Fresh Strawberry Sheet Cake

Strawberry is my favorite cake flavor, so I wanted to create a sheet cake made entirely with fresh strawberries—no artificial flavors here. This strawberry sheet cake is pink, soft, and perfectly moist, with a rich strawberry cream cheese topping finished with fresh strawberry pieces. This fresh strawberry sheet cake is stunning and delicious.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

• Natural Flavor – Made with real strawberries, every bite tastes naturally fruity.
• Soft and Tender Crumb – A perfect balance of all-purpose and cake flour creates a light, fluffy texture.
• Rich and Creamy Frosting – Strawberry cream cheese frosting adds a tangy, delicious, and creamy layer

Ingredients

Dry Ingredients

• 1⅓ cups all-purpose flour
  • Base of the cake
• ½ cup + 1 Tbsp cake flour
  • Adds extra softness
• 1 tsp baking powder
  • Provides the lift for the cake
• ½ tsp baking soda
  • Helps make the cake lighter and give a tender crumb
• Pinch of salt
  • Enhance the sweetness of the cake

Wet Ingredients

• ⅔ cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
  • Adds rinchness
• 1 cup granulated sugar
  • Adds sweetness
• 3 large eggs, room temperature
  • Binds the ingredients together
• 1⅓ cups lightly pureed strawberries
  • Natural fruit flavor
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • Adds depth

Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting

• 6 oz cream cheese, room temperature
  • Gives the creamy base
• 6 Tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature
  • Helps the frosting become smooth and silky
• 1 cup powdered sugar
  • Adds sweetness and keeps the frosting fluffy
• Strawberry puree (see note below)

Click on the images for the direct link to the ingredients/tools I’ve used:

Fresh Strawberry Sheet Cake Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9×9-inch pan with parchment paper.

Blend fresh strawberries until lightly pureed. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

In a large bowl, whisk together the melted butter and sugar until smooth. Add the eggs one at a time, whisking well after each addition. Stir in the strawberry puree and vanilla extract.

Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined. Do not overmix.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake for 40–45 minutes.

Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting

In a small pan, add chopped strawberries, sugar, and a squeeze of lemon juice. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes until thickened. Blend until smooth and let cool completely.

In a bowl, whisk the cream cheese and butter until smooth and fluffy, about 1 minute. Add powdered sugar and whisk until fully combined. Fold in strawberry puree.

Once the cake is completely cool, spread the strawberry cream cheese frosting evenly over the top.
Optional: garnish with freeze-dried strawberries and fresh strawberries.

Fresh Strawberry Sheet Cake Baking Tips

Use room-temperature ingredients so they blend more smoothly.

Do not overmix the batter, as this can make the cake dense.

Allow the cake to cool completely before frosting to prevent the frosting from melting.

For a vibrant pink cake, you can add a drop of red food coloring.

Bake at the correct temperature and avoid opening the oven door too early to prevent the cake from sinking.

If you enjoyed this fresh strawberry sheet cake recipe, you might also like my s’mores brownie recipe.