Strawberry Butter Cake with Cream Cheese Filling Recipe
The Strawberry Butter Cake with Cream Cheese Filling Recipe is a delightful, mouthwatering dessert that perfectly balances tender, buttery cake with the tangy sweetness of cream cheese and vibrant strawberry flavors. This cake boasts a moist, rich texture infused with real freeze-dried strawberries, creating bursts of berry goodness in every bite. Whether you’re baking for a special occasion or just treating yourself, this recipe is a fantastic way to impress with layers of luscious cream cheese filling and fresh fruity notes wrapped in a tender crumb.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Gathering simple yet essential ingredients is the key to making this Strawberry Butter Cake with Cream Cheese Filling Recipe a success. Each item plays a specific role from the buttery richness to the strawberry bursts of flavor, delivering a cake that’s not only delicious but visually inviting.
- All-purpose flour: The foundational structure of the cake, providing the perfect crumb.
- Baking powder: Helps the cake rise beautifully and stay fluffy.
- Kosher salt: Balances sweetness and enhances the overall flavor.
- Sugar: Sweetens the cake and adds tenderness.
- Salted butter, melted: Adds rich moisture and depth of flavor.
- Large egg and egg yolk: Provide stability and creaminess to the batter.
- Vanilla extract: Brings warmth and rounds out the flavors.
- Freeze-dried strawberries: Concentrated bursts of strawberry flavor and natural color.
- Cream cheese, softened: Creates the luscious, tangy filling that pairs perfectly with the cake.
- Powdered sugar: Sweetens and smooths the cream cheese filling.
- Strawberry preserves: Adds an extra fruity layer and slight texture variation.
How to Make Strawberry Butter Cake with Cream Cheese Filling Recipe
Step 1: Preheat and Prepare Your Pan
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9-inch round cake pan to ensure your cake bakes evenly and unmolds without sticking. This small prep step is essential for a smooth baking process.
Step 2: Mix Your Dry Ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and kosher salt. This blends your leavening agent and salt evenly throughout the flour, which helps the cake rise uniformly and enhances flavor balance.
Step 3: Combine Wet Ingredients
In a large bowl, whisk sugar and melted butter until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Then add your egg, egg yolk, and vanilla extract, mixing until everything comes together. This mixture will give your cake a rich, tender crumb.
Step 4: Gently Add the Dry Ingredients
Slowly incorporate the flour mixture into your wet ingredients. Mix just until combined to avoid overworking the batter, which could make your cake dense instead of light and fluffy.
Step 5: Fold in Freeze-Dried Strawberries
Crush the freeze-dried strawberries until finely broken down using a food processor or by hand. Carefully fold these into your batter for real strawberry flavor bursts in every bite, enhancing both aroma and color beautifully.
Step 6: Bake to Perfection
Pour your batter into the prepared cake pan and bake for 25-30 minutes. You’ll know it’s done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool completely before moving on — patience here pays off!
Step 7: Make the Cream Cheese Filling
Beat softened cream cheese in a mixing bowl until silky smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar, continuing to beat until the mixture is light and fluffy, setting the stage for a luscious filling.
Step 8: Add Egg and Strawberry Preserves
Mix in one egg and the strawberry preserves into the cream cheese mixture. This step adds richness and a sweet, fruity twist that lifts the filling from ordinary to extraordinary.
Step 9: Incorporate More Freeze-Dried Strawberries
Crush or grind an additional half cup of freeze-dried strawberries and fold them gently into your filling. These little strawberry fragments add delightful texture and intensified berry flavor.
Step 10: Assemble the Cake
Once the cake has cooled completely, spread the strawberry cream cheese filling evenly over the top. This generous layer not only adds moisture but also packs the flavor punch that makes this cake truly unforgettable.
How to Serve Strawberry Butter Cake with Cream Cheese Filling Recipe
Garnishes
Fresh strawberries sliced on top complement the cake’s strawberry essence, lending a juicy freshness. A sprinkling of powdered sugar or a few mint leaves can add a lovely visual contrast and inviting aroma.
Side Dishes
Pairing your strawberry butter cake with a simple scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream amplifies the indulgence. Fresh berries or a light berry sauce are also wonderful companions that enhance the fruity notes of the dessert.
Creative Ways to Present
For elegant gatherings, serve the cake on a beautiful cake stand and slice into generous wedges. Layering the cake with additional strawberry preserves between slices or piping the cream cheese filling for a professional finish can elevate your presentation game.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Keep your Strawberry Butter Cake with Cream Cheese Filling in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. This preserves the freshness of the cream cheese filling and the moistness of the cake.
Freezing
Wrap the cake tightly in plastic wrap and then foil if you want to freeze leftovers. You can store it in the freezer for up to two months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator for best texture and taste.
Reheating
Because of its cream cheese filling, it’s best enjoyed chilled or at room temperature. If you prefer it warmer, bring it to room temperature before serving but avoid microwaving as it can alter the filling’s texture.
FAQs
Can I use fresh strawberries instead of freeze-dried?
Fresh strawberries have more moisture, which could change the cake’s texture. Freeze-dried strawberries provide concentrated flavor without adding liquid, so it’s best to stick with those for this recipe.
Is it okay to substitute cream cheese with mascarpone?
Mascarpone can be a substitute for cream cheese but expect a slightly less tangy and richer filling. It will work but the flavor profile will be a bit different.
Can this cake be made gluten-free?
You can substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend, but be sure it contains xanthan gum or another binder to keep the cake’s texture tender and moist.
Why is the egg added to the cream cheese filling?
The egg adds richness and helps bind the filling, giving it a silky, smooth texture that nicely contrasts with the fluffy cake layers.
Can I make cupcakes instead of a cake?
Absolutely! Just adjust the baking time accordingly, usually around 18-22 minutes, and you’ll have individual Strawberry Butter Cupcakes with Delightful Cream Cheese Filling.
Final Thoughts
This Strawberry Butter Cake with Cream Cheese Filling Recipe is truly one of those desserts that feels like a warm hug from the inside out. Every forkful offers a perfect balance of fruity bursts, buttery tenderness, and creamy sweetness. I can’t wait for you to try it and watch it become one of your absolute favorites too!
Print
Strawberry Butter Cake with Cream Cheese Filling Recipe
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
Description
This Strawberry Butter Cake is a delightful and moist dessert featuring a tender butter-based cake studded with freeze-dried strawberries and topped with a luscious strawberry cream cheese filling. Perfect for summer gatherings or special occasions, this cake combines rich buttery flavors with the bright, tangy taste of strawberries to create an irresistible treat.
Ingredients
Cake
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 1/4 cups sugar
- 14 tablespoons salted butter, melted
- 1 large egg
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 oz freeze-dried strawberries
Filling
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons strawberry preserves
- 1/2 cup freeze-dried strawberries
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9-inch round cake pan to ensure the cake doesn’t stick during baking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and kosher salt. Set aside this mixture for later.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the sugar and melted butter until smooth. Add the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla extract, mixing until well combined.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring gently until just combined. Take care not to overmix to keep the cake tender.
- Add Freeze-Dried Strawberries: Crush or grind the freeze-dried strawberries into smaller pieces using a food processor or your hands. Fold them into the batter gently for even strawberry flavor distribution.
- Bake: Pour the prepared batter into the greased and floured cake pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool completely before proceeding.
- Prepare the Filling: In a mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar while continuing to beat until the mixture is fluffy and well combined.
- Add the Egg and Preserves: Beat in the large egg and strawberry preserves to the cream cheese mixture until fully incorporated, creating a rich and flavorful filling.
- Incorporate Freeze-Dried Strawberries: Crush or grind the 1/2 cup of freeze-dried strawberries and fold them into the cream cheese filling for added texture and strawberry bursts.
- Assemble the Cake: Once the cake has cooled, spread the strawberry cream cheese filling evenly over the top of the cake. Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to enjoy.
Notes
- Ensure the cake is completely cool before applying the filling to prevent it from melting or sliding off.
- If freeze-dried strawberries are not available, finely chopped fresh strawberries can be used but may add moisture to the batter.
- For best results, use room temperature ingredients to ensure smooth batter and filling consistency.
- The cake can be stored covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American