The Best Paula Deen Strawberry Cake Recipe for Sweet Lovers

Paula Deen’s strawberry cake bursts with sweet, vibrant flavors that dance across your palate.

Southern baking traditions shine through this delightful dessert, transforming simple ingredients into a spectacular treat.

Soft, moist layers capture the essence of ripe, juicy fruit in every single bite.

Creamy frosting complements the tender cake, adding richness and depth to each slice.

Home bakers can easily master this recipe with straightforward techniques and minimal preparation time.

Bright pink hues and intense strawberry notes make this cake a showstopper at any gathering.

Families and friends will marvel at your baking skills and request seconds: get ready to become a dessert hero!

Why Paula Deen’s Strawberry Cake is the Perfect Sweet Treat

• Burst with Fruity Freshness: This strawberry cake delivers an explosion of natural strawberry flavor from real fruit puree and strawberry gelatin, creating a vibrant, tangy-sweet taste profile that feels like summer in every bite.
• Super Simple Shortcut Baking: Using a cake mix as the base makes this recipe incredibly beginner-friendly, reducing complexity while guaranteeing a moist, foolproof dessert that looks and tastes professionally made in just about an hour.
• Creamy Dream Frosting: The cream cheese and butter frosting enhanced with strawberry puree transforms this cake from ordinary to extraordinary, offering a rich, luxurious texture that perfectly complements the light, tender cake layers.
• Versatile Party Pleaser: Perfect for birthdays, bridal showers, or weekend gatherings, this stunning strawberry cake looks impressive yet requires minimal baking skills, making it an ideal crowd-pleasing dessert that will have everyone asking for seconds.

Key Ingredients for Paula Deen’s Strawberry Cake

• Cake Mix: A quick and easy base for the cake, providing a consistent texture and flavor.
• Strawberry Gelatin: Enhances the strawberry flavor and adds a vibrant color to the cake.
• Eggs: Bind the ingredients together and provide structure to the cake.
• Vegetable Oil: Keeps the cake moist and tender.
• Water: Helps blend the ingredients and create a smooth batter.

• Pureed Strawberries: Fresh, sweet ingredient that adds natural strawberry flavor and moisture to the cake.

• Butter: Provides rich, creamy base for the frosting.
• Cream Cheese: Adds tanginess and smooth texture to the frosting.
• Confectioner's Sugar: Sweetens and thickens the frosting.
• Strawberry Extract: Intensifies the strawberry flavor in the frosting.

How to Make Paula Deen’s Strawberry Cake

Step 1: Warm Up the Oven

Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease 2 round 9-inch cake pans with cooking spray or butter.

Step 2: Create the Cake Batter

• Cake mix
• Strawberry gelatin
• Pureed strawberries
• Eggs
• Vegetable oil
• Water

Beat the ingredients with an electric mixer at medium speed until the mixture becomes smooth and well blended.

Step 3: Bake the Cake

Pour the prepared batter evenly into the greased cake pans. Place in the preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes. Check doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center – it should come out clean.

Step 4: Cool the Cake Layers

Remove cake pans from the oven. Let cakes rest in the pans for 10 minutes. Carefully transfer cake layers to wire cooling racks and allow them to cool completely.

Step 5: Whip Up the Strawberry Frosting

• Softened butter
• Cream cheese

Beat with an electric mixer until creamy. Add strawberry puree and strawberry extract. Gradually mix in confectioner’s sugar until frosting reaches a smooth consistency.

Step 6: Assemble and Decorate the Cake

Spread frosting between cake layers. Cover the top and sides of the cake with remaining frosting. Optional: Garnish with fresh strawberry slices for an extra elegant touch.

Pro Tips for Paula Deen’s Strawberry Cake

• Create Color Magic: Slice fresh strawberries at different angles to make the cake decoration pop with vibrant red hues.
• Prevent Cake Catastrophe: Mix ingredients only until they blend smoothly, avoiding aggressive stirring that leads to tough, dense textures.
• Chill Before Styling: Wait until cake layers reach room temperature, giving frosting the perfect surface to spread evenly without sliding.
• Temperature Matters: Pull cream cheese and butter out of refrigerator 30 minutes before mixing to guarantee ultra-creamy, lump-free frosting.
• Sugar Sifting Secret: Gently sift powdered sugar through a fine mesh strainer, creating silky frosting that looks professionally prepared.

How to Store Paula Deen’s Strawberry Cake

• Refrigerator Method: Seal the cake in a high-quality, moisture-resistant container with a tight-fitting lid. Create a protective barrier using plastic wrap directly against the cake's surface to prevent dryness and preserve its delicate texture. This technique locks in freshness and prevents absorption of other refrigerator odors.
• Freezer Preservation: Package the cake carefully in multiple layers of plastic wrap, followed by aluminum foil for maximum protection against freezer burn. Label the package with the date and cake type to track storage duration. Ensure the cake is completely cool before freezing to maintain its structural integrity and prevent condensation.
• Room Temperature Safety: If serving within 24 hours, keep the cake in a cool, dry place covered with a cake dome or loose plastic wrap. Avoid direct sunlight or heat sources that could compromise the cake's delicate frosting and soft crumb.

Creative Twists for Paula Deen’s Strawberry Cake

• Berry Bliss Remix: Swap strawberry gelatin for raspberry, adding fresh raspberries to the batter for a tangy berry explosion.
• Chocolate Strawberry Dream: Mix in cocoa powder to the cake batter and add chocolate chips for a rich, decadent variation that complements the strawberry flavor.
• Nutty Berry Celebration: Fold chopped almonds or pecans into the batter and sprinkle toasted nuts between layers for added crunch and depth.
• Tropical Strawberry Escape: Replace water with coconut milk and add shredded coconut to the frosting for a tropical-inspired strawberry cake experience.

Paula Deen’s Strawberry Cake: A Slice of Sweet Heaven

Sweet strawberry sensations dance across palates with Paula Deen’s legendary cake recipe.

Homemade magic emerges from simple ingredients blended with passionate southern charm.

Rich strawberry flavors weave through moist cake layers, creating delectable memories.

Creamy frosting embraces each delicate crumb with luxurious strawberry-infused smoothness.

Bakers seeking spectacular dessert experiences will discover pure culinary delight in this classic southern treat.

When sharing this masterpiece, snap gorgeous photos, spread cake love across social platforms, and watch followers swoon over your delicious creation.

Paula Deen Strawberry Cake Recipe

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4.8 from 38 reviews

• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

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Description

Paula Deen’s strawberry cake delivers Southern charm on a plate, blending sweet berries with classic buttermilk richness. Luscious layers of strawberry-infused cake create a delightful dessert you cannot resist sharing with family and friends.

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Ingredients

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Cake Ingredients:

• 1 (18.25 oz / 517 g) box white cake mix
• 4 large eggs
• ½ cup (120 ml) vegetable oil
• ¼ cup (60 ml) water
• 1 (3 oz / 85 g) box of strawberry-flavored instant gelatin
• 1 (15 oz / 425 g) package of frozen strawberries in syrup, thawed and pureed

Frosting Ingredients:

• ¼ cup (57 g) softened butter
• 1 (8 oz / 226 g) package of softened cream cheese
• 7 cups (840 g) confectioner’s sugar
• ¼ cup strawberry puree
• ½ teaspoon strawberry extract

Garnish:

• Freshly sliced strawberries (optional)

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Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C) and meticulously coat two 9-inch round cake pans with a light layer of non-stick cooking spray.
2. In a spacious mixing bowl, thoroughly blend the strawberry cake mix and strawberry gelatin powder until uniformly combined.
3. Incorporate the fresh strawberry puree, large eggs, vegetable oil, and room temperature water into the dry mixture. Utilize an electric mixer to whip the batter at medium speed, ensuring a silky-smooth consistency without any lumps.
4. Evenly distribute the vibrant pink batter between the prepared cake pans, carefully smoothing the surface with a spatula.
5. Transfer the pans to the preheated oven and bake for approximately 25-30 minutes, periodically checking with a toothpick inserted into the center to confirm complete doneness.
6. Remove the cakes from the oven and allow them to rest in the pans for 10 minutes, enabling them to settle and cool slightly.
7. Gently release the cakes from the pans and transfer to wire cooling racks, allowing them to reach room temperature completely.
8. For the creamy frosting, blend softened cream cheese and unsalted butter in a large mixing bowl until luxuriously smooth and well-integrated.
9. Fold in the remaining strawberry puree and a hint of strawberry extract, creating a luscious pink-hued frosting.
10. Gradually sift in the confectioner’s sugar, continuously mixing until the frosting reaches a spreadable, velvety texture.
11. Position the first cake layer on a serving plate and generously spread a layer of frosting across the surface.
12. Carefully place the second cake layer on top and enrobe the entire cake with the remaining strawberry frosting.
13. Optional: Garnish the cake’s exterior with delicately sliced fresh strawberries for an elegant, inviting presentation.

Notes

• Fresh strawberry garnish adds vibrant color and a burst of natural sweetness to the cake’s presentation.
• Gentle mixing prevents dense texture, keeping the cake light and tender with minimal stirring.
• Complete cake cooling is crucial to prevent frosting from sliding or melting, ensuring a perfect decorative finish.
• Room temperature cream cheese and butter create ultra-smooth, lump-free frosting with silky consistency.
• Sifting powdered sugar eliminates clumps, delivering a perfectly velvety and professional-looking frosting surface.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 515
• Sugar: 59g
• Sodium: 320mg
• Fat: 22g
• Saturated Fat: 10g
• Carbohydrates: 78g
• Fiber: 2g
• Protein: 4g
• Cholesterol: 85mg