How to make a delicious strawberry cake or strawberry cupcakes
There is something incredibly nostalgic and heartwarming about a strawberry cake. It feels like childhood summers, sweet family gatherings, and celebrations filled with pink frosting and joyful smiles. A strawberry cake is timeless. It is simple enough for a casual afternoon treat yet beautiful enough to serve as the star of a birthday party dessert table. Whether you are planning a Strawberry Birthday Party, hosting a themed celebration, or just looking for a delicious homemade dessert that tastes like fresh berries and sunshine, this strawberry cake recipe is a must try.
Strawberry cakes are versatile, dependable, and wonderfully photogenic which makes them perfect for party styling. They can be topped with fresh berries, layered for a dramatic centerpiece, decorated with simple piping, or kept rustic and charming with a semi naked finish. The texture is moist and soft. The flavor is bright and naturally sweet. And the color is the most gorgeous pink without needing heavy artificial dyes.
If you love hosting themed parties, this cake becomes even more magical. It ties perfectly into strawberry patches, berry sweet birthdays, garden parties, picnics, and summer celebrations. Just picture a dessert table filled with gingham accents, little berry baskets, fresh greenery, and this beautiful strawberry cake taking center stage. It feels like it was made for Pinterest worthy photos and happy party guests.
One of the reasons strawberry cakes are so loved is because they make dessert feel special without adding stress to your to do list. The recipe is approachable, the ingredients are simple, and the final result looks like you spent hours crafting it. Whether you serve it as a full sized layered cake or turn the batter into cupcakes, this recipe delivers every time.
If you’re ready to bake something sweet, whimsical, and bursting with strawberry flavor, this strawberry cake will become one of your go to favorites. Let’s talk about how to use it for parties, theme ideas, and creative ways to incorporate strawberry cupcakes into your celebration.
Making an adorable and super scrumptious strawberry cake is easy with this strawberry cake recipe. Whether you are making cupcakes, a layer cake or a first birthday smash cake…you will love the taste of this strawberry cake!
Recently, I styled a “Berry First Birthday” party for my little baby. For her party, I made some super yummy strawberry cupcakes and a fun and festive strawberry themed smash cake.
Today I’m breaking down the recipe for this delicious cake and also how to make the strawberry smash cake complete with fondant strawberry toppers and decorations!
Don’t worry…it’s easier than it looks!!
How to use a Strawberry Cake
A strawberry cake is one of the most flexible desserts you can use when styling a themed celebration. It works beautifully as a birthday cake, a shower cake, a picnic centerpiece, or a simple summer dessert. When you’re planning a strawberry themed party, this cake becomes the star of the entire dessert table. You can serve it as a tall layered showstopper topped with fresh berries and greenery, or keep it simple with smooth pink frosting and cute toppers. The recipe also converts easily into cupcakes or mini cakes if you want adorable individual servings.
Another fun way to use a strawberry cake is by incorporating it into your overall party palette. The natural pink tones pair perfectly with gingham, wood accents, berry baskets, or bright red strawberry décor. Place it on a cake stand, surround it with scattered strawberries, or add a “Berry Sweet” banner behind it. No matter your style, this cake enhances the theme effortlessly and tastes delicious.
Before we dive into the recipe itself…using a strawberry cake is super easy. You can serve up some cute strawberry cupcakes. You can make strawberry cake push pops. You can also make a fun and festive layer cake…like this one.
Strawberry cake is definitely a versatile party treat!
Ideas for a Strawberry party
If you’re planning a strawberry party, the possibilities are endless. Strawberries naturally lend themselves to playful and whimsical décor, making the theme perfect for birthdays, spring gatherings, berry patch picnics, and summer celebrations. Start by choosing a color palette—classic bright red and green or soft pinks and pastels both work beautifully. Add gingham tablecloths, greenery garlands, berry baskets, and printable signage to create an inviting and cohesive look.
Activities can also tie into the theme. A “decorate your own cupcake” station is a huge hit—especially when paired with strawberry cake batter or pink frosting. You can create a photo backdrop featuring oversized strawberries, balloons, or a simple patch style banner. Serve strawberry lemonade, offer berry themed snacks, and style your dessert table with layered textures for a standout display.
Whether you’re hosting indoors or outside, a strawberry party feels cheerful, sweet, and full of personality. It’s a theme guests love and a setup that photographs beautifully.
If you are planning on throwing a Strawberry themed party…be sure to check out our Berry First Birthday party for inspiration and ideas.
There are tons of fun strawberry party ideas. Here is another strawberry themed party you can check out for inspiration too!
Strawberry Cake Recipe: STEP by STEP
Alright…let’s take a look at how to bake a strawberry cake!
Ingredients:
- 1 package white cake mix
- 1 package (3 ounces) strawberry gelatin
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup sprite
- 1/2 cup miracle whip
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup chopped strawberries (frozen or fresh)
Materials:
- Stand mixer (optional, but highly recommended)
- measuring cups
- Multi sized Springform Layer Cake Pans
These are my recommended materials. These help to make baking easy and also ensure everything turns out perfectly. However, you can totally make them with a hand mixer or the old fashioned way with your whisk…but it will be much faster and much easier with a stand mixer!
Step 1:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Prep pans by rubbing with butter or spraying with non-stick spray. If you are using multiple cake pans that are the same size or a different sized layers, you can prep them together.
If you are reusing the same pan, you will need to re-butter in between each bake.
For a small smash cake, use the smallest size pan (4 inches) and bake three layers.
Step 2:
Place eggs and miracle whip into mixer. Mix on low speed. Add the strawberry gelatin, flour and sugar. Mix until even.
Step 3:
With mixer still on low, add the cake mix and sprite. I have found the best method for doing this to alternate the dry and liquids as you add them in to keep the batter even and smooth.
I start with adding a little cake mix, and then a little sprite and go back and forth until it is all added. Once this is mixed, add the strawberries. You can use either fresh or frozen. I prefer frozen.
Once all ingredients are added, I increase speed for a couple minutes and ensure it is fully mixed. The batter will be a pretty pink color. If you want a darker shade, you can add a little red food coloring
Step 4:
Pour batter into cake pan or paper lined cupcake tins (about 2/3 full).
Bake cake for 25-30 mins (1 layer at a time) or 18-23 mins for thinner layers. Cupcakes will bake 25-27 minute.
Cake is done when it is dry in the middle.
Step 5:
Allow layers to cool. You can use a knife or cake leveler to ensure layers are even once they are cool. Freeze cake layers. I like to place them into gallon size ziplock bags in the freezer overnight.
Step 6:
Using frozen layers, place a small amount of frosting on the top of a cake plate or stand. Place bottom layer on plate. With frosting in a piping bag (with or without a tip) cover the top of the layer with frosting.
I like to start at the outer edge to ensure that the frosting covers the entire layer. Keep in mind, the thicker you make the frosting, the more spread apart the cake layers will be.
Repeat the process with each layer until you have stacked all layers. Frost as desired.
Easy peasy!
Delicious + Easy Strawberry Cake Recipe
Alright...let's take a look at how to bake a strawberry cake!
Ingredients
- 1 package white cake mix
- 1 package (3 ounces) strawberry gelatin
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup sprite
- 1/2 cup miracle whip
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup chopped strawberries (frozen or fresh)
Instructions
Step 1:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Prep pans by rubbing with butter or spraying with non-stick spray. If you are using multiple cake pans that are the same size or a different sized layers, you can prep them together.
If you are reusing the same pan, you will need to re-butter in between each bake.
For a small smash cake, use the smallest size pan (4 inches) and bake three layers.
Step 2:
Place eggs and miracle whip into mixer. Mix on low speed. Add the strawberry gelatin, flour and sugar. Mix until even.
Step 3:
With mixer still on low, add the cake mix and sprite. I have found the best method for doing this to alternate the dry and liquids as you add them in to keep the batter even and smooth.
I start with adding a little cake mix, and then a little sprite and go back and forth until it is all added. Once this is mixed, add the strawberries. You can use either fresh or frozen. I prefer frozen.
Once all ingredients are added, I increase speed for a couple minutes and ensure it is fully mixed. The batter will be a pretty pink color. If you want a darker shade, you can add a little red food coloring
Step 4:
Pour batter into cake pan or paper lined cupcake tins (about 2/3 full).
Bake cake for 25-30 mins (1 layer at a time) or 18-23 mins for thinner layers. Cupcakes will bake 25-27 minute.
Cake is done when it is dry in the middle.
Step 5:
Allow layers to cool. You can use a knife or cake leveler to ensure layers are even once they are cool. Freeze cake layers. I like to place them into gallon size ziplock bags in the freezer overnight.
Step 6:
Using frozen layers, place a small amount of frosting on the top of a cake plate or stand. Place bottom layer on plate. With frosting in a piping bag (with or without a tip) cover the top of the layer with frosting.
I like to start at the outer edge to ensure that the frosting covers the entire layer. Keep in mind, the thicker you make the frosting, the more spread apart the cake layers will be.
Repeat the process with each layer until you have stacked all layers. Frost as desired.
Easy peasy!
Notes
Materials:
- Stand mixer (optional, but highly recommended)
- measuring cups
- Multi sized Springform Layer Cake Pans
These are my recommended materials. These help to make baking easy and also ensure everything turns out perfectly. However, you can totally make them with a hand mixer or the old fashioned way with your whisk…but it will be much faster and much easier with a stand mixer!
How to make a Strawberry Smash Cake: STEP by STEP
So now we will talk about how to take your baked strawberry layers and turn them into a cute smash cake (or large cake) for your party.
Materials:
- Baked strawberry cake layers
- Frosting
- Fondant (Pink, Red, Green)
- Strawberry Cookie Cutter (I used the Strawberry Cutter from this set for this cake)
- Small heart punch
Step 1:
Once you have your cake baked and the layers frozen, it’s time to prep the fondant. You will want red, pink and two shades of green fondant.
You can mix white fondant with dark green fondant or add green food coloring to light green fondant to achieve this if you do not have two shades of green.
Step 2:
Roll out the fondant so that it is about 1/4 inch thick.
First star with the cake topper. Using a strawberry shaped cookie cutter, cut out a green strawberry to use as the base for each strawberry topper. Then cut out the leaves.
Cut out a strawberry “body” in red or pink. Allow all the pieces to dry and harden. Use a few drops of water as glue to attach the strawberry body and leaves to the base. Set aside.
Step 3:
Using the heart punch, cut out 1-2 green hearts per small strawberry you would like to attach to the base of the cake. Set aside to dry.
Roll pink and red fondant balls about 3/4-1 inch in diameter. Slightly pinch one end of the ball so that it resembles a strawberry shape. Set aside to dry for about an hour.
Once the strawberries have hardened partially, use a toothpick, ball point pin or similar item to depress strawberry “seed holes” into the the strawberries.
Step 4:
Using drops of water, attach the green heart leaves to the base of the strawberries. Allow to fully dry.
Step 5:
Arrange the strawberries around the bottom of the frosted cake. Press the flat strawberries into the top of the cake. It is ready to enjoy!
Strawberry Fondant Cake Decorations
So now we will talk about how to take your baked strawberry layers and turn them into a cute smash cake (or large cake) for your party.
Materials
- Baked strawberry cake layers
- Frosting
- Fondant (Pink, Red, Green)
- Strawberry Cookie Cutter (I used the Strawberry Cutter from this set for this cake)
- Small heart punch
Instructions
Step 1:
Once you have your cake baked and the layers frozen, it's time to prep the fondant. You will want red, pink and two shades of green fondant.
You can mix white fondant with dark green fondant or add green food coloring to light green fondant to achieve this if you do not have two shades of green.
Step 2:
Roll out the fondant so that it is about 1/4 inch thick.
First star with the cake topper. Using a strawberry shaped cookie cutter, cut out a green strawberry to use as the base for each strawberry topper. Then cut out the leaves.
Cut out a strawberry "body" in red or pink. Allow all the pieces to dry and harden. Use a few drops of water as glue to attach the strawberry body and leaves to the base. Set aside.
Step 3:
Using the heart punch, cut out 1-2 green hearts per small strawberry you would like to attach to the base of the cake. Set aside to dry.
Roll pink and red fondant balls about 3/4-1 inch in diameter. Slightly pinch one end of the ball so that it resembles a strawberry shape. Set aside to dry for about an hour.
Once the strawberries have hardened partially, use a toothpick, ball point pin or similar item to depress strawberry "seed holes" into the the strawberries.
Step 4:
Using drops of water, attach the green heart leaves to the base of the strawberries. Allow to fully dry.
Step 5:
Arrange the strawberries around the bottom of the frosted cake. Press the flat strawberries into the top of the cake. It is ready to enjoy!
Looking for more ideas for using Strawberry Cupcakes
Strawberry cupcakes are one of the easiest desserts to incorporate into almost any celebration, and they pair perfectly with your homemade strawberry cake. They are portable, adorable, and incredibly simple to style. If you want to add more strawberry flair to your party, cupcakes give you the freedom to mix and match designs without committing to one large cake. Top them with fresh strawberries, pink swirls of frosting, themed toppers, or cute gingham wrappers.
You can also use strawberry cupcakes as a party activity. Set up a cupcake decorating table for kids with sprinkles, small strawberries, and printable cupcake picks. They make great favors when packaged in clear boxes or berry baskets tied with ribbon. Cupcakes are also fantastic for spreading your dessert table throughout the party space—place a few on the food table, add some near the drink station, or display them beside your main strawberry cake for a cohesive and visually stunning layout.
Strawberry cupcakes offer flavor, charm, and versatility—all in one sweet little bundle.
This recipe also works great for simple cupcakes. Frost with some delicious buttercream or cream cheese frosting and boom…instant party favorite!
Strawberry Tableware
One of the easiest ways to elevate your dessert table—especially when serving something as gorgeous as a strawberry cake—is by using themed party ware. Coordinated plates, napkins, cups, and serving pieces instantly add charm while pulling your entire design together. Instead of relying solely on decorations, themed tableware extends your color palette and party vibe into every corner of your celebration. It ensures your guests feel immersed in the theme no matter where they sit or what they pick up to eat.
The best part? Themed party ware is incredibly budget friendly. You do not need elaborate centerpieces or expensive décor when your table settings already showcase adorable strawberry patterns, coordinating colors, and playful details. Even the simplest dessert display becomes Instagram worthy when the plates match the banner, the cups echo your frosting colors, and the napkins bring the whole table to life.
Party ware also keeps your setup stress free. Everything looks cohesive with minimal effort because the design does the work for you. Guests love it, photos turn out beautifully, and your strawberry cake becomes even more eye catching when displayed against a coordinated backdrop. If you want a party essential that adds instant style for very little cost, themed party ware is absolutely a must buy.
Strawberry Tableware from Amazon
Strawberry Partyware from Crafty Parties Co.
Strawberry Tableware from Meri Meri
Strawberry Printables
Wanna throw a Strawberry Party or make a Strawberry Lemonade Stand?
The Instant Download “Berry First Birthday” Strawberry Party Decorations are available for purchase in my shop:
The Printable Strawberry Shortcake Party Decorations are available for purchase in my shop:
Conclusion for Adorable and Delicious Strawberry Cake:
This fantastic strawberry cake recipe is sure to be a hit. Make a delicious strawberry layer cake, cupcakes or a Berry First Birthday Smash cake for your party. I know you will LOVE this recipe and tutorial!
A strawberry cake is one of those desserts that instantly elevates any celebration. It’s beautiful, flavorful, nostalgic, and wonderfully easy to style. Whether you’re hosting a strawberry themed party or simply looking for a dessert that brings a little extra joy to your gathering, this cake delivers the perfect blend of sweetness and charm. The best part about baking a strawberry cake for a party is how effortlessly it complements your décor. The soft pink color looks stunning on a cake stand, surrounded by fresh berries and greenery. It matches every strawberry printable, banner, or party ware design, making it a seamless addition to your celebration.
One of the things hosts appreciate most is how forgiving and versatile the recipe is. It bakes beautifully as a layered cake, transforms easily into cupcakes, and pairs well with countless frosting options—from classic buttercream to fresh strawberry glaze. This flexibility allows you to adapt the recipe to any event, whether you’re styling an elegant dessert table or planning a casual backyard gathering.
A strawberry cake also feels fresh and seasonal without requiring complicated ingredients. The flavor is bright and naturally sweet, giving your guests that homemade, comforting experience. When paired with strawberry cupcakes, berry themed snacks, and charming décor accents, your party becomes a cohesive celebration that feels meaningful and memorable.
If you’re planning a strawberry party, themed party ware is the secret that ties everything together. Coordinated plates, napkins, and cups elevate your cake presentation, enhance your photos, and make the whole party look thoughtfully designed. This simple step helps your strawberry cake stand out while reducing the need for expensive decorations.
Ultimately, this strawberry cake recipe is more than a dessert—it’s a foundation for creating joyful celebrations. Whether you’re mixing up a batch for a birthday, serving slices at a family gathering, or building a dessert table full of berry themed treats, this cake adds beauty, flavor, and heart to your event. With the ideas in this guide, you can confidently style a strawberry party full of whimsical details, delicious treats, and charming touches. The result will be a celebration guests will remember—and a recipe you’ll return to again and again.
If you love this Strawberry Cake Recipe, please pin this image to your baking Pinterest board:
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