The first words out of my daughter’s mouth after she took a bite of this fresh Strawberry Cake? “Wow ~ this is the best cake I’ve ever had!”
This strawberry cake is a keeper!!
She was right, this strawberry cake is one you can be proud to serve and share with loved ones and friends, so run, don’t walk, to your nearest market for a pound of strawberries. I like to use good quality ripe berries that aren’t too big ~ small to medium size berries have the best flavor, usually. Baking enhances the flavor of the berries, but it helps to start with good ones.
Do you love cake for breakfast as much as I do? After baking up today’s strawberry buttermilk cake, try my Rhubarb Breakfast Cake next, and then my Lemon Yogurt Breakfast Cake. Be sure to let me know what you think!
Serve your strawberry buttermilk cake for breakfast, brunch, tea, or coffee break.
It would fit into a classic afternoon tea party, and of course you can end your evening meal with a big slice with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla and some extra sliced berries, but it’s really fabulous all by itself. It makes a pretty presentation with its crackly crust and bits of rosy berries peeking out. It slices beautifully, too. Can you tell I’m exited about this cake??
“I found this recipe about a year ago on Facebook, and it is my favorite cake recipe ever! It has been a hit at every event I have brought it to!” ~Mary Grace
There’s a LOT of fresh strawberries in this cake
This recipe includes almost a pound of strawberries, which sounds like a lot for a one layer cake, but trust me, it works. The berries bake with the cake batter to create a soft, custardy interior which is magical.
- strawberries
- all purpose flour
- baking powder
- salt
- unsalted butter
- granulated sugar
- vanilla extract
- eggs
- sour cream
- buttermilk
- both sour cream and buttermilk tenderize and add moisture to cakes, they also add a subtle tangy flavor.
Best pan for making this strawberry breakfast cake
- You’ll need a 9-inch round cake pan, and I like to use my spring form pan, it makes it super easy to pop the cake out for slicing. (See below for the pan I recommend.)
the Great Island kitchen recommends: 9-inch Spring Form Pan
A spring form pan is handy for a recipe like this because the cake is very delicate, and removing it from a regular cake pan would be impossible. With a spring form pan you can release the sides so that even the most delicate cakes can be presented and sliced perfectly. I use my spring form pan for cornbread too because I love to be able to remove it and serve it on the table beautifully sliced. USA makes a whole line of bakeware and I’m slowly replacing all my pans. Plus, they’re made in the USA!
TIPS for making a perfect strawberry buttermilk cake:
- Cake recipes rely on precision, and changes can screw things up. This cake recipe is simple, but I recommend following it exactly the first time.
- You’ll need to buy 16 ounce pack of strawberries for this recipe, but you won’t use every last one. I found that 14 ounces was perfect, so set aside a few berries for serving with your cake.
- Wash your berries and set them on a clean dish towel to try. Dripping wet berries will make the cake too wet.
- I used jumbo eggs. I know that’s unusual, but that’s what I used, and it resulted in the perfect texture. If you only have large eggs on hand, use 3, that works great too.
- A spring form pan is key here, because the cake is too delicate to be removed from a regular cake pan. The spring form allows you to remove the outer ring of the pan to neatly slice and serve the cake. You can use a regular cake pan if you like, but plan on keeping it in the pan.
- This is best the day it’s made, but if you must store it, cover loosely with foil so the top doesn’t get soggy. Room temperature is fine.
“This is amazing – made it for Mother’s Day and I think this is my new favorite strawberry cake. Not overly sweet and perfectly moist. Thank you!!” ~Kristen
more easy cakes
- Easy Rhubarb Cake
- Cranberry Orange Cake
- Swedish Visiting Cake
- Almond Ricotta Cake
- Apple Skillet Cake
- Honey Cake
Strawberry Buttermilk Cake
Equipment
- a 9 or 10 inch spring form pan
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar, plus extra for sprinkling
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 large eggs, or 2 jumbo eggs
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup buttermilk
- 14 ounces fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
Instructions
- Set oven to 350F
- Lightly spray a 9 or 10 inch spring form pan.
- Whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt and set aside.
- Cream the soft butter and sugar together in a stand mixer for 3-4 minutes, until light and fluffy. Scrape down the side of the bowl a couple of times.
- Beat in the eggs, one at a time, and then beat in the vanilla.
- Stir the sour cream and buttermilk together to blend, and then add the flour to the mixing bowl alternately with the sourcream/milk, beginning and ending with the flour. Mix until combined, but don't over mix.
- Fold in the berries and turn into the prepared pan. Smooth out the top. Sprinkle the surface of the cake liberally with granulated sugar.
- Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until the cake no longer jiggles in the center and the top is golden and slightly crackled. The exact cooking time will depend on the pan size you use. You can insert a toothpick in the center to test.
- Let cool briefly, and then unlatch the spring and remove the outer ring. I like to run a spreading knife along the edge first to loosen any parts of the cake that are sticking to the pan. Cool completely on a rack before slicing.
Video
Notes
- I used half sour cream and half buttermilk, but you can use all sour cream, all buttermilk, half and half, full fat yogurt, or full fat milk for this cake.
- You can bake this in a 9 inch cast iron skillet. Serve it right in the pan.
- Try it with other fruit, especially other berries like blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries.
Nutrition
I made this cake yesterday – very moist and flavorful! And it was just like the picture!
I love hearing that, thanks Jeanne!
The local grocery story had a sale of flats of strawberries. Of course I bought too many!! I made this recipe last night and it turned out great. Looked just like the picture and was delicious. Will try it with other fruit.
I love it when people say a recipe turned out just like the pictures, that makes me feel good 🙂 I think other fruit will be wonderful, I’m definitely trying that too 🙂
It is so addicting! I made it twice in 1 week!
Love that, thanks Mary Ann!
What size springform pan did you use, please?
Mine was a 9 inch, Penny.
I use a cake pan. It works great.
I loved your strawberry cake. I made it for a friend who loves strawberries. It has great fresh strawberry flavor. I’am now using blueberries and, I put on a crumb topping. Its just a great cake! Thanks
Thanks John, I love your idea of blueberries with the crumb topping, may need to steal that!
Do you use 3or2 jumbo eggs?
It’s 3 large, or if you want to use jumbo eggs, it would be 2, Lee.
This is truly a delicious cake recipe! Very moist. I have done this cake with chopped bananas, one with chopped apple, and another with leftover homemade cranberry sauce. Always good! I’ve added cinnamon to the sugar topping once or twice. I make these cakes to give away, as they are much too dangerous sitting in my kitchen to tempt me!
Your buttermilk strawberry cake has become known here in Switzerland as “Magic Cake”. Using the same basic recipe it works with any fruit combo. Also I use a Kugloff bundtpan from King Arthur collection and it works perfecly. Just butter and sugar the mound really well before.
Love this Pamela!! I’ve done it with several different fruits so far and they’ve all worked, my latest was fresh cranberries.
Have you ever tried frozen berries? Well drained of course!
I haven’t but in the case of strawberries they would need to be sliced as well.
Made this last night for a family dinner. I used raspberries since I had lots and instead of mixing into the batter, which I knew would break them up and make it all pink, I covered the top of the cake with them and slightly pressed into the batter. I sprinkled the sugar on top as per the recipe. The cake was a hit ! Everyone raved about the lovely fresh taste and I admit, it was pretty great. I will make this again -SOON. Thank you!
Thanks Grace, I love all the variations people are coming up with for this cake. Yours sounds so pretty.