BY DIANA RATTRAY
THE SPRUCE
This easy strawberry cake (or cupcakes) starts with a white cake mix and a box of strawberry gelatin. Fresh strawberries help to flavor the cake and the creamy frosting. Use fresh or frozen thawed strawberries in this recipe.
The gussied-up cake mix makes a beautiful cake or cupcakes, and it is perfect for a spring party or weekend dessert.
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What You'll Need
1 package white cake mix (I used a yellow mix)
1 package (3 ounces) strawberry-flavored gelatin powder
1/2 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs, lightly beaten
1/4 cup water
3/4 cup mashed strawberries
Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting:
1/4 cup butter, room temperature
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
4 tablespoons mashed or pureed strawberries
5 to 6 cups confectioners' sugar
How to Make It
- Heat the oven to 350 F (180 C/Gas 4).
- Grease and flour two 8- or 9-inch round cake pans or two 12-cup muffin pans with cupcake liners.
- [post_ads]Combine the cake mix and gelatin powder in a large bowl.
- Beat in the vegetable oil, eggs, water, and 3/4 cup of strawberries.
- Divide the batter between the two prepared cake pans or among the lined muffin pans.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes for cake or about 18 to 20 minutes for cupcakes, or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
- Cool the cake or cupcakes in the pan on racks for about 10 minutes. Remove from the pans to the racks to cool completely.
- For the frosting, beat the butter and cream cheese in a mixing bowl with an electric mixer until smooth.
- Add the 1/4 cup of mashed or pureed strawberries and about 5 cups of confectioners' sugar. Beat until smooth and creamy. Add more confectioners' sugar, if needed to thicken.
- Spread the frosting between cake layers and then frost the top and sides of the cake. Or spread or pipe the frosting onto the cupcakes.
Note: The original recipe called for 1 cup of oil. I had some very good feedback on that recipe and a few who thought it was too oily or too moist. I made the recipe pictured with 1/2 cup of oil and used a cream cheese icing with some of the pureed strawberries for color and flavor.
Tips and Variations
- If you have extra strawberry puree, brush a little over the layers before frosting the cake.
- To make the frosting with less sugar, cut back on the mashed or pureed strawberries.
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