Description
This Strawberry Crunch Cake is a deliciously soft and fluffy cake with a creamy layer and a buttery, crispy strawberry crunch topping. Made with simple ingredients like vanilla cake, whipped cream, and freeze-dried strawberries, this dessert is perfect for any occasion! Whether it’s a birthday, holiday, or just a weekend treat, this easy-to-make cake is sure to impress. Plus, with customizable flavors like chocolate or vanilla, you can make it uniquely yours.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Cake Base:
- 1 box vanilla or strawberry cake mix
- 3 large eggs
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup milk (or water as per cake mix instructions)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional, for extra flavor)
For the Crunch Topping:
- 20 vanilla sandwich cookies (Golden Oreos or shortbread cookies, crushed)
- ¾ cup freeze-dried strawberries (crushed into small pieces)
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (melted)
For the Filling & Topping:
- 1 cup strawberry preserves or jam
- 2 cups whipped topping (Cool Whip or homemade whipped cream)
- Fresh strawberries for garnish (optional)
Instructions
Step 1: Bake the Cake
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish or two round cake pans.
- Mix cake batter: In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, eggs, oil, milk, and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth.
- Bake according to package instructions, about 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Let the cake cool completely before adding toppings.
Step 2: Prepare the Crunch Topping
- In a food processor or ziplock bag, crush the vanilla sandwich cookies into small crumbs.
- Add the freeze-dried strawberries and crush until combined.
- Pour in the melted butter and mix well to create a crunchy, crumbly topping.
Step 3: Assemble the Cake
- Spread the strawberry preserves evenly over the top of the cooled cake.
- Add whipped topping in a smooth layer over the preserves.
- Sprinkle the crunch topping evenly across the entire cake.
Step 4: Chill & Serve
- Refrigerate the cake for at least 1 hour to allow flavors to blend.
- Garnish with fresh strawberries before serving.
- Slice, serve, and enjoy the perfect combination of soft, creamy, and crunchy!
Notes
- For Extra Flavor: Add a teaspoon of strawberry extract to the cake batter for a stronger strawberry taste.
- Make It Dairy-Free: Swap milk with almond or oat milk and use dairy-free whipped topping.
- Gluten-Free Version: Use a gluten-free cake mix and gluten-free cookies for the topping.
- Storage:
- Refrigerate: Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Freeze: Wrap slices individually and freeze for up to 1 month.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Cuisine: American / Dessert
Nutrition
- Calories: ~320 kcal
- Fat: ~15g
- Carbohydrates: ~45g
- Fiber: ~2g
- Protein: ~3g