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Strawberry Crunch Cake

A creamy, fluffy strawberry cake layered with rich cream cheese frosting and coated in buttery strawberry crunch crumbs for the ultimate bakery-style dessert.
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Prep Time 35 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 12 slices
Course: Desserts
Cuisine: American
Calories: 620
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Cake Layers
  • 1 box vanilla cake mix
  • 1 box strawberry cake mix
  • 6 large eggs
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1 package strawberry gelatin powder
  • 1 cup sour cream room temperature
Cream Cheese Frosting
  • 16 ounces cream cheese softened
  • 1 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 5 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons heavy cream
Strawberry Crunch Topping
  • 24 golden sandwich cookies
  • 1 cup freeze-dried strawberries
  • 4 tablespoons melted butter
  • 2 tablespoons strawberry gelatin powder

Equipment

  • Cake pans
  • electric mixer
  • offset spatula

Method
 

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare three 8-inch cake pans with parchment paper and nonstick spray.
  2. Mix both cake mixes, eggs, oil, milk, vanilla, strawberry gelatin, and sour cream until smooth.
  3. Divide the batter evenly into the pans and bake for 25–30 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
  4. Cool the cake layers completely on a wire rack before frosting.
  5. Pulse the cookies and freeze-dried strawberries into crumbs, then mix with butter and gelatin powder.
  6. Beat cream cheese and butter until fluffy, then add powdered sugar, vanilla, and heavy cream.
  7. Layer the cakes with frosting between each layer and apply a thin crumb coat.
  8. Chill the cake for 20 minutes, then apply the final frosting layer.
  9. Press the strawberry crunch mixture onto the cake and decorate as desired.
  10. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before slicing and serving.

Notes

For the best texture, chill the cake before slicing and use freeze-dried strawberries for a crisp crunch topping.