Oh how we love a big slice of strawberry cake, and today’s moist & delicious strawberry cake all starts with a simple cake mix!
We have an amazing scratch strawberry cake recipe 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!
Cake Mix Recipes Vs. Scratch Baked…
Have you ever stumbled into the message boards section of a cake decorating site only to find a heated discussion between cake mix bakers and scratch bakers about whether or not cake mix cakes count as homemade?
It can be pretty entertaining, and did I mention heated? Well, I happen to love both scratch recipes and doctored cake mix recipes. If the cake tastes amazing, just bring me a fork, I’m not complaining!
We have tons of favorite scratch cake recipes in our Recipes section, and we have tons of fantastic doctored cake mix recipes too.
The plus of doctored cake mix recipes like today’s strawberry cake is that they can be whipped up in no time, and the addition of extra ingredients and flavorings really takes the cake texture and flavor to another level.
How to make a Strawberry Doctored Cake Mix Recipe
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.
Next, add all of the ingredients including the white cake mix, strawberry jello, flour, eggs, vegetable oil, milk, and mashed strawberries. (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)!
Then, it’s just a matter of dividing the batter between the pans and baking!
How to make your cake extra moist
Once my cake layers have baked, whether I’m working with cake mix or scratch cake layers, I remove them from the oven, allow to cool (in the pans) on cooling racks for about 10 minutes, and then flip them out, wrap with plastic wrap, and then with foil.
Next, off to the freezer they go! Freezing the layers while they are still warm adds a noticeable boost in moisture. It’s a myth that freezing cake layers somehow results in a less flavorful or moist cake. We’ve been doing this for 15 years now! It really does make such a difference. We’ve frozen cake layers for up to 2-3 months and they still taste as fresh as the day they were made. I’ve even popped freshly baked, wrapped layers in the freezer for just a few hours when I’m in a time crunch!
When the cake layers are ready to thaw, simply place the layers, still wrapped, on the countertop and allow them to come to room temperature (or at least partially thawed if you prefer to assemble while the layers are firm). Keeping the layers wrapped will ensure that the condensation forms on the foil rather than the cake itself.
What Frostings & Fillings Taste Great with A Strawberry Layer Cake?
Well, this is a trick question, because there are so many options! I love strawberry cake with:
Cream Cheese Frosting (our Classic and Pipeable Cream Cheese Recipes are perfect)
Strawberry Whipped Cream Cheese Filling
We hope that you enjoy this wonderful recipe! We especially love strawberry cakes in spring and summer months, although I would never turn down a slice in the middle of winter ;0) It’s safe to say that strawberry cake is always a good idea, is sure to please any crowd!
Save this Doctored Strawberry Cake Mix Recipe for Later! Click Here!
Strawberry Cake- Doctored Cake Mix Recipe
This easy Strawberry Cake all starts with a simple cake mix! So flavorful!
Ingredients
- 1 box white cake mix (without pudding in the mix)
- 1 small box ( 3 ounce) strawberry Jello
- 3 Tablespoons all purpose flour
- 4 eggs
- 3/4 cup vegetable oil ( I used canola)
- 1/2 cup milk
- 3/4 cup mashed ripe strawberries
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and prepare three 8 inch 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 3 minutes, scraping down sides of bowl mid way through.
- The mashed strawberries should be well blended into the batter.
- Bake for 30 min. or until tooth pick comes out clean.
In addition to this doctored cake mix Strawberry Cake Recipe, we also have a scratch Strawberry Cake Recipe that we know you’ll love! Make sure to hop over and print or save a copy here!: Strawberry Cake from Scratch!
Thanks for stopping by! Make sure to check out our Recipes section for more of our favorite Cakes, Frostings, and Fillings! If you are interested in learning more about cake decorating, you should stop by our Free Cake Tutorials Section, which includes a Free Cake Video Tutorials Section!
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Do you use sugar free jello?
Hi Sue, We did not use sugar free jello, but I think it would be fine to use it.
Can you use a strawberry cake mix?
Hi Sue, We have not tried the recipe using strawberry cake mix. Our recipe gets it flavor from the strawberry jello and the 3/4 cup mashed strawberries. A strawberry cake mix has its own flavor added to it so you would not add the jello. I hope you will try our version.
Can I use frozen strawberries?
Hi Veronica, To use frozen strawberries: Thaw a 10 oz. pkg frozen strawberries, add 1/4 c. sugar…(Do not add sugar if the strawberries are in a sweetened syrup). Place strawberries in a saucepan and gradually bring to a boil over medium heat. Once it begins to boil, reduce the heat and simmer until it is reduced to approx. 1 cup. Transfer from saucepan to a blender or use an immersion blender to puree until smooth. Refrigerate until cool. (10-15 minutes)
What size cake mix did you use?
Hi Zayna, Our cake mix has 15.25 ounces. I usually add 5 tablespoons of all purpose flour to the cake mix.
Can you make this into cupcakes?
Hi Laura, Yes, the recipe will work well for cupcakes. Bake at 350 degrees for 18 to 20 minutes for standard size cupcakes.
The recipe calls for 3 T flour. Did u use 5 T.?
Hi Sue, In this recipe I used 3 Tablespoons flour.
Hi what frosting did you use on this cake?
Hi Lindsay, We did not keep notes on that but it looks like a cream cheese or vanilla buttercream frosting. In Melissa’s notes in the above write-up, under the heading What Fillings and Frostings Taste Great with a Strawberry Layer Cake, she list possible choices. My personal favorites are Strawberry Buttercream or Strawberry Cream Cheese. You can click on the choices she lists for the recipes. Hope you enjoy the cake.
I made the doctored strawberry cake with a regular cream cheese frosting
for a baby shower. It was a big hit and now it’s my daughters favorite cake. I will have to make it again in October!
Thank you!
Hi Cindy, Put the strawberries in a food processor or blender and puree. Hope you enjoy the recipe.
Does this cake freeze well?
Hi Bambi, Do you mean the cake layers? We almost always freeze our cake layers while they are still very warm even if it is only for a few hours. We find it makes the cake layers more moist. We almost never freeze a cake that is fully decorated, though it can be done. For successful freezing, the cake must be kept air tight. Layers are wrapped individually in plastic wrap then in aluminum foil. A decorated cake could be boxed then wrapped in plastic wrap and foil.
Thank you! That’s exactly what I do with my cakes, just wasn’t sure about this one in particular since it’s a “doctored” cake. :) Love your site!
I used the doctored box mix strawberry recipe for a wedding cake and got rave reviews from all who ate it. Even those non cake eaters couldn’t stop eating it. I tried 6 recipes some scratch and some altered box, and this was by far the best!!!
Hi D, I am thrilled the strawberry cake was a hit!! Thank you so much for posting your nice review of the recipe!!
Hello,Can i use Sour Cream instead of milk with this recipe??
Hi Katrina, I’m sorry but I have never tried sour cream with this recipe so I am not sure of the outcome. I think you could use 1/2 cup buttermilk instead of milk.
Hi there. So does it mean it’s ok to ignore the instructions on the cake mix and use your recipe. For instance mine says 250ml of milk and 150ml oil , so do I ignore that and stick to your above recipe?
Hi Fadzai, You will ignore the directions written on the box and use the above recipe. Hope you will enjoy the cake.