Description
Sweet sensations erupt with this strawberry earthquake cake, a delightful dessert that crumbles and cascades with luscious strawberry flavor. Creamy layers mingle with fruity swirls, creating a dessert landscape you’ll savor to the last crumbly bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake Base:
- 1 box white cake mix
- 1 cup water
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup strawberries, chopped
- 1/2 cup coconut flakes
Cream Cheese Topping:
- 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Chocolate Additions:
- 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 350F (175C) and thoroughly coat a 9×13 inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter.
- Prepare cake mix following package directions, then delicately incorporate fresh strawberry pieces throughout the batter. Transfer mixture into the prepared pan, ensuring even distribution.
- Using an electric mixer, whip cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until achieving a silky, uniform consistency.
- Gently dollop the cream cheese mixture across the cake batter’s surface, creating random patches and swirls.
- Generously scatter white chocolate chips and coconut flakes over the entire cake top, covering most of the surface.
- Place the cake in the preheated oven and bake for 40-45 minutes, watching for golden brown edges and a set center.
- Remove from oven and let cool completely at room temperature, allowing the distinctive cracked earthquake texture to develop naturally.
- Slice into generous squares, revealing pockets of creamy filling and fruity strawberry bursts within the dessert.
- Serve chilled or at room temperature for optimal flavor and texture enjoyment.
Notes
- Swap frozen strawberries for fresh ones, but ensure they’re completely thawed and patted dry to prevent excess moisture in the cake.
- Use room temperature cream cheese and butter for smoother, lump-free cream cheese topping that spreads easily.
- Adjust sweetness by reducing powdered sugar if using very ripe, sweet strawberries or prefer a less sweet dessert.
- Gluten-free option works perfectly by substituting regular cake mix with a gluten-free alternative without compromising texture or flavor.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 447
- Sugar: 44 g
- Sodium: 167 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 53 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg