Ultra-Pink Strawberry Layer Cake
A soft, ultra-pink layer cake made with boxed mix and real strawberry puree, featuring cream cheese frosting with extra strawberry flavor, perfect for celebrations.
Ingredients
Cake Base
- 1 box 18.25-ounce box white cake mix
- 1 box 3-ounce box strawberry-flavored instant gelatin e.g., Jell-O
- 1 package 15-ounce package frozen strawberries in syrup, thawed and pureed Reserve 1/4 cup for frosting
- 4 large eggs Room temperature helps lift
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1/4 cup water
Frosting
- 1/4 cup butter Softened
- 1 package 8-ounce cream cheese Softened
- 1/2 teaspoon strawberry extract Optional but boosts flavor
- 7 cups confectioners’ sugar Adjust for desired frosting sweetness/texture
- Freshly sliced strawberries For garnish (optional)
Instructions
Preparation
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease two 9-inch round cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment if you like.
- In a large bowl, whisk the white cake mix and the strawberry gelatin together to combine.
- Add the pureed strawberries, eggs, vegetable oil, and water to the dry mix. Beat on medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth and uniform. Scrape the bowl once so everything is incorporated.
- Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans. Smooth the tops with a spatula.
- Bake for about 20 minutes, or until a wooden pick comes out clean from the center. Ovens vary, so begin checking at 18 minutes.
- Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes. Run a knife around the edges, invert them onto wire racks, and cool completely.
Frosting
- In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and cream cheese on medium speed until creamy and lump-free.
- Beat in 1/4 cup of the reserved strawberry puree and the 1/2 teaspoon strawberry extract. Gradually add the confectioners’ sugar, about 1 cup at a time, beating until smooth and spreadable. Stop when you reach your preferred sweetness and thickness.
- If needed, chill the frosting briefly (10–15 minutes) to firm it before spreading.
Assembly
- Place one cooled cake layer on a serving plate. Spread an even layer of frosting, top with the second layer, and frost the top and sides. Garnish with fresh sliced strawberries if desired.
Notes
The cake can be served slightly chilled or at cool room temperature. For best results, store in the refrigerator due to the cream cheese frosting. You can freeze unfrosted layers for up to 2 months.