Light Strawberry Layer Cake

This light strawberry layer cake recipe creates a pink and white layer cake with a rich strawberry cream cheese filling and a whipped cream frosting.

• Preparation Time: 45 mins
• Cooking Time: 15 mins
• Total Time: 60 mins
• Calories: 531 Calories

Ingredients

• 3 eggs
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup water
• 1 pint heavy cream
• 2 cups fresh strawberries
• 2 teaspoons clear vanilla extract
• 1 (3 ounce) package strawberry-flavored gelatin (such as Jell-O®)
• 4 teaspoons strawberry extract, divided
• 0.5 cup vegetable oil
• 1 (15.25 ounce) package white cake mix (such as Pillsbury® Moist Supreme Classic
• 0.5 cup confectioners' sugar, or more to taste
• 0.5 cup confectioners' sugar, or more to taste

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line three 9-inch round cake pans with parchment paper.

Step 2

Beat cake mix, water, eggs, and oil in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes. Pour ⅓ batter into 1 prepared pan. Stir ½ strawberry gelatin and 2 teaspoons strawberry extract into remaining batter; divide between remaining 2 prepared pans.

Step 3

Bake cakes in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into centers comes out clean, 15 to 20 minutes. Line a large wire rack with parchment paper. Invert cakes onto the rack; cool completely.

Step 4

Set aside 9 to 12 whole strawberries for decoration; chop remaining strawberries and pat dry with a paper towel.

Step 5

Beat cream cheese with remaining ½ strawberry gelatin; add remaining 2 teaspoons strawberry extract and ½ cup confectioners' sugar and beat until filling is smooth. Fold in chopped strawberries.

Step 6

Place 1 pink layer on a cake plate; cover with ½ strawberry filling. Top with 1 plain cake layer; cover with remaining ½ strawberry filling. Position remaining pink layer on top.

Step 7

Beat cream, ½ cup confectioners' sugar, and vanilla extract together in a large bowl until stiff peaks form. Spread frosting over top and sides of cake. Place a piece of parchment paper on top; run spatula over the paper to smooth the top. Peel off the paper.

Step 8

Pipe 9 to 12 frosting swirls around cake rim; place whole strawberries on top.