatile frosting 🙂

      Reply

  • Regina @ SpecialtyCakeCreations
    May 8, 2013

    I loved this frosting. My family is not big on buttercreams so this is a great alternative. I’ll have to try your biskvit recipe sometime as well. My mom always used to make biskvit cakes. So different from American sponge and butter cakes 🙂

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      May 8, 2013

      Thanks Regina! I love your blog by the way!!

      Reply

  • Lena
    May 6, 2013

    Hi Natasha!

    I want my cake to have a bit of color on the top so I was wondering whether putting in a few drops of food coloring affect the frosting in any way.

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      May 6, 2013

      Adding food coloring should not effect the frosting :).

      Reply

  • Colleen Case
    May 5, 2013

    Made this for a family party today and everyone loved it – even those who don’t usually like cake. I made extra frosting to decorate the top and sides with a little extra. I used the Demarle at Home Flexipat, so I did not need to mess with parchment and had great results. The Flexipat peels right off the cooled cake with no need to spray/oil/flour. Delicious! If you aren’t familiar with Demarle at Home products (famous for the Silpat), I’ve included my website so you can check it out. Thanks for sharing the recipe and tips! Love it!

    -Oh that sounds great! I’ll check it out 🙂 -Natasha

    Reply

  • Sabika
    May 2, 2013

    Hey Natasha!

    I went through your original biskvit recipe and it had the egg yolks and egg whites whisked and beaten separately whereas in this recipe, you have done it all together. Will following the method in this recipe result in a different texture of the cake? I have never made a biskvit cake before hence the question.
    Can’t wait to make this!!!!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      May 2, 2013

      This method makes a fluffier cake. I’ve adopted the way that I make biskvit for this strawberry layer cake. It takes awhile to beat the mixture together but the cake rises better and more evenly. Both ways work, but I’ve been liking to beat them together lately rather than separating them. That was a really long answer. Simply put, I like to beat them together now-a-days and I’ll need to re-do those past cakes to re-photograph them.

      Reply

  • Zoe
    April 29, 2013

    Is this plain flour or self raising flour? I want to make it but im not sure please help!! 🙂

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      April 29, 2013

      Just plain flour.:)

      Reply

  • Gareth
    April 22, 2013

    Great cake ! I’m only 18, but love to bake. I was asked to make a Fraisier for my friends birthday party and this looked like a little twist on that. Went down great, everyone loved it. I had to use Creme Fraiche instead of heavy whipping cream, because in France you can’t get that, but tasted just as good (IMO!). I did have to make up a lot of icing though, I went through 600 grams of cream cheese to cover and fill the cake ( although I may have put quite alot in the middle ! )

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      April 22, 2013

      I bet it was amazing with creme fraiche! I’ll have to try that one of these days. About the cream; you only need a thin layer between each cake layer, but it was probably extra yummy with extra frosting! 🙂

      Reply

  • Anastasiya
    April 15, 2013

    I made this for my grandmas birthday celebration last night… EVERYONE LOVED IT!! Thank you so much for this recipe, it was perfect. My family isn’t usually too big on cakes because they can be overly sweet, but this had the perfect amount of sweet, and the fresh strawberries were awesome!!!! 🙂

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      April 15, 2013

      Thank you so much for a great report Anastasiya, I’m glad that everyone loved it :).

      Reply

  • Stephanie
    April 9, 2013

    I made this cake for our 12th wedding anniversary party (we had the same flavors as our wedding cake). It was a smashing success!! Everyone wanted seconds.

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      April 9, 2013

      That’s awesome!! Happy anniversary!

      Reply

  • Olga
    April 6, 2013

    If I halve the cake, do I put it into the 9 x 13 and just cut.half or use the smaller one? I also only have 1 cream cheese available. Think it would be.fine for a halve biskvit recipe?

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      April 6, 2013

      You absolutely make a half size; either in two dishes or just cut it in half, just wait until it cools fully before cutting it in half and just cut the frosting ingredients in half too.

      Reply

  • Donna
    April 4, 2013

    Sounds delicious! What kind of chocolate chips do you use?

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      April 4, 2013

      I use semi-sweet morsels by Nestle. Click here for the picture.

      Reply

  • Nadia
    April 4, 2013

    Is the taste of the frosting going to be compromised if I omit cream cheese in the frosting? If I use only whipping cream for the frosting, how much do you think I would need?

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      April 4, 2013

      The taste will be different. Try using the frosting from my Tres Leches Cake with whipping cream, hope this helps.

      Reply

  • Anie
    April 3, 2013

    kind of a dumb question but do you think a 13×9 pyres would work? I dont have a 13×9 baking pan. by the way i love your blog

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      April 3, 2013

      Yes that should work fine 🙂

      Reply

  • Inna
    April 1, 2013

    I made this cake for Easter Sunday and boy can I tell you that it was delicious and everyone was in love! Strawberries complement the cream and it’s a perfect mix of flavors! Definitely worth the time to make it! Thanks Natasha, what would I do without your blog!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      April 1, 2013

      That’s a wonderful review. Thank you Inna 🙂

      Reply

  • Galina
    March 30, 2013

    Just made the cake this morning. Looks sooo good!!! Tastes even better!!! Moist, fluffy. Cream wasn’t too sweet. Just fab!!!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      March 30, 2013

      Great, I’m glad you love the recipe Galina :).

      Reply

  • Nadiya
    March 29, 2013

    oh,my looks so good!!! i will probably make it for easter:)

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      March 29, 2013

      Oh good choice! I hope you and your loved ones enjoy it!!!

      Reply

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