Strawberry Vanilla Sheet Cake (with Fresh Strawberries!)

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Strawberry vanilla sheet cake makes the best strawberry sheet cake! Easy and delicious, this fluffy vanilla cake topped with swirls of vanilla cream cheese buttercream and fresh strawberries makes the most of strawberry season. Recipe yields 15 servings.

Why you’ll love this strawberry sheet cake:

Strawberries and vanilla are made for each other, and the flavors shine in this party-perfect cake. Made in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, the vanilla cake batter comes together quickly and is the perfect base for a layer of fresh strawberries.

The cake emerges from the oven perfectly soft and tender, with the strawberry layer becoming sweet and slightly jammy. Once cool, the cake is ready for swirls of vanilla frosting and fresh strawberries.

Craving more cake? Find inspiration for any occasion with my collection of best sheet cake recipes!

Essential Ingredients

Here’s what you need to make this fresh strawberry sheet cake:

• Cake flour – For a soft and fluffy sheet cake with a fine crumb, cake flour is the secret.
• Baking powder and baking soda – To keep the cake batter from discoloring or turning blue, use an aluminum-free baking powder.
• Salt – For flavor.
• Unsalted butter – Use unsalted butter at room temperature in the cake and frosting (room temperature butter is slightly cool to the touch and your finger will make a shallow impression).
• Sugar – White granulated sugar sweetens the cake.
• Vanilla – The cake and the frosting are both flavored with pure vanilla extract.
• Eggs – Two large eggs add moisture and richness to the cake.
• Buttermilk and Greek yogurt – Creamy Greek yogurt creates a moist vanilla cake that’s tender and flavorful (you can also use sour cream). Buttermilk makes each slice springy and light!
• Fresh strawberries – Use fresh, sweet strawberries in this cake for real strawberry flavor. Fresh strawberries are layered over the batter and baked into the cake (the perfect pairing of vanilla cake and bright berries!), and make the most beautiful topping.
• Cream cheese – Makes the vanilla frosting incredibly creamy! Use full fat cream cheese, at cool room temperature.
• Powdered sugar – For smooth and creamy vanilla frosting.

If you don’t have cake flour on hand, it’s easy to make your own cake flour substitute: For every cup of flour called for in a recipe, place 2 tablespoons cornstarch in an empty 1-cup measure, then top up with flour. Sift the mixture several times to evenly distribute the cornstarch and use as a substitute for 1 cup cake flour.

How to Make Strawberry Vanilla Sheet Cake

Room Temperature Ingredients – Bring butter, eggs, buttermilk, and Greek yogurt to room temperature before beginning. Room temperature ingredients mix together easily for a smooth batter.

Cake Pan – Bake this cake in a 13 x 9-inch rectangular baking pan. To prepare the pan for baking, spray generously with nonstick spray. If you’re concerned about sticking, you can also line the pan with parchment paper.

Make Cake Batter – Whisk together cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Beat butter and sugar in a large mixer bowl at medium speed until light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla. Add eggs one at a time and beat until combined.

Combine buttermilk and Greek yogurt in a small bowl. Reduce speed to low and add dry ingredients in 3 additions, alternating with buttermilk mixture (begin and end with flour mixture).

Bake Cake – Spoon vanilla cake batter into prepared pan and top the batter with slices of fresh strawberries. Bake cake for 25 to 28 minutes, or until the top and edges are golden, the edges are pulling slightly away from the pan, and a cake tester inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let the cake cool completely before frosting.

Assemble Cake – Dollop vanilla frosting over cooled cake and swirl with an offset spatula. Chill the cake for 20 minutes in the refrigerator before slicing and serving topped with fresh strawberries.

Other Topping Ideas – Whipped cream or strawberry buttercream frosting!

Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting

Beat butter, cream cheese, and salt in a large mixer bowl on medium speed until smooth, then beat in vanilla extract. Gradually mix in powdered sugar on low speed, 1 cup at a time, until incorporated.

Increase speed to medium-high and beat frosting for 1-2 minutes, until it reaches the desired consistency (smooth and creamy).

Make Ahead Tips

Bake the cake up to one day ahead of serving. Let the cake cool completely, then add the vanilla frosting. Cover the frosted cake and chill overnight. The next day, add fresh strawberries before serving.

More delicious strawberry desserts:

• Strawberry Cookie Tart
• Strawberry Vanilla Layer Cake
• Strawberry Lemon Sheet Cake
• Fresh Strawberry Loaf Cake

Did you try this Strawberry Vanilla Sheet Cake Recipe? Let me know by leaving a comment and rating below!

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