Strawberry Earthquake Cake (Printable)
Gooey strawberry cake with cream cheese swirl and white chocolate chips, ready in just 1 hour.
# Ingredient List:
→ Strawberry Layer
01 - 2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
02 - 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
→ Cake Base
03 - 1 box (15.25 oz) strawberry cake mix
04 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
05 - 3 large eggs
06 - 1 cup milk
→ Cream Cheese Swirl
07 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
08 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
09 - 2 cups powdered sugar
10 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
→ Add-Ins
11 - 1 cup white chocolate chips
12 - 1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut (optional)
# How to Make:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan thoroughly.
02 - In a medium bowl, toss sliced strawberries with granulated sugar until evenly coated. Set aside to macerate.
03 - Combine strawberry cake mix, melted butter, eggs, and milk in a large bowl. Beat until smooth and well incorporated. Spread batter evenly into prepared pan.
04 - Scatter sugared strawberries, white chocolate chips, and shredded coconut evenly over the surface of the cake batter.
05 - Beat cream cheese and softened butter in a separate bowl until smooth and creamy. Add powdered sugar and vanilla extract, mixing until fluffy and fully combined.
06 - Drop spoonfuls of cream cheese mixture randomly over the cake batter. Use a butter knife to gently swirl through the batter, creating a marbled pattern. Avoid overmixing to maintain distinct swirls.
07 - Bake for 38-42 minutes until edges are set but center remains slightly gooey. The characteristic earthquake appearance comes from the cracked, uneven top.
08 - Let cake cool in pan for 15-20 minutes before slicing. Serve warm or at room temperature for best texture and flavor.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The contrast between the tender strawberry cake and rich cream cheese swirls creates the kind of dessert people hover around until the last crumb disappears
- You get all the wow factor of a fancy layered cake without actually having to layer anything or possess decorating skills
02 -
- The cracked, uneven top is exactly what you want, so do not panic when it comes out of the oven looking like a delicious disaster
- Overbaking is the enemy here, so trust your instincts and pull it from the oven while the center still seems slightly underdone
03 -
- Room temperature ingredients are nonnegotiable for achieving those proper marble swirls without tearing the batter
- A light touch with the knife creates more dramatic earthquake cracks, while aggressive swirling blends everything too much