Strawberry Cake (Doctored Cake Mix Recipe)
Oh how we love a big slice of strawberry cake, and today's moist & delicious easy strawberry cake from a mix is sure to become a new favorite.
We have a couple of fabulous scratch strawberry cake recipes that we love, but sometimes you need a tried and true doctored cake mix recipe that you can whip up in a flash & that is guaranteed to please a crowd. THIS is that recipe!
Table of Contents
Why we Love It!
There are many reasons to love this Strawberry Cake Mix recipe! It has been one of our most popular doctored cake mix recipes over the years. Here are just a few reasons why:
- Great strawberry flavor from strawberry jello as well as strawberry puree!
- Easy to Make, and consistently delicious thanks to the cake mix.
- Tastes amazing with so many fillings and frostings (from sliced strawberries and whipped cream, to cooked strawberry filling, strawberry buttercream, and more!)
- Works well for sheet cakes and cupcakes
- Perfect strawberry dessert to celebrate birthdays, baby showers, picnics, potlucks, and more!
Benefits of a Strawberry Cake Mix Recipe
We have tons of favorite scratch cake recipes in our Recipes section (homemade strawberry cake, strawberry pound cake, strawberry shortcake cake, etc.) and we have tons of fantastic doctored cake mix recipes too!
The plus of doctored cake mix recipes like today's easy strawberry cake is convenience and consistency- no matter how many cakes you've baked before.
Even with the added ingredients, this strawberry cake can be put together quickly.
The addition of extra ingredients to the white cake mix, like strawberry jello and especially real strawberries (whether frozen or fresh) give it the edge over a box of strawberry cake mix. It has the flavor and texture of a from-scratch recipe.
How to make an Easy Strawberry Cake
Although you can easily find strawberry cake mixes at most grocery stores, we prefer to use white cake mix and then add a nice flavor boost from both pureed strawberries as well as strawberry jello.
- This cake has received rave reviews over the years and we hope that you enjoy it too!
- To make this recipe, prepare three 8 inch round pans by greasing, flouring, (and we also like to add circles of parchment to the bottom of each pan).
- Next, add all of the ingredients including the white cake mix, strawberry jello, flour, eggs, vegetable oil, milk, and mashed strawberries/strawberry puree. (By the way, I love that this recipe calls for real strawberries rather than just the jello. It really does make a difference in the strawberry flavor)!
- Now, it's just a matter of dividing the batter between the pans and baking!
FAQs
It's safe to say that this easy strawberry cake is always a good idea, and is sure to please any crowd! Make sure to check out our other Cakes with Fruit as well as favorite birthday cake designs!
More Strawberry Cakes
If you're looking for more delicious Strawberry Cakes, don't miss these recipes! Also, keep in mind that this versatile strawberry box mix recipe works well for strawberry cupcakes(cake mix) too!
Enjoy the Recipe
Keep this moist strawberry cake mix recipe in mind the next time you are looking for birthday cake recipes, a baby shower cake, bridal shower cake, or just in the mood for a strawberry dessert!
Have you made this? We would LOVE for you to leave a ⭐️ rating as well as a comment and photo below! We really appreciate your feedback!
Strawberry Cake- Doctored Cake Mix Recipe
This easy Strawberry Cake from cake mix is fluffy, tender, and delicious. It uses real strawberries and strawberry jello for a delicious boost of flavor.
Ingredients
- 1 box white cake mix ( 15.25 oz) (432g)
- 1 small box ( 3 ounce) (85g) strawberry Jello
- 3 Tablespoons all purpose flour
- 4 eggs
- ¾ cup vegetable oil ( I used canola oil)
- ½ cup milk
- ¾ cup pureed ripe strawberries (You can substitute with frozen strawberries)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees, grease and flour three 8 inch round pans or two 9 inch round pans
- Put all ingredients into your mixing bowl and mix on low speed until the ingredients are blended. Then increase speed to medium and mix for approximately 2 minutes, scraping down sides of bowl mid way through.
- The pureed strawberries should be well blended into the batter.
- Bake for 30 min. or until tooth pick comes out clean.
Notes
This recipe works for easy strawberry cupcakes also!
Freezing: The strawberry cake mix layers can be baked in advance and frozen for up to three months. Individually wrap each layer in plastic wrap followed by foil. When thawing, keep wrapped for 30-45 minutes at room temperature before unwrapping and thawing to desired amount for assembling and decorating.
Hi Lillian, I add from 3 to 6 Tablespoons flour to the cake mixes. In this recipe, I add 3 Tablespoons.
Will this work well for cupcakes? And if so how many cupcakes will this recipe make? Thanks!
Hi Chelsea, Yes, the recipe will work well for cupcakes. You should have at least 24 standard size cupcakes. Bake at 350 degrees for 18 to 20 minutes. Check at 18 minutes.
I'm trying to make a strawberry banana cake. Do you think I could substitute the fresh strawberries with bananas? Or will it mess with the structure of the cake?
Hi Beth, I think it may work because cakes using cake mix are so forgiving when creating recipes. Since I have not tried it, I cannot be 100% sure. Let me know how it goes.
Can you make this and then freeze a couple days in advance and it will still taste good?
Hi Courtney, Yes, you can freeze the cake layers and they will taste great. Wrap the layers individually in plastic wrap and then in aluminum foil. You want them to be airtight. You can freeze for up to two months. When ready to use, remove the layers from the freezer and place on the countertop. When condensation forms on the aluminum foil unwrap and allow to thaw. You can fill and frost your cake while the layers are partially frozen, if you like. If you are planning to smooth your cake using the Viva paper towel method the layers will need to be completely thawed.
Hi! I am wondering if you have ever done this without the jello? We make our own flour and are still figuring out how to make proper cakes with it. Because of that, I went ahead and got a cake mix for this birthday party cake but my daughter desperately wants it to be strawberry. We don't do dyes because of one of my sons, therefore can't use Jello.
Thanks!
Hi Bekah, Keep in mind that I have not tried this but instead to adjusting this recipe, I would use a white cake mix, we usually use Duncan Hines or any mix without pudding in the mix. Follow the directions on the back of the box, but instead of adding 1 cup water use 1 cup of pureed fresh or frozen strawberries. Also, add 1 teaspoon of strawberry extract, strawberries baked into a cake lose much of their flavor. To get a more intense strawberry flavor from the strawberries, you can cook the puree reducing over heat. You will need to puree probably 1 1/2 pounds strawberries. Simmer the pureed strawberries over low heat until you have 1 cup of the reduced puree. It will need to be completely cool before adding it to the cake batter. You will still need to add some strawberry extract, in my opinion. So you can use either the pureed strawberries or reduced (cooked) strawberry puree for the cake. Since the cake mix has so many additives as well as artificial flavor you may as well use the jello and have a good cake.
I have made incredibly delicious "doctored" strawberry cakes with organic white cake mixes without additives, and no jello. It absolutely can be done!
When you say strawberry jello, do you mean pudding or gelatin? I regularly use pudding in my cakes, but have never heard of using gelatin and I can’t seem to find strawberry pudding.
Hi Mandi, I am sorry that ingredient is confusing. The brand is Jell-o and it is a powdered gelatin product. It will add color and strawberry flavor to the cake. Hope you enjoy the recipe.