Strawberry Cake Filling

We just love strawberry cakes, and a delicious strawberry cake filling is a must. This homemade filling is easy to make and brings so much flavor! 

While our strawberry cake layers have a nice strawberry flavor on their own, having actual strawberry pieces in the filling will bring the cake to another level.

If you've been searching for a go-to strawberry cake filling, this is the one!

How to Make Strawberry Cake Filling

*See the Full Recipe Card at the Bottom of this Post for Additional Details!

This is a cooked strawberry filling which consists of strawberries (fresh or frozen), and sugar.

Add all ingredients to a small saucepan, and heat on medium/high heat until it comes to a boil.

Stir as the sugar begins to melt and the strawberries soften.  When the mixture begins to boil, lower the heat and stir constantly until the the mixture thickens.

If you'd like, you can press some of the strawberries against the side of the pan as they soften. Pour the filling into a heat proof bowl and allow to cool completely before using. 

Does Strawberry Cake Filling Need Refrigeration?

Yes, fruit fillings are perishable. Although I don't consider this cooked strawberry filling to be as quickly perishable as a whipped cream filling, it should still be refrigerated until closer to the time of the event to be on the safe side.

This filling can be refrigerated in an air-tight bowl until ready to use- you will want to use it within five days. When refrigerating a cake with this filling, it is best to remove it 2-3 hours before serving for best cake flavor and texture.

What Cakes Go Well with Strawberry Filling?

Strawberry Cakes are great with Strawberry Filling because the filling enhances the strawberry flavor of the cake. Here are a few of our favorite strawberry cakes, as well as other popular cakes complete this filling perfectly.

Some of our favorites are Strawberry Cake, Vanilla Buttermilk Cake, Lemon Cake, Strawberry Cake from a Box, and White Velvet Cake.

Does this Strawberry Filling Require a Dam?

We prefer to use a dam whenever working with a soft filling like whipped cream, lemon curd, etc. Otherwise, when you assemble your cake, the filling is more likely to shift and escape. 

Although this is a fairly thick filling, we still like to pipe a quick dam, using the frosting that the cake is frosted with piped from a piping bag.

As you can see in the photo below, we sometimes use this filling in addition to another filling--in this case, we paired it with a white chocolate frosting. (From our Strawberry Sour Cream Cake with White Chocolate Frosting)

(If you decide not to create a dam, don't spread the filling all the way to the edge of the cake. Instead, stop about ¼ inch from the edge.

Alternative

No time for a cooked filling? Sliced, fresh strawberries are always a great option for fillings when paired with whipped cream or frosting. A great example of this is our Strawberry Shortcake Cake.

Enjoy the Recipe

Thanks so much for stopping by. We hope that you enjoy this delicious strawberry cake filling. Make sure to also check out our favorite strawberry cakes as well as our full cake recipes collection!