Vanilla Cake with Strawberry Filling is light, fresh and only needs 5 ingredients. Made with fresh strawberries and cake mix, this easy recipe will help you indulge in summer flavors all year long.
Vanilla Cake with Strawberry Filling is moist and fluffy with just the right amount of sweetness. Fresh strawberries are sure to be a crowd-pleaser with this tender cake recipe. The delicious strawberry filling adds a lovely tartness that compliments the fluffy vanilla cake perfectly.
Cake mix is a quick and efficient way to make dessert for your next gathering. Vanilla Cake with Strawberry Filling, similar to the classic strawberry shortcake that has evolved over the years, is the perfect dessert for spring and summer. Although, the best part is since you use strawberry filling, you don’t have to wait until strawberry season to make this cake.
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What We Love About This Recipe
- Easy Ingredients: This recipe uses vanilla cake mix and only requires 5 simple ingredients to make.
- Family Friendly: Even the picky eaters in the family will love this sweet mix of vanilla, strawberries, and icing.
- Adaptable: Can switch out the vanilla cake mix for chocolate for a decadent dessert resembling chocolate covered strawberries.
Ingredient Notes
- Box Cake Mix: 1 (15.25 ounce) vanilla cake mix, or use chocolate cake or white cake mix
- Applesauce: Replaces oil or butter to reduce calories and keep cake moist
- Strawberry Pie Filling: Do not add sugar, the sweetness from the cake balances the tartness
Variations and Substitutions
- Vanilla Icing – For a richer flavor, substitute vanilla buttercream or cream cheese icing, strawberry buttercream or strawberry cream cheese frosting
- Strawberry Pie Filling- Make your own homemade strawberry filling on the stove in 10 minutes with strawberries, lemon juice, cornstarch, water and sugar in a small saucepan
How to Make Vanilla Strawberry Cake
These are the basic steps for making Vanilla Strawberry Cake. Please refer to the recipe card below for more detailed instructions.
STEP 1: PREP
First, preheat the oven and grease a non-stick Bundt pan. Then, using an electric mixer or by hand, combine entire box of cake mix and the applesauce in a medium mixing bowl. This should take about 1-2 minutes.
STEP 2: LAYER
Scoop half the contents of the bowl into the Bundt pan and smooth the surface with a spatula. Top this cake batter with the strawberry pie filling. Cover the strawberry cake filling with the batter remaining in the bowl.
STEP 3: BAKE
Bake for 35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Meanwhile, clean the strawberries and remove the tops with a knife, slicing if preferred. Let the cake cool completely before flipping it onto a wire rack, cake board or serving plate.
STEP 4: DECORATE
With a spatula, ice the entire outside of the cake (don’t forget the sides of the cake) until the surface is smooth. Place desired amount of strawberries in the center of the layer cake.
Prep and Storage Tips
HOW TO MAKE THIS RECIPE AHEAD OF TIME
You can make this cake a day or two in advance, however, you should wait to decorate until close to serving time. This keeps the icing fresh in its own container and prevents extra moisture in the cake from the strawberries.
HOW TO STORE THIS RECIPE
Store this cake in an airtight container to keep it moist. Keep strawberries separate to prevent the cake from becoming soggy. Refrigerate the cake for up to a week.
HOW TO FREEZE THIS RECIPE
Freeze the cake in an airtight container for up to three months, using fresh strawberries when the cake is thawed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Use whole strawberries instead of sliced strawberries to keep them from sweating on top of the cake. Alternately, put strawberries in their own container when refrigerated, and wait to put them on the cake until you are ready to serve.
Yes, you can make a strawberry jam cake. Make a half-inch indent in the first layer of batter for best results and spread your strawberry jam. Make sure to cover the jam completely with the next layer of batter.
Raspberries complement this easy strawberry cake well and can be put in the center with the strawberries.
Expert Tips for Making Vanilla Cake with Strawberry Filling
- Double Cake Flavors: Use half a box of cake mix and one cup of applesauce for for each of the cake layers. Try chocolate for the first layer and vanilla for the second cake layer, or strawberry for extra flavor. The beautiful layers of this perfect cake will wow your guests.
- Frosting: Substitute strawberry cream frosting for the ultimate strawberry cake.
- Double the Recipe: This easy and low ingredient recipe can easily be doubled for your next event. With only 5 ingredients, doubling this recipe is a breeze.
- Berries Galore: Not a fan of strawberries? No problem! Simply use blueberry pie filling while baking and fill with blueberries at the end.
What to Serve with Vanilla Cake with Strawberry Filling
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Vanilla Cake with Strawberry Filling
Equipment
- Electric Hand Mixer
- Bundt Pan
Ingredients
Cake
- 15.25 ounce box vanilla cake mix
- 2 cups applesauce
- 21 ounce can strawberry pie filling
Decorations
- 16 ounce vanilla icing can
- 2 cups strawberries
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 F
Cake
- Mix the entire box of vanilla cake mix with applesauce in a medium mixing bowl with a hand mixer.
- Using a spatula, scoop half of the cake mixture into a greased Bundt pan.
- Create a layer of strawberry pie filling on the batter.
- Cover strawberry pie filling with remaining batter.
- Bake for 35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Take out of oven, let cool for 15 minutes.
- Ice cake and place strawberries in the center.
Expert Tips
- Double Cake Flavors: Use half a box of cake mix and one cup of applesauce for for each of the cake layers. Try chocolate for the first layer and vanilla for the second cake layer, or strawberry for extra flavor. The beautiful layers of this perfect cake will wow your guests.
- Frosting: Substitute strawberry cream frosting for the ultimate strawberry cake.
- Double the Recipe: This easy and low ingredient recipe can easily be doubled for your next event. With only 5 ingredients, doubling this recipe is a breeze.
- Berries Galore: Not a fan of strawberries? No problem! Simply use blueberry pie filling while baking and fill with blueberries at the end.
Mmmmm this is a tasty cake!!
This tasted so amazing! Thanks a lot for sharing this super easy to make vanilla cake with strawberry filling recipe! Fam really loves it! Will surely have this again! Highly recommended!
This cake was so good. We loved the strawberry filling too. So sweet and fruity. It was perfect for my daughter’s birthday.
Thank you so much for this simple, delicious recipe. Perfect summer treat!
Such a simple and beautiful cake! It was moist and flavorful. The strawberry center was a showstopper that got lots of ooohs and aaaahs when I cut the cake.