This strawberry sheet cake is easy to make with a cake mix, fresh strawberry puree, and a strawberry cream cheese frosting! Baked on a sheet pan, it’s perfect for feeding a crowd.

A slice of strawberry sheet cake on a plate with frosting and a sliced strawberry garnish.

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Easy Strawberry Sheet Cake

If you love strawberries as much as I do, you don’t want to miss this strawberry sheet cake recipe with fresh strawberry puree. Like my strawberry jello poke cake, it starts with a boxed cake mix, which makes it easy to whip up in 35 minutes.

It’s baked on a sheet pan like my white sheet cake recipe, making it thinner than your average cake but perfect for serving a crowd at a potluck! Top with a strawberry cream cheese frosting or strawberry buttercream for the ultimate strawberry sheet cake!

Recipe Ingredients

Pouring strawberry cream cheese frosting on top of a strawberry sheet cake.

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

  • Fresh strawberries: Juicy, ripe berries will be pureed to infuse the cake with fresh strawberry flavor! Thawed and drained frozen strawberries will work, but may need a pinch of additional sugar.
  • Cake mix: Using a white cake mix or strawberry cake mix keeps it easy!
  • Instant vanilla pudding: Helps thicken and soften the cake with pudding.
  • Eggs: This will add structure to the cake as well as color and richness.
  • Canola oil: Extra moisture will be added in with the oil.
  • Water: Warm water is added to the batter to keep it moist and help with baking time.
  • Sour cream: This will soften the cake and give it a moist, spongy texture.
  • Red food coloring: This helps to brighten the cake a little more and give it that beautiful pink color once it is baked.
  • Strawberry cream cheese frosting: Softened butter, softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, strawberry puree and a pinch of salt.

How to Make Strawberry Sheet Cake

In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, pudding mix, eggs, oil, water, and sour cream. Mix using an electric mixer on medium speed until combined. Add 1 cup of the strawberry purée and gently combined. Do not overmix.

Pour into a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake in a preheated 350-degree oven for 20 minutes. Remove and allow the cake to cool before adding any frosting.

Strawberry cake mix batter in a bowl.
Spreading strawberry cake batter infused with strawberry puree into a sheet cake pan.

Make the frosting by beating the cream cheese and butter with a hand mixer until smooth and creamy.

Add powdered sugar and strawberry purée and mix until combined. Add a pinch of salt or vanilla extract, if desired.

Mixing strawberry cream cheese frosting in bowl to top strawberry sheet cake.
Spreading frosting on strawberry sheet cake.

Using a spatula evenly spread the strawberry cream cheese frosting overtop the strawberry sheet cake. I like to use a knife of offset spatula.

Strawberry sheet cake in a baking pan with strawberry cream cheese frosting.

Tips for the Best Strawberry Sheet Cake

  • Flavors. This can be made with vanilla cake mix or strawberry cake mix if preferred.
  • Size. This cake is quite thin, so if you’re looking for a thicker cake, swap the baking sheet for a 9×13 cake pan. Add 5 minutes to the baking time.
  • Butter. I use salted butter because I like what it adds to the taste, but you can use unsalted butter and then adjust using any added salt to taste.
  • Strawberries. The riper, the sweeter your purée will be. It’s the juices that add all of that delicious strawberry flavor. Just keep in mind, you may want to avoid overly juicy strawberries to garnish the cake, otherwise, they may start to bleed into your frosting.
  • Cake mix size. This recipe calls for a 15 oz box of cake mix. Some brands have reduced their box sizes, so check the weight before buying. A slightly smaller box may affect the texture and thickness of your cake.
Strawberry sheet cake on a white plate with strawberry slices on top.

Serving Suggestions

This cake can be served chilled or at room temperature, both work well. If serving at a potluck or party, slice it into bars right in the pan for easy cleanup.

Add fresh sliced strawberries on top just before serving so they don’t bleed into the frosting. It also pairs nicely with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an extra-special dessert.

A fork on a plate with strawberry sheet cake.

Do you love strawberry desserts!? Try this strawberry cake, strawberry cake mix cookies, fresh strawberry pie, or strawberry brownies using cake mix!

More Strawberry Dessert Recipes

A slice of strawberry sheet cake topped with strawberry cream cheese icing and a fresh strawberry on a serving plate.

Strawberry Sheet Cake

5 from 9 votes
Recipe by: Jamielyn Nye
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 24
This strawberry sheet cake is easy to make with a cake mix, fresh strawberry puree, and a strawberry cream cheese frosting! Baked on a sheet pan, it's perfect for feeding a crowd.
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Equipment

  • Half-Size Sheet Pan (18×13")

Ingredients 

Strawberry Puree

  • 16 ounces strawberries , rinsed and tops cut (more for top if desired)

Strawberry Cake

  • 15 ounces white cake mix , or strawberry cake mix
  • 3.4 ounce box Instant Vanilla Pudding
  • 3 large eggs
  • ¾ cup canola oil
  • ¾ cup warm water
  • 8 ounces sour cream
  • red food coloring , optional

Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 6 Tablespoons butter , softened (I use salted)
  • 4 ouces cream cheese , softened
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • ⅓ cup strawberry puree , reserved from cake
  • Pinch salt

Instructions

  • Prep. Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 18×13" baking sheet with non-stick spray or line with parchment paper. Then place 16 ounces strawberries in a blender and pulse until well blended.
  • Combine the 15 ounce cake mix, 3.4 ounce pudding mix, 3 eggs, 3/4 cup oil, 3/4 cup water and 8 ounces sour cream. Mix until well combined.
  • Bake. Add in 1 cup of strawberry puree and then mix just until combined. Add a few drops of food coloring if desired. Pour into the prepared baking sheet. Bake cake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick comes clean. Remove from oven and allow cake to cool.
  • For the frosting, combine 6 Tablespoons butter and 4 ounces cream cheese together in a medium size bowl. Mix with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy, about 1 minute. Then add in 3 cups powdered sugar and 1/3 cup strawberry puree. Mix until combined. Taste and add a pinch of salt or dash of vanilla if needed.
  • Spread the frosting evenly over top of the cooled cake.
  • Slice cake into 24 bars and then top with sliced strawberries if desired, just before serving.

Last step: Please leave a comment and rating after you make the recipe.

Notes

Cake: This cake could also be made with strawberry cake mix or vanilla cake mix. You could also bake in a 9×13″ pan if you desire a thicker cake. You will need to add on an additional 5 minutes of bake time.  
Storage: Store in a covered container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator. 
Freezer instructions: Place slices on baking sheet and freezer for 30 minutes. Once frosting is hard, stack slices in a covered container with a parchment paper in between each layer. 

Nutrition

Calories: 271kcal, Carbohydrates: 36g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 14g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 6g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 33mg, Sodium: 191mg, Potassium: 57mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 28g, Vitamin A: 181IU, Vitamin C: 13mg, Calcium: 52mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.