Strawberry Cake (Doctored Cake Mix Recipe)

Name: Strawberry Cake- Doctored Cake Mix Recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 1 h 35 min
Yield: 15
Ingredients: 1 box white cake mix ( 15.25 oz) (432g); 1 small box ( 3 ounce) (85g) strawberry Jello; 3 Tablespoons all purpose flour; 4 eggs; 3/4 cup vegetable oil ( I used canola oil); 1/2 cup milk; 3/4 cup pureed ripe strawberries (You can substitute with frozen strawberries)

Oh how we love a big slice of strawberry cake, and today's moist & delicious easy strawberry cake from a mix is sure to become a new favorite.

Moist and Delicious Strawberry Doctored Cake Mix Recipe

We have a couple of fabulous scratch strawberry cake recipes 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!

Table of Contents

Why we Love It!

There are many reasons to love this Strawberry Cake Mix recipe! It has been one of our most popular doctored cake mix recipes over the years. Here are just a few reasons why:

Great strawberry flavor from strawberry jello as well as strawberry puree!
Easy to Make, and consistently delicious thanks to the cake mix.
Tastes amazing with so many fillings and frostings (from sliced strawberries and whipped cream, to cooked strawberry filling, strawberry buttercream, and more!)
Works well for sheet cakes and cupcakes
Perfect strawberry dessert to celebrate birthdays, baby showers, picnics, potlucks, and more!

Benefits of a Strawberry Cake Mix Recipe

We have tons of favorite scratch cake recipes in our Recipes section (homemade strawberry cake, strawberry pound cake, strawberry shortcake cake, etc.) and we have tons of fantastic doctored cake mix recipes too!

The plus of doctored cake mix recipes like today's easy strawberry cake is convenience and consistency- no matter how many cakes you've baked before.

Even with the added ingredients, this strawberry cake can be put together quickly.

The addition of extra ingredients to the white cake mix, like strawberry jello and especially real strawberries (whether frozen or fresh) give it the edge over a box of strawberry cake mix. It has the flavor and texture of a from-scratch recipe.

Slice of three layer strawberry cake from cake mix on a plate, next to two fresh strawberries.

How to make an Easy Strawberry Cake

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 by greasing, flouring, (and we also like to add circles of parchment to the bottom of each pan).
Next, add all of the ingredients including the white cake mix, strawberry jello, flour, eggs, vegetable oil, milk, and mashed strawberries/strawberry puree. (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)!
Now, it's just a matter of dividing the batter between the pans and baking!

FAQs

Once my strawberry 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 a cooling rack for about 10 minutes, and then flip them out, wrap with plastic wrap, and then with foil.

Next, into 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 20 years now! It really does make such a difference. We've frozen cake layers for up to three months and they still taste as fresh as the day they were made, as long as they are properly wrapped. 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.

There are so many options when it comes to pairing fillings and frostings with strawberry cake. Here are just a few of our favorites:

Cream Cheese Frosting

Strawberry Buttercream

Vanilla Buttercream

Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting

Strawberry Whipped Cream Cheese Filling

This easy strawberry cake only needs to be refrigerated if you are using a perishable filling or frosting (For instance cream cheese frosting, sliced strawberries, and homemade whipped cream, strawberry puree, strawberry preserves, etc.)

If you do need to refrigerate the cake because of the fillings or frostings, we recommend removing it from the refrigerator two hours before serving so that the the cake has time to warm and soften for best flavor and texture.

It's safe to say that this easy strawberry cake is always a good idea, and is sure to please any crowd! Make sure to check out our other Cakes with Fruit as well as favorite birthday cake designs!

More Strawberry Cakes

If you're looking for more delicious Strawberry Cakes, don't miss these recipes! Also, keep in mind that this versatile strawberry box mix recipe works well for strawberry cupcakes(cake mix) too!

Enjoy the Recipe

Keep this moist strawberry cake mix recipe in mind the next time you are looking for birthday cake recipes, a baby shower cake, bridal shower cake, or just in the mood for a strawberry dessert!

Have you made this? We would LOVE for you to leave a ⭐️ rating as well as a comment and photo below! We really appreciate your feedback!

Yield: 15-20 servings

Strawberry Cake- Doctored Cake Mix Recipe

This easy Strawberry Cake from cake mix is fluffy, tender, and delicious. It uses real strawberries and strawberry jello for a delicious boost of flavor.

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Additional Time 45 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 35 minutes

Ingredients

1 box white cake mix ( 15.25 oz) (432g)
1 small box ( 3 ounce) (85g) strawberry Jello
3 Tablespoons all purpose flour
4 eggs
¾ cup vegetable oil ( I used canola oil)
½ cup milk
¾ cup pureed ripe strawberries (You can substitute with frozen strawberries)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees, grease and flour three 8 inch round pans or two 9 inch round 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 2 minutes, scraping down sides of bowl mid way through.
The pureed strawberries should be well blended into the batter.
Bake for 30 min. or until tooth pick comes out clean.

Notes

This recipe works for easy strawberry cupcakes also!

Freezing: The strawberry cake mix layers can be baked in advance and frozen for up to three months. Individually wrap each layer in plastic wrap followed by foil. When thawing, keep wrapped for 30-45 minutes at room temperature before unwrapping and thawing to desired amount for assembling and decorating.

328 Comments

Rachel says:

January 22, 2025 at 12:10 pm

When measuring 3 Tablespoons of flour, is it done by dipping the flour and pouring it into the Tablespoon as is done when measuring cups of flour? It just occurred to me to wonder. I don't want to add too much flour. Thank you.

Susan says:

February 2, 2025 at 10:47 pm

could a 9" x 13" Pyrex pan be used? if possible what temp and time would be required?

thank you

1. Melissa Diamond says:
  
  February 5, 2025 at 11:16 am
  
  Hi Susan! From what I understand, it isn't ideal because the glass/pyrex dishes don't heat as evenly as when using a metal pan and so the edges are likely to be done more quickly than the center. It may be fine- I just can't say or sure since I haven't tried it.
  
Joey says:

March 9, 2025 at 8:35 am

I made this cake for my sister’s engagement party and everyone loved it! Now she wants me to use for her wedding cake. I want to make a 3 tier cake; 3 layer 10”, 3 layer 8” and 3 layer 6” for the cake. How do you think I should adjust the recipe? Thanks!

tammy says:

April 11, 2025 at 8:02 pm

Hi i would rather not use fresh strawberries. Would this affect the taste and would i need to make any adjustments to the recipe?
thank you!

1. Melissa Diamond says:
  
  April 11, 2025 at 11:09 pm
  
  Hi Tammy- I haven't tried this, I was looking to see if anyone else had experimented with this but I didn't see anything right away (lots of comments!). Without the 3/4 cup of puree, you would want to add additional milk to make up for that missing liquid. My guess would be either 1/2 to 3/4 cup.
  
  1. tammy says:
    
    April 12, 2025 at 10:21 am
    
    thank you!! i appreciate your help!!
Mary says:

June 6, 2025 at 10:07 pm

I am impressed!!!
Your cakes are beautiful. I love what you do with a box cake mix.
I bake from scratch.

1. Melissa Diamond says:
  
  June 6, 2025 at 10:55 pm
  
  Thanks so much, Mary! Make sure to check out our scratch recipes too! :0)