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Japanese strawberry shortcake, aka Japanese Christmas cake, is made of soft, fluffy layers of sponge cake, fresh strawberries, and fresh whipped cream!
Japanese strawberry shortcake is a popular cake in Japan made with soft, fluffy sponge cake, decorated with fresh whipped cream, and fresh strawberries.
In fact this strawberry cream cake is popular in a lot of Asian countries and goes by many names, including Korean strawberry cake, fresh cream cake, and Chinese strawberry cake.
What they all have in common is the strawberry sponge cake is not overly sweet and is filled with fresh fruit. Asian sponge cakes are usually frosted with fresh whipped cream instead of buttercream.
The texture of this fresh strawberry sponge cake is pillowy soft from the cake flour, and extremely fluffy from the beaten egg whites and egg yolks. It’s layered with fresh slices of strawberries and soft whipped cream.
Japanese strawberry sponge cake is an extremely popular cake during Christmas and is appropriately called Japanese Christmas cake or kurisumasu keki (クリスマスケーキ). The red strawberries and white whipped cream resemble the red and white colors of Christmas and the powdered sugar resemble snow.
This is an excellent and easy Christmas cake to make for the holidays! This strawberry sponge is also very easy to decorate with just fresh cream and whole strawberries.
Why this recipe works
- The fresh strawberry sponge cake is extra fluffy and soft because the egg yolks and egg whites are beaten separately to add extra volume.
- Plain sponge cake can be made ahead and frozen. Simply thaw the cake sheets in the fridge before adding strawberries and whipped cream.
- Instead of butter, oil is added to this cake to add more moisture. Butter can contain up to 18% water which makes oil a better ingredient for this cake.
- You can change the fruit to make this a versatile base for any kind of flavored sponge cake!
- A lot of recipes for fresh strawberry cake call for strawberry puree in the batter, but I prefer keeping the strawberries fresh instead of cooking them. Cooking the strawberries in the cake causes it to lose some of its flavor. Fresh strawberries add the most flavor.
Ingredients you’ll need
- Cake flour – avoid using all purpose flour; cake flour gives this a soft, fluffy texture
- Eggs – I used large eggs which weigh around 60 grams
- Vegetable oil – use a neutral oil such as avocado oil
- Make sure to thoroughly dry the strawberries after washing them. This will help the strawberries stay fresh inside the cake layers.
Step by step instructions
- Beat the egg yolks, sugar, salt, honey or corn syrup, vanilla, and water together until it becomes fluffy and a pale yellow color. The batter should form a ribbon when dropped from the whisk.
- The egg whites should be beaten to firm peaks, meaning the tips should fall but the meringue should hold its shape. Over beating the egg whites will result in a lumpy cake.
- Add half of the egg whites to the egg yolk mixture and gently fold it, being careful not to deflate the egg white meringue.
- Next, add the cake flour and baking powder to a fine mesh sieve and sift it into the egg white and egg yolk mixture. Add in the oil by first mixing it with 2 Tablespoons of the mixture and then gently fold in the remaining half of the egg white meringue.
- Bake them at 350 degrees F in parchment lined cake pans until golden brown on top and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Slice even layers and brush on the sugar syrup on all layers.
- Add the whipped cream then add the strawberry slices on top. Cover the strawberries with another layer of whipped cream and add on a sponge cake layer. Keep repeating until you’ve used up all your cake layers.
- Frost the top and sides of the cake with whipped cream and decorate with whole strawberries. Dust the top with powdered sugar if desired and serve immediately.
Expert tips & tricks
- Make sure your strawberries are thoroughly dried before adding them to the cake. This helps the strawberries stay fresh and keeps the cake from getting too soggy. It also prevents strawberry juice from bleeding out into the whipped cream.
- When combining the whipped egg yolks and egg whites, use a folding motion with your spatula while rotating the bowl.
- Be sure the sponge cake is completely cooled before slicing as this will help you get the smoothest, most even layers possible.
- Start with cold heavy cream. Whip the heavy cream on medium speed to get the smoothest, fluffiest whipped cream topping. Over whipping the cream will result in a grainy texture to the frosting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Japanese strawberry shortcake is made with a light, fluffy sponge cake as the base, whereas in the US, it’s made with biscuits or a more dense cake.
In the US version, shortcakes are halved and topped with macerated strawberries and whipped cream. The Japanese version is more similar to a fresh strawberry sponge cake that’s layered with whipped cream.
You can store this cake in the fridge for up to two days before the strawberries start to get soggy.
If you need to make this ahead of time, I recommend making the sponge cake and freezing in an airtight container it until it’s ready to decorate. Let the sponge cake thaw in the fridge or at room temperature and be sure it’s completely thawed before applying any whipped cream.
Japanese Christmas cake, also called kurisumasu keki (クリスマスケーキ) is typically eaten on Christmas Eve with friends and family. It’s called a Christmas cake because it’s decorated with strawberries and whipped cream to resemble the red and white colors of Christmas.
More dessert recipes:
Japanese Strawberry Shortcake | Japanese Christmas Cake
Ingredients
- 8 oz strawberries, washed and dried
Dry Ingredients:
- ½ cup cake flour , (65g) sifted
- ¼ cup white sugar , (44g) for egg yolks
- 2 ½ Tablespoons white sugar , (37g) for egg whites
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- ⅛ teaspoon salt, (½ g)
Wet Ingredients:
- 3 large eggs , whites and yolks separated
- 2 ½ Tablespoons avocado oil, (31g) substitute with neutral vegetable oil
- 1 Tablespoon water, (12g)
- 1 teaspoon corn syrup, (6g) substitute with honey
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract
Whipped cream frosting:
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream, – should be cold
- 6 to 8 Tablespoons powdered sugar, – add more or less depending on taste
Cake syrup:
- 3 Tablespoons sugar
- ⅓ cup hot water
Instructions
Egg Yolk Mixture:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a medium bowl, add together egg yolks, ¼ cup of sugar, salt, corn syrup, vanilla, and water. Beat on high with a stand mixer or hand mixer until fluffy and pale yellow with ribbons form when lifting the whisk. Set aside.
Egg White Meringue:
- In a large bowl, add the egg whites and beat on high until it starts to get foamy. Start adding the 2½ tablespoons of sugar in three equal parts, beating each time to incorporate. Beat the egg whites on high until firm peaks form. When lifting the whisk from the bowl, the meringue should hold its shape while the tip drops slightly.
Batter:
- Add ½ of the egg white meringue to the egg yolk mixture and gently fold it in until it's mostly mixed in. This should be light and airy. Next, sift the flour and baking powder into the yolk and meringue mixture in three equal parts, gently folding after each time.
- Take out 2 Tablespoons of the combined batter from the previous step and mix this with the oil until it's not longer separated. Gently fold the oil mixture into the batter. Next, add the remaining half of the egg white meringue by gently folding it in.
Bake:
- Pour the batter into a round cake pan lined with parchment paper. You can use one 8 inch pan or two 6 inch pans. Bang the pan twice on a flat surface to remove large air bubbles. Bake at 350 degrees F until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. About 15 minutes for two 6 inch pans or 23 to 25 minutes for one 8 inch pan.
- Remove the cake from the pan and remove the parchment paper. Let it cool on a cooling rack.
Slice and Decorate:
- Add the cold heavy cream and powdered sugar into a large mixing bowl and beat it on medium speed until you get medium peaks. Watch it carefully and stop the mixer before it becomes grainy. See Note 2.
- Slice the cake into even layers. See Note 3 for how to slice even layers. Make the sugar syrup by dissolving the sugar in the hot water. Then, brush on even amounts of the sugar syrup onto all the layers, including the top layer.Cut half of the strawberries into thick slices for the inner layer. Leave the other half whole to decorate the top of the cake.
- Apply a layer of cream to the cake sheet and then top it with sliced strawberries. Add another layer of cream on top of the strawberries and followed by another layer of cake. Repeat as necessary. Next, frost the top and sides of the cake with whipped cream and decorate as desired. Place whole strawberries on top of the cake, sprinkled with powdered sugar. Serve immediately.
Notes
- You can use one 8 inch cake pan or two 6 inch cake pans. Avoid using nonstick pans as the coating prevents the sponge cake from fully rising.
- Medium peaks – the whipped cream should be soft but hold its shape when the whisk is lifted from the bowl. The top of the peak should fall over but the body will retain its shape. The texture should be smooth with no graininess. Whipping too much will result in a grainy, lumpy texture and you may start to see cracks in the cream which indicate separation.
- Slice even layers: First, you want to use a sharp, serrated knife. Next, I prefer to use this cake slicer attachment that works well. Otherwise, you can use toothpicks to mark where you want to cut the layers. Pierce the toothpicks all around the cake and use that as a guide for your knife. Avoid using wire cutter cake levelers as the sponge cake too soft for that tool.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Like this? Leave a comment below!
Hi! I love this recipe it tasted so good but my sponge cake sunk after I took it out from the oven… do you know what I can do to prevent this from happening next time? (I whipped the meringue until it was stiff and when i added it into the main batter I made sure it was well incorporated). Would really appreciate a reply! 🙂
Hi Oliver! I’m glad you liked the taste of the sponge cake. As for trouble shooting, sponge cakes can sink for a number of reasons ranging from oven temperature, baking time, ingredients, and the batter. Did it seem undercooked in the middle? A few things you can do is calibrate your oven or use an oven thermometer to check for correct temperature. I hope that helps!
Probably the most delicious cake I’ve ever baked! Thank you so much for sharing this delicious beautiful cake!
Thanks Sofia! So happy you enjoyed this!
Which brand of whipped cream do you use for frosting? I always have problem
Hi Ling! I use heavy whipping cream, usually Horizon Organic or Organic Valley but I’ve made this with other brands of whipping cream with no problem. The most important thing is to not over whip the cream. Once it starts getting grainy looking, you’ll lose that smooth appearance. I usually whip the cream on medium speed, never high speed because it’s very easy to over whip. Hope that helps!
It looks incredibly delicious. I wish this were in front of me.
Wow, this recipe is amazing!! I have been searching for cake flour for so long and it was worth it to make this cake! It was so soft and fluffy and looked beautiful with the red strawberries and whipped cream.
Thanks Kathy! The cake flour makes the sponge cake layer extra fluffy so it’s definitely worth finding. 🙂 So happy you loved this recipe!
This cake was so light and fluffy. I made it for my family and it was gone so fast! Planning to make this as a Christmas cake too! Thanks so much!
Thanks Danielle! So glad your family loved it! It’s great as a Christmas cake and it’s tradition in our family to have this for the holidays!
This is the most beautiful shortcake I have ever seen. Looks so festive, and now I need a slice.
Thanks Adriana! Hope you enjoy this for the holidays! 🙂
What an absolutely gorgeous shortcake! Perfect for the holidays or even Valentine’s Day. I can’t wait to make this!
Thanks Wayne! This would be great as a Valentine’s Day cake! Great idea! 🙂
This cake is so impressive with those fluffy sponge layers!!! Perfect for holidays ?
What a beautiful cake. I have been looking for a new cake recipe for Christmas this year and this looks perfect! I can see why it’s called Japanese Christmas cake!
Thanks Cyndy! The red and white colors definitely remind me of the holidays. Hope you enjoy this for Christmas!
I always wanted to make this strawberry cake for Christmas. This year is my chance to give it a try! It looks so festive; I love it!
Do give this a try for Christmas! It’s a favorite in our house! 🙂
This looks so delicious and tasty! I’ve had Japanese strawberry shortcake when visiting Japan and loved it! I can’t wait to give this recipe a try! My family is going to love this!
Thanks Miranda! You can also make this as a Christmas cake as that’s common in Japan this time of year. 🙂
I remember having this cake many years ago and wishing I could make it. Now I can!! Im so excited!
What a beautiful cake for the holidays! The sponge cake looks so moist and the whipped cream frosting looks so delicious!
This is the prettiest cake ever! I’ve seen Japanese strawberry shortcake in Asian bakeries but never knew how to make it until now! I can see why it’s so popular! So moist and tasty!
Perfect holiday treat! Strawberry sponge cake is such a gorgeous cake for Christmas! It’s so festive!
Thank you! We’ve been serving this cake on Christmas Eve for years so it is indeed great for the holidays! 🙂
Wow – what a showstopper of a dessert! Light and fluffy and simply decadent!
Thanks Shashi! Hope you enjoy it!
I got drawn in by your picture of this cake – so light and fluffy looking. I think the contrast of strawberries against the pure white of the frosting looks very impressive and yet, having looked at your recipe, it sounds very straightforward and achievable. Making this soon!
This cake looks absolutely amazing!! It seems like it’s so light and fluffy! I cannot wait to try this as part of my Thanksgiving spread next week!
I was so excited to make this as soon as I saw the recipe! I had all of the ingredients in the pantry, and I made it this morning. Cake for breakfast is a good idea, if you ask me! 🙂 This recipe is absolutely delicious. I really appreciated all of your process shots and helpful tips along the way. This cake will feature on our Thanksgiving table too! Thank you for the great recipe.
Thanks Marianne! I’m so happy to hear you loved this strawberry sponge cake! That’s a great idea serving it for Thanksgiving. It’s also popular to serve as a Japanese Christmas cake too during the holidays! 🙂
Not as sweet as usual American treats, and it was good enough for people to eat even if they dont like cake. Is there any way to subsitute the egg? I have someone allergic to egg but i dont want them to feel left out