5 from 15 votes
STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE CAKE – This strawberry shortcake cake recipe by The Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond, is made of layers of dense vanilla butter cake and filled homemade cream cheese frosting and fresh sweetened strawberries. Add candles to it for the perfect Strawberry Shortcake Birthday Cake or just enjoy as is!
Strawberry Shortcake Cake
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
45 mins
Total Time
1 hr 5 mins
 

A layered vanilla butter cake filled with fresh sweetened strawberries and cream cheese frosting

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 1 Cake
Author: Alice Currah of Savory Sweet Life
Ingredients
Cake:
  • 1/2 cup 1 stick plus 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 1/2 cups plus 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup sour cream at room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
Strawberries:
  • 1 pound strawberries hulled and halved
  • 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
Cream Cheese Frosting:
  • One 8-ounce package cream cheese at room temperature
  • 1 cup 2 sticks unsalted butter
  • 1 1/2 pounds powdered sugar sifted
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°. Grease and flour a 9-inch round cake pan that’s at least 2 inches deep (or you can split the batter between 2 pans if they’re not deep enough).
  2. To make the cake batter, beat together the butter and sugar until fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
  3. Add the sour cream and vanilla, then mix until just combined.
  4. Sift together the flour, cornstarch, salt, and baking soda and add it to the bowl.
  5. Mix it together until just combined.
  6. Spread it in the pan or pans and bake for 45 to 50 minutes, or until the cake is no longer jiggly like my bottom.
  7. Carefully remove the cake from the pan and allow it to cool completely.
  8. Next, mash the strawberries with a potato masher or a fork (reserve a few for garnish if you like).
  9. Sprinkle the strawberries with the sugar. Toss them around and allow them to sit for a little while.
  10. They’ll give off this beautiful liquid after several minutes. Try not to drink it with a straw.
  11. To make the frosting, combine the cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt in a mixing bowl.
  12. Mix until very light and fluffy. Warning: You’ll feel like eating this bowl of icing before you even get it on the cake.
  13. To assemble the cake, use a sharp knife to cut it in half through the middle. It’s easier if you go all around the perimeter of the cake, slicing only halfway through the circle the whole way.
  14. Lay the two halves cut side up.
  15. And cover both halves with an equal amount of strawberries. Then—this is an important step!—place the cake halves in the freezer for 15 to 20 minutes. This’ll firm up the surface of the strawberries just a bit so that it’s easier to spread on the icing.
  16. Remove the cakes from the freezer and place one layer on a cake stand or platter. Cover with a little less than a third of the icing.
  17. Place the second layer on top, then spread the top with icing.
  18. Carefully ice the outside of the cake with the remaining icing.
  19. Lovely! You can certainly decorate the top of the cake with strawberry slices, too.
Recipe Notes

Cake should be stored in the refrigerator loosely wrapped in plastic wrap or a large sealed container.