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.

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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.

bitten Strawberry Snacking Cake

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.
Strawberry Snacking Cake ingredients

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.
top shot of Strawberry Snacking Cake
  • 10×15 inch baking sheet
  • Cooking spray
  • Large mixing bowl
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How to Make Strawberry Snacking Cake

  1. Make The Batter: Beat together the cake mix, half and half, butter, eggs, and vanilla extract until combined.
  2. 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.
  3. Bake: Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 25-35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. 
  4. Serve: Serve warm or cool. Enjoy!
snacking cake strawberry collage photos

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.
Strawberry Snacking Cake square on a plate

Frequently Asked Questions

How should I store my Strawberry Snacking Cake?

Allow your Strawberry Snacking Cake to cool completely before covering it loosely with plastic wrap and storing it at room temperature for up to 1 day. After a day, the cake should be stored in the refrigerator, in an airtight container or bag, for up to 4 days. It can be eaten cold or warmed for 15-30 seconds in the microwave before serving. The longer this cake is stored the more likely it is to dry out and lose flavor. 

How do I spread the cake batter?

The cake batter is a bit thick and can be difficult to spread. It is helpful to have a spreading spatula to spread it into an even layer. You can also tap the pan on the counter to get rid of air bubbles and even the cake out further. If you don’t have a spreading spatula or want to ensure an even cake, you can leave it out on the counter for 5-10 minutes after you’ve spread it in the pan to allow gravity to help even it out. 

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snacking cake with strawberries

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5 from 1 vote
Strawberry Snacking Cake featured image

Strawberry Snacking Cake

Serves — 20
This Strawberry Snacking Cake is so quick and easy to make with a box mix shortcut. Moist, sweet, and filled with fresh fruit, this cake is meant for consuming casually with your hands as soon as the craving hits.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes

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

Storage:
  • 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.
Tips:
  • 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.

Nutrition Info

Calories: 159kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 41mg | Sodium: 204mg | Potassium: 77mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 223IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 70mg | Iron: 1mg

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