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Strawberry Earthquake Cake

A moist and fluffy vanilla cake loaded with sweet strawberries, cream cheese swirls, and a delicious crumble topping.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 12 slices
Course: Dessert, Sweet Treat
Cuisine: American
Calories: 300
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Cake
  • 1 box strawberry cake mix Use a standard size box
  • 1 cup water Room temperature preferred
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil Can substitute with canola oil
  • 3 large eggs
  • 2 cups fresh strawberries, diced For the best flavor, use ripe strawberries
For the Cream Cheese Swirl
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened Make sure it's at room temperature
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract For best flavor, use pure vanilla extract
For the Topping
  • 1 cup plain cake mix This can be from a box or homemade
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted Let it cool slightly before using
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar Light or dark brown sugar works
  • 1 cup sliced strawberries For topping before serving

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. In a large bowl, combine the strawberry cake mix, water, vegetable oil, and eggs. Mix on medium speed until well blended—about 2 minutes.
  3. Gently fold in the diced strawberries.
  4. In another bowl, beat the softened cream cheese, sugar, egg, and vanilla extract until smooth.
  5. Pour half of the strawberry batter into a greased 9x13 inch baking dish. Spread the cream cheese mixture on top and pour remaining strawberry batter over it.
  6. In a separate bowl, combine the plain cake mix, melted butter, and brown sugar. Sprinkle this mixture evenly over the cake batter.
Baking
  1. Bake for about 40-45 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  2. Allow the cake to cool for at least 20 minutes before serving.
Serving
  1. Top with fresh strawberries and a dollop of whipped cream if desired.

Notes

Don’t overmix the batter for a tender, fluffy cake. You can swap strawberries for other berries and elevate the cake with powdered sugar or chocolate sauce.