Name: Recipe "Strawberry Cake"
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 65 min
Ingredients: 6 tbsp unsalted butter (at room temperature); 1.5 cup all-purpose flour; 1.5 tsp baking powder; 0.5 tsp salt; 1 cup granulated sugar; 1 large egg; 0.5 cup buttermilk; 1 tsp pure vanilla extract; 2 cup strawberries (sliced); 2 tbsp turbinado sugar (for sprinkling on top of cake); whipped cream and extra sliced strawberries (for serving)

A Simple Strawberry Cake That’s Perfect for Spring

I’ve been making this easy strawberry cake every strawberry season since I discovered it. The batter comes together in minutes using basic pantry ingredients, and fresh sliced strawberries go right on top. No layers, no frosting. Just a tender crumb with juicy fruit and a crunchy turbinado sugar crust. It’s like strawberry shortcake in cake form, but even simpler.

Reasons to Love This Fresh Strawberry Cake

The batter takes about 10 minutes to mix, and you don’t need any special equipment beyond a mixer.
Fresh strawberries caramelize on top as the cake bakes, giving it a pretty, glossy finish without any need for frosting.
Buttermilk keeps the crumb extra tender and adds a subtle tang that complements the sweet berries.

Key Ingredients for a Fresh Strawberry Cake

Strawberries: Pick the juiciest, ripest strawberries you can find, they’re the star of this cake.
Buttermilk: Use room-temperature buttermilk for a tender crumb and a slight tang.
Turbinado sugar: Sprinkled on top before baking, it adds a pleasant sugary crunch.

Kitchen Tools for This Strawberry Cake

10-inch springform pan or pie plate (butter it well)
Electric mixer with paddle attachment (or a hand mixer)
Sifter for the dry ingredients

Tips for Making This Homemade Strawberry Cake

Make sure your baking powder is fresh, I replace mine every six months. Room-temperature butter and buttermilk blend more easily into a smooth batter, so set them out about 30 minutes before you start. When arranging the strawberry slices on top, overlap them slightly so they cover the batter evenly; they’ll sink a little as the cake bakes. The turbinado sugar gives a nice crunchy topping, so don’t skip it.

Expert Tips for a Perfect Strawberry Cake

Sifting the flour, baking powder, and salt together aerates the dry ingredients and ensures even leavening. Creaming the butter and sugar for a full three minutes incorporates enough air for a light crumb. The two-stage baking, starting at 350°F for 10 minutes then reducing to 325°F, helps the cake rise without over-browning the fruit on top.

Best Ways to Serve Strawberry Cake

I like to top each wedge with a generous dollop of whipped cream and a few extra sliced strawberries. A scoop of vanilla ice cream works beautifully too, especially on warm days. For a simpler finish, just dust with powdered sugar. This cake fits any occasion, it’s dressed-up enough for Easter brunch or a baby shower, but easy enough for a Tuesday night dessert.

How to Store Leftover Strawberry Cake

Cover the cake loosely with foil or plastic wrap and keep it at room temperature for up to two days. The cake actually gets more moist as it sits, so day-old slices are still delicious. In very warm or humid weather, you can refrigerate it, but note that the fridge will dry the cake out slightly. I prefer to keep it on the counter.

Frequently Asked Questions About Strawberry Cake

Can I use frozen strawberries for this cake?

Fresh strawberries work best. Frozen berries release a lot of liquid as they thaw, which can make the batter soggy and cause the cake to collapse. Stick with fresh, ripe berries for the best texture and flavor.

Can I substitute something for buttermilk?

If you don’t have buttermilk, you can make a quick substitute by whisking 1/2 cup of milk with 1/2 tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar. Let it sit for 5 minutes until it curdles. But real buttermilk gives the most tender crumb and best tang.

How can I tell when the strawberry cake is done?

The cake is done when it’s golden brown on top and firm to the touch in the center. A toothpick inserted into the cake (avoid the strawberries) should come out clean or with a few moist crumbs. If the top is browning too quickly, tent it with foil during the last 15 minutes of baking.

Recipe

Strawberry Cake

This easy strawberry cake is one of our favorite desserts. Serve with whipped cream or ice cream, if desired.

easyVegetarian

15 min

Prep Time

50 min

Cook Time

1 hr 5 min

Total Time

Servings

Dessert

Course

American

Cuisine

353 kcal

Calories

Ingredients

Servings

6 tbsp unsalted butter, at room temperature
1.5 cup all-purpose flour
1.5 tsp baking powder
0.5 tsp salt
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg

0.5 cup buttermilk
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 cup strawberries, sliced
2 tbsp turbinado sugar, for sprinkling on top of cake
whipped cream and extra sliced strawberries, for serving

Instructions

1
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 10-inch springform pan or pie plate. Sift flour, baking powder, and salt together into a medium bowl. Set aside.
2
Put butter and 1 cup sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add in egg, buttermilk, and vanilla extract. Mix until combined.

3
Gradually mix in flour mixture. Transfer batter to prepared pan. Arrange strawberry slices on top of batter. Sprinkle turbinado sugar over berries.
4
Bake cake 10 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees. Bake until cake is golden brown and firm to the touch, about 50-55 minutes. Let cool in pan. To serve, cut into wedges.

Nutrition (per serving)

353kcal

Calorie breakdown

Protein6%23 kcal

Fat25%88 kcal

Carbohydrates69%246 kcal

How this was calculated — 11 of 11 ingredients matched

unsalted butterButter, salted645 kcal

all-purpose flourFlour, wheat, all-purpose, enriched, bleached1318 kcal

baking powderLeavening agents, baking powder, low-sodium7 kcal

saltSalt, table0 kcal

granulated sugarSugars, granulated924 kcal

large eggEgg, whole, raw, fresh1 kcal

buttermilkMilk, buttermilk, fluid, whole74 kcal

pure vanilla extractVanilla extract14 kcal

strawberriesBeverages, Strawberry-flavor beverage mix, powder, prepared with whole milk422 kcal

turbinado sugarSugar, turbinado120 kcal

whipped cream and extra sliced strawberriesCream, sour, cultured2 kcal

Serving size ≈ 134 g · 10 servings

Nutrition information is automatically calculated from USDA FoodData Central, so should only be used as an approximation. Actual values may vary depending on the ingredients, brands, and preparation methods used.

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Keyword: american, dessert, Oven Baked, vegetarian

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