This simple Strawberry Snacking Cake recipe has a quick and easy shortcut to turn a box of cake mix into a fresh fruit-filled, no-fuss sweet treat.
Using far fewer ingredients than the classic olive oil cake, this single-layer dessert is soft, moist, and tender with bursts of berries in every bite.
Snacking Cakes
Our Strawberry Snack Cake recipe requires minimal prep time and is so easy to make because we simply combine a cake mix with only 4 ingredients and bake the batter with a smattering of fresh strawberries and a sprinkle of brown sugar on top.
A snack cake is meant to be consumed any time of day, from breakfast to dessert or grabbing and grazing in between.
I love baking with fresh produce when strawberries are in season, and there’s no better way to eat fresh fruit than to slice them and spread them over a super simple batter.
Light and fluffy, buttery sweet, these casual cakes may be no frills and feature no bells and whistles, but they’re full of delicious flavor for a favorite on-the-go dessert.
What Are Snacking Cakes?
Snacking cakes are simple sheet cakes, usually prepared in a single bowl, and require few ingredients, and nothing more than a baking pan, whisk, and a flexible spatula for spreading.
While any cake can be a snack, not all cakes can be considered snacking cakes. Light like a Texas Sheet Cake and not as dense as a Strawberry Lemon Blondies, these unassuming cakes are meant to be kept on the counter for stealing slivers when the craving for cake hits.
Call them picnic cakes, counter cakes, or coffee cakes, these treats are perfect for casual occasions when you need a pick-me-up that you can eat with your hands.
Why We Love This Fresh Strawberry Snack Cake Recipe
- Quick and easy to prepare in 10 minutes.
- Uses simple ingredients with a cake mix shortcut.
- Made in one bowl with minimal effort.
- Moist and tender cake with a burst of berry sweetness.
- Great for grab-and-go snacking, Valentine’s Day dessert, or sneaking slices before supper.
- Perfect any time snack that tastes delicious.
Ingredients for Strawberry Snacking Cake
- White cake mix
- Half and half: You can substitute milk or heavy cream instead.
- Salted butter: Oil can be used instead of butter, although the resulting cake may be slightly less moist and tender.
- Eggs
- Vanilla extract
- Fresh strawberries
- Light brown sugar
Substitutions and Additions
- Change The Cake Mix: Feel free to use a yellow or butter pecan cake mix for a slightly different flavor.
- Pick Your Produce: If you want to use another fresh fruit for this cake you certainly can. Try baking with raspberries, peaches, blueberries, cherries, apricots, or another stone fruit.
- Swap The Brown Sugar: Alternatively you can use dark brown sugar, granulated white sugar, raw cane sugar, or even sanding sugar.
- Tasty Toppings: You can sprinkle chopped nuts, chocolate chips, powdered sugar, or any other garnish on top of the cake and strawberries before baking to elevate it further.
- Serving Suggestions: Add a dollop of whipped cream, a scoop of ice cream, a glaze, or some frosting to the warm cake for an extra delicious finish.
Recommended Tools
- 10×15 inch baking sheet
- Cooking spray
- Large mixing bowl
How to Make Strawberry Snacking Cake
- Make The Batter: Beat together the cake mix, half and half, butter, eggs, and vanilla extract until combined.
- Prepare The Pan: Spread the batter into an even layer on the sheet pan. Lay the strawberry slices on top of the cake and sprinkle with brown sugar.
- Bake: Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 25-35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Serve: Serve warm or cool. Enjoy!
Tip From Our Recipe Developer
- Cut the strawberries into fairly thick slices and don’t be afraid to place them close together, though not touching. The strawberries add necessary moisture and sweetness to the cake so there can’t really be “too many” of them.
- Feel free to enjoy decorating the cake with strawberries in any pattern you would like. You can do expanding circles, alternating lines, or even cut the strawberries into hearts for a romantic look.
How to Store Snacking Cakes
- To Store: Store your cake at room temperature for up to 1 day or place it in the refrigerator, in an airtight container or bag, for up to 4 days.
More Easy Strawberry Recipes
Other Easy Cake Recipes
- Boston Cream Poke Cake
- Oreo Dirt Cake
- Banana Split Cake
- Cakesicles
- Lunch Box Cake
- Chocolate Cornflake Cakes
Strawberry Snacking Cake
Ingredients
- 15.25 ounces box white cake mix
- 1 cup half and half
- ½ cup (1 stick) salted butter melted
- 3 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 16 ounces package fresh strawberries stems removed and thickly sliced
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar packed
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and spray a 10×15 inch sheet pan with a rim with cooking spray.
- In a large mixing bowl, use a hand or stand mixer to beat together the cake mix, 1 cup half and half, melted butter, eggs and vanilla extract until well combined, about 1-2 minutes.
- Pour the batter into the prepared sheet pan and then spread it out into an even layer with a spreading spatula.
- Lay the strawberry slices evenly across the cake, placing them into a decorative pattern if desired.
- Sprinkle the brown sugar evenly over the cake and strawberries and then bake in the oven for 25-35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Remove from the oven and serve warm or cool.
Jenn’s Notes
- To Store: Store your cake at room temperature for up to 1 day or place it in the refrigerator, in an airtight container or bag, for up to 4 days.
- Cut the strawberries into fairly thick slices and don’t be afraid to place them close together, though not touching. The strawberries add a necessary moisture and sweetness to the cake so there can’t really be “too many” of them.
- Feel free to enjoy decorating the cake with strawberries in any pattern you would like. You can do expanding circles, alternating lines or even cut the strawberries into hearts for a romantic look.
