Name: Strawberry Sheet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 1 h
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: ¾ cup vegetable oil (170 g); ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted (56 g); 1 ½ cups granulated sugar (300 g); 3 large eggs; 2 tsp vanilla extract; ⅓ cup milk (80 g); 340 g fresh or frozen strawberries (makes about 1 ½ cups of puree); 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour (360 g); 2 tbsp cornstarch (20 g); ¾ tsp baking soda; 1 tsp baking powder; 1 tsp salt; Optional: few drops of pink gel food color; 12 oz cream cheese, room temperature (340 g); ⅓ cup strawberry jam (80 g); ¼ cup granulated sugar (60 g); ⅓ cup heavy cream (80 g); Pinch of salt; Fresh strawberries to taste

If you adore all things strawberry, then this Strawberry Sheet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe is about to become your new favorite! It’s fresh, moist, and topped with the silkiest strawberry cream cheese frosting – perfect for any spring or summer gathering.

The image shows a slice of rectangular cake with two layers: a moist light brown base and a thick, smooth pale pink frosting on top. The cake slice is decorated with halved fresh strawberries placed partly on the frosting, adding red and green from the fruit’s leaves. Pink crumbs are sprinkled over the frosting for extra texture. The slice is lifted slightly by a knife under it on a white marbled surface, with more cake slices visible in the background. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Strawberry Sheet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Strawberry Sheet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Strawberry Sheet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I honestly can’t get enough of this cake. Every time I bake it, the kitchen fills with the most inviting strawberry aroma, and the balance of light cake with creamy frosting is just irresistible.

Fresh, Real Strawberries: Using fresh or properly thawed strawberries means vibrant natural flavor and gorgeous color in every bite.
Moist, Tender Texture: The combination of oil and melted butter keeps the crumb soft and perfectly springy.
Silky Cream Cheese Frosting: Blended with strawberry jam, it’s sweet without overpowering the cake’s gentle fruitiness.
Simple and Straightforward: Even if you’re not an expert baker, this recipe’s step-by-step instructions make it super easy to follow.

Ingredients & Why They Work

Before you get started, let’s chat about the ingredients because choosing the right ones will really elevate this strawberry sheet cake to something special. Whether you’re shopping or digging through your pantry, these key players deserve a little attention.

Flat lay of fresh whole brown eggs with clean shells, a small white ceramic bowl of golden vegetable oil, a small white ceramic bowl with melted butter, a small white ceramic bowl filled with granulated sugar, a small white ceramic bowl of milk, a small white ceramic bowl containing fresh whole strawberries with stems, a small white ceramic bowl of cream cheese softened and smooth, a small white ceramic bowl of bright red strawberry jam, a small white ceramic bowl of heavy cream, a small white ceramic bowl of cornstarch, a small white ceramic bowl with all-purpose flour, and a small white ceramic bowl with a pinch of salt and mix of baking soda and baking powder all arranged symmetrically, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Vegetable Oil: Keeps the cake moist and tender with a neutral flavor that lets the strawberries shine.
Unsalted Butter: Adds richness and depth when melted, pairing beautifully with the oil.
Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the cake just right – the perfect balance for fresh strawberry flavor.
Eggs: Provide structure and help bind the batter for the perfect crumb.
Vanilla Extract: Enhances the natural sweetness and complements the berry notes.
Milk: Adds slight creaminess and keeps the batter smooth.
Fresh or Frozen Strawberries: The star ingredient that infuses the cake with juicy strawberry goodness – if frozen, thaw beforehand for best results.
All-Purpose Flour: Forms the cake’s structure, balancing tenderness with strength.
Cornstarch: Lightens the texture for a softer, more delicate crumb.
Baking Soda & Baking Powder: Work together to give the cake a gentle lift and perfect rise.
Salt: Enhances all the flavors and balances the sweetness.
Pink Gel Food Coloring (Optional): Adds a lovely, subtle pink hue to make the cake pop visually.
Cream Cheese: The foundation of the frosting, bringing creaminess and slight tang.
Strawberry Jam: Deepens the strawberry flavor in the frosting without adding chunks.
Heavy Cream: Makes the frosting silky smooth and spreadable.
Pinch of Salt (for frosting): Balances sweetness and enhances flavor depth.
Fresh Strawberries (for decoration): A fresh, pretty garnish that adds extra bursts of natural sweetness.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

The beauty of this Strawberry Sheet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe is how adaptable it is to your tastes and occasions. Whether you like it ultra-pink, add a zing of citrus, or make it friendly for dietary needs, the cake welcomes your personal twist with open arms.

Gluten-Free Version: I swapped the all-purpose flour for a gluten-free blend once, and the cake still came out moist and tender. Just be sure your blend includes xanthan gum for structure.
Vegan Adaptation: I experimented using flax eggs and vegan butter; it takes a bit more care to get the frosting texture right, but using a non-dairy cream cheese makes it deliciously tangy and dairy-free.
Seasonal Twist: When fresh strawberries weren't in season, I mixed frozen raspberries with the puree for a different berry flavor that was equally stunning and tasty.
Extra Strawberry Boost: Adding a tablespoon of strawberry jam into the batter offers a sweeter strawberry punch, which I found delightful for those with a serious sweet tooth.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Strawberry Sheet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

The image shows a single slice of light pink cake with a soft, crumbly texture, topped with a smooth layer of pale pink frosting. On top of the frosting, there are fresh strawberry slices adding bright red color with green small leaves attached. The slice sits on a white plate with a scalloped edge, with a gold fork placed under the slice. In the background, there is another smaller rectangular piece of the same cake on a similar white plate. Around the plates, whole strawberries and small pieces of dried strawberries are scattered on a white marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Step 1: Preheat Your Oven and Prep the Pan

Start by heating your oven to 350°F (conventional, no fan). I always line my 9x13 inch pan with parchment paper—this makes removing the cake a breeze and helps prevent any sticking. Make sure the paper covers all sides for easy lifting after baking.

Step 2: Whip Up the Wet Ingredients

In a large bowl, blend ¾ cup vegetable oil, ¼ cup melted butter, 1 ½ cups sugar, 3 eggs, and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract. Beat for about 2 minutes until you get a smooth, shiny mixture—this step ensures your cake will be beautifully moist and rich.

Step 3: Puree Your Strawberries

Place 340 grams of fresh or thawed strawberries into a food processor. Blend until smooth, leaving a little chunkiness if you prefer that rustic fresh-strawberry texture in your cake batter. This fragrant strawberry puree is the heart of the cake’s flavor and aroma.

Step 4: Combine the Wet Ingredients Fully

Add the strawberry puree and ⅓ cup milk to your wet mixture, gently whisking everything together until the color and texture are uniform. Your batter is starting to look delicious already!

Step 5: Sift and Add the Dry Ingredients

Next, sift 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour, 2 tablespoons cornstarch, 1 teaspoon baking powder, ¾ teaspoon baking soda, and 1 teaspoon salt together. Gently whisk these dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring just enough to eliminate lumps without overworking the batter. This careful mixing keeps your cake tender and light.

Step 6: Add Optional Pink Food Coloring

If you want a more vivid pink cake, fold in a few drops of pink gel food coloring now. Just gently fold so the color is evenly dispersed without toughening your batter.

Step 7: Bake Till Perfectly Moist

Pour your batter into the prepared pan and bake for around 30 minutes. After 25 minutes, start testing with a toothpick in the center. It should come out with a few moist crumbs, but no soggy batter—this means your cake is perfectly moist inside. Be careful not to overbake!

Step 8: Cool Completely Before Frosting

Set your cake on a rack to cool at room temperature for about 10 minutes or until fully cool. This is important to prevent the frosting from melting when applied.

Step 9: Whisk Up the Silky Cream Cheese Frosting

In a medium bowl, combine 12 oz room temperature cream cheese, ⅓ cup strawberry jam, ¼ cup sugar, ⅓ cup heavy cream, and a pinch of salt. Whisk on medium-low speed until smooth and lump-free. Be careful not to overmix, or your frosting may become too runny. You can add pink food coloring here for an extra pop of color! The frosting should be luxuriously silky and fluffy.

Step 10: Assemble and Decorate

Once the cake is cool, either lift it out of the pan using the parchment or leave it in, then spread the cream cheese frosting evenly over the surface. Finish with a generous decoration of fresh sliced strawberries for that beautiful, inviting look and extra burst of flavor.

Step 11: Serve and Store with Care

Slice into approximately 12 servings and enjoy at room temperature to savor the best texture and flavor. If storing leftovers, keep the cake refrigerated and bring it back to room temp before serving. This cake stays delightful up to 3 days if stored properly.

Top Tip

These tips come from my personal experience perfecting the Strawberry Sheet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe, and they’ll help you get the best texture and flavor every time.

Use room temperature ingredients: I always make sure the cream cheese and eggs are at room temperature before mixing — it helps create that beautifully smooth frosting and prevents the batter from seizing up.
Don’t overmix the batter: When combining dry and wet ingredients, a gentle hand keeps the cake tender and moist instead of dense.
Check doneness early: I start testing the cake around 25 minutes with a toothpick because overbaking dries it out — you want a few moist crumbs on your toothpick, not wet batter.
Thaw frozen strawberries fully: If you’re using frozen berries, letting them sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before pureeing makes a huge difference in flavor and texture.

How to Serve Strawberry Sheet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

A wooden bowl filled with smooth, light pink batter that has tiny darker pink specks mixed evenly throughout. A metal whisk with a wooden handle is resting inside the bowl, slightly lifting some of the batter, showing its creamy texture. The bowl sits on a white marbled surface and has a light dusting of flour along its rim, adding a touch of rustic feel. The batter looks thick but easy to stir, with soft swirls caused by the whisk's movement. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Garnishes

Fresh, sliced strawberries are the obvious choice to crown your cake with a burst of natural sweetness and vibrant color. For added texture and a hint of crunch, sprinkle chopped toasted almonds or pistachios on top. A light dusting of powdered sugar or edible flower petals can also make your cake look stunning and festive.

Side Dishes

This cake pairs beautifully with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream or a dollop of lightly whipped cream. For something refreshing, serve alongside a simple mixed berry salad or a crisp green salad with a citrus vinaigrette to balance the sweetness.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

After serving, store any leftover Strawberry Sheet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting tightly covered in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh for up to 3 days. Be sure to bring it to room temperature before serving again to enjoy the cake’s moist texture and silky frosting at their best.

Freezing

You can freeze the cake either frosted or unfrosted. Wrap the cake tightly with plastic wrap and then in aluminum foil to protect it from freezer burn. It keeps well for up to 1 month. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and then bring it to room temperature before serving.

Reheating

Since this is a cake best enjoyed at room temperature, I recommend letting it sit out for 30–60 minutes after refrigeration before slicing. If you prefer a slightly warm bite, you can microwave individual slices for about 10–15 seconds, but avoid overheating as it can soften the cream cheese frosting too much.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use frozen strawberries for this cake?

Yes! Just be sure to thaw them completely at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before pureeing to get the best flavor and texture in the cake batter.

How do I know when the cake is done?

Insert a toothpick into the center of the cake around 25-30 minutes baking time. It should come out with a few moist crumbs attached but no wet batter. This ensures a moist and tender cake.

Can I make the cream cheese frosting thicker?

Absolutely! This recipe yields a light layer of frosting, but you can easily double the frosting ingredients if you prefer a thicker, richer topping.

Should I refrigerate the cake before frosting?

Yes, letting the cake cool completely at room temperature before frosting helps prevent the cream cheese frosting from melting and keeps everything smooth and beautiful.

Final Thoughts

There’s something truly special about a homemade Strawberry Sheet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe — it captures the sunny brightness of fresh strawberries and pairs it with a comforting, creamy finish. I hope this recipe inspires you to gather loved ones, share sweet moments, and enjoy dessert that feels both effortless and made with love. Happy baking!