Easy Strawberry Shortcake Cake (made with cake mix!)

Strawberry Shortcake Cake is a rustic vanilla layer cake filled with a whipped cream cheese frosting and fresh strawberries. Easy, impressive, and SO good!

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 30

Total Time 50

Servings servings

Ingredients

For the cake

15.25 ounce French Vanilla cake mix
3 large eggs
1 ¼ cups water
½ cup unsalted butter at room temp

For the frosting/filling

8 ounce cream cheese at room temp
½ cup granulated white sugar
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 pint heavy whipping cream
1 quart fresh strawberries rinsed and sliced

Instructions

To make the cake

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Grease two 9" round cake pans, line with parchment paper, and sprinkle bottom and sides of pans with sugar and set aside.
15.25 ounce French Vanilla cake mix, 3 large eggs, 1 1/4 cups water, 1/2 cup unsalted butter
In a large bowl, add the cake mix, eggs, water, and softened butter. Use a hand mixer (or stand mixer) to beat on low until moistened and then on medium for two minutes, until fully combined.
8 ounce cream cheese, 1/2 cup granulated white sugar, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pour evenly into prepared pans and bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
1 pint heavy whipping cream
Let cool in pans then flip onto cooling racks to cool completely.
1 quart fresh strawberries
Trim the tops with a serrated knife, if necessary, to make the two cakes even.

To make the frosting/filling

In a medium bowl, add the softened cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla and mix with a hand mixer until smooth.
In a small mixing bowl that has been chilled, add the heavy cream and beat on high until stiff peaks form.
Gently fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture.
Put the frosting into a large zip top bag and snip off the tip.
Spread half of the frosting on top of the first layer of cake. Top with half of the sliced strawberries.
Place the top layer of cake onto the strawberries and pipe on the remaining frosting. Arrange the remaining strawberries onto the top of the cake.
Slice and enjoy!

Notes

Use any cake mix you like—French vanilla, angel food, yellow, or white.
Line pans with parchment circles before greasing for easy cake removal.
Chill your bowl before whipping cream; cold tools help it whip faster.
Frost using a zip-top bag for a quick, decorative touch—or spread with a spatula.
Store leftovers covered in the fridge for up to 3 days.
To freeze, tightly wrap cake layers in plastic wrap—note it may get messy.

Recipe adapted from an old Duncan Hines cookbook

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