This fresh strawberry cake is full of strawberry flavor! Soft layers of sponge cake are sandwiched between fluffy whipped cream and heaps of fresh strawberries! It's a beautiful strawberry layer cake everyone will love, especially during the summer!
This fresh strawberry cake is the best way to enjoy sweet, ripe strawberries! Strawberries with whipped cream are the best combination, in my opinion, but it's even better when served with soft, light-as-air sponge cake.
The strawberry flavor shines through in this cake by leaving the strawberries fresh and unheated. Fresh strawberries are the star of this layer cake, so be sure to get sweet, juicy strawberries at their peak.
Serve this strawberry cake for birthdays, Easter, summer gatherings, or holidays. Sprinkle powdered sugar on top for a festive look and serve as a Christmas cake.
Strawberry Cake Ingredients
- Cake flour - Cake flour produces a soft, light sponge cake that's the perfect texture for this strawberry cake.
- Eggs - I used large room temperature eggs.
- Vegetable oil - Use any neutral vegetable oil. This adds moisture and richness to the cake.
- Sugar - Use granulated white sugar.
- Vanilla - Use good quality vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste.
- Strawberries - Dry the strawberries very well to help the cake stay fresh for longer.
- Heavy whipping cream - Use a high-fat whipping cream for the best results.
Step by Step Photos
Steps 1 - 3: Start by beating the eggs, sugar, vanilla, salt, honey, and water in a large mixing bowl. The egg mixture should triple in volume and be light and fluffy.
Step 4: Check to see if the ribbon stage is achieved: lift the whisk and check if thick ribbons flow down and keep their shape for 3 to 4 seconds.
Step 5: Sift in the cake flour in 3 stages, gently folding after each time.
Step 6: Add the vegetable oil to the batter. Tip: to help incorporate the oil better, mix three heaping spoonfuls of batter with the oil before adding it in.
Pour the batter into two 6-inch cake pans lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350 degrees F until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Let the sponge cake completely cool on a wire rack before slicing it into even layers.
Brush the bottom layer of the cake with cake syrup, then spread on a layer of whipped cream. Top with strawberries sliced to even thickness. Repeat with the other cake layers.
Decorate the top with more whipped cream and add fresh strawberries. Serve this strawberry cake within 2 days for the best flavor. Enjoy and happy baking!
Strawberry Cake Tips
More recipes:
Recipe
Fresh Strawberry Cake
☑ Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 1 cup cake flour
- ⅞ cup white sugar
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 6 eggs
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil
- 2 tablespoons water
- 2 teaspoons honey - or agave
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Strawberries & Whipped Cream
- 3 cups strawberries - wash & dried well
- 2 ½ cups heavy whipping cream
- ½ to ⅔ cup powdered sugar - adjust to taste
Cake Syrup (Optional but recommended)
- ½ cup hot water
- 5 tablespoons sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line the bottom and sides of the cake pan with parchment paper. I used two 6-inch cake pans.
Make the Cake
- Whip the eggs: Using a stand mixer or hand mixer with a whisk attachment, beat the eggs, sugar, salt, water, honey, and vanilla together on high speed until soft, fluffy, and pale yellow, about 8 to 10 minutes. The volume should have tripled. Lift the whisk and check for ribbons that flow down and keep their shape for 3 to 4 seconds.⅞ cup white sugar, ¼ teaspoon salt, 6 eggs, 2 tablespoons water, 2 teaspoons honey, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Add dry ingredients and oil: Sift the cake flour and baking powder into the egg mixture in three parts, gently folding each time. Next, add the vegetable oil. Tip: To help incorporate the oil better, mix a few spoonfuls of the batter with the oil before adding it in.1 cup cake flour, ½ teaspoon baking powder, ⅓ cup vegetable oil
- Bake: Line two 6-inch cake pans with parchment paper along the sides and bottom. Pour in the batter and bang the pan twice to remove large air bubbles. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and the crust is golden brown with a raised center, about 27 to 30 minutes. See Notes section for additional baking times.
- Cool: Remove all the parchment paper and allow the cakes to cool completely on a cooling rack.
Whipped Cream
- Add the cold heavy whipping cream and powdered sugar into a large bowl. Beat on medium-high speed until soft and fluffy. Avoid over mixing as it can lead to graininess.2 ½ cups heavy whipping cream, ½ to ⅔ cup powdered sugar
Prep the strawberries
- Wash and dry the strawberries very well. Slice the strawberries into ⅓-inch to ½-inch slices while leaving some whole or halved for topping the cake.3 cups strawberries
Assemble
- Cake syrup: Dissolve the sugar in hot water. Set aside.5 tablespoons sugar, ½ cup hot water
- Slice the cake: Slice even layers using a cake leveler. I cut each 6-inch cake into three layers to make two 3-layer cakes.
- Assemble: Working with the bottom cake layer, brush on the cake syrup (if using), add a layer of whipped cream, and top with strawberry slices. Repeat the same for the remaining cake layers. I recommend using no more than 3 layers per cake. Top the cake with whole or halved strawberries. Serve and enjoy!
✎ Recipe Notes
- Two 6-inch pans: about 27 to 30 minutes
- Three 6-inch pans: about 18 minutes
- Four 6-inch pans: 15 to 16 minutes
- 9x13 inch pan: about 18 minutes
- The most likely reason is improperly beating the egg whites. It's very easy to over or under-beat egg whites. Over-beaten egg whites will look grainy and lumpy.
- Old or expired baking powder. Check the dates on your ingredients.
- Baking temperatures can also affect the rise of sponge cakes. It's important not to open the oven as the temperature drop can cause the sponge cake to collapse and deflate. Use an oven thermometer or calibrate your oven if not done recently.
Nutrition
*Nutritional information is an estimate, calculated using online tools.
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Katherine
I love this strawberry cake, it is so pretty and really delicious!
So yummy!
Ashley
I love all of the pretty layers! This cake looks almost too beautiful to eat...almost! 🙂
Kerri
I love strawberry cake and this recipe is so delish! My mom already had one very similar but this one might be better than hers (don't tell her I said that 😂)
Dana
What a delightful cake recipe this is! So fresh and loaded with flavors. An absolute treat for strawberry lovers. The sponge cake is just perfect!
Melissa
Such a gorgeous cake! The texture is absolutely perfect and I love the layering with the strawberries and whipped cream.
Miquela
What would I do if I wanted to do this ina 9" round?
Karen
LOVED this! I made it with the cake syrup as the blog post recommended and I was glad I did. It really took things over the edge. The cake turned out perfectly moist and tasty and was soooo pretty! Will make again.
Danielle
Mine didn't turn out as pretty as yours but it was so light and fluffy! It reminded me of strawberry shortcake. My cake turned out super soft!
Amy
I really loved this cake, the fresh strawberries add so much flavour!
Veronika
This is the perfect summer cake! Nothing beats the flavor of fresh strawberries, especially with whipped cream and light fluffy cake.
Shareba
This is such a beautiful cake! A great way to show off fresh summer strawberries.
LaKita
This strawberry cake looks so fluffy and delicious! I will definitely be saving it to make during Florida's fresh strawberry season 🙂
Enri Lemoine
By February, Florida strawberries will be at their peak. I'm saving this recipe for Valentine's! I love your picture and the elegant presentation of your cake.
Colleen
Strawberry shortcake is my daughter's favorite dessert, so I made this cake for her birthday. She was delighted. Thank you!
Mahy
This strawberry cake is amazing! I love how cute it is, and it tastes delicious!
Carrie
Turned out absolutely delicious for my family gathering. It was a hit for sure!
Dana
This turned out SO good and it was SO pretty! I felt bad cutting into it but, no regrets. Lol.
Elizabeth
Mmmm . . . this is right up my alley! This looks delicious. Thanks for all the fabulous step by step pics.
kushigalu
WOW! This strawberry cake looks gorgeous. Pinned to try your recipe soon.
Tara
Such a gorgeous cake!! The strawberries are perfect paired with the light texture of the sponge cake. So good!