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Strawberry Crunch Cake Recipe

4.6 from 131 reviews

A delightful Strawberry Crunch Cake featuring moist strawberry-flavored layers topped with creamy buttercream frosting and a crunchy golden Oreo and strawberry Jell-O topping, finished with fresh strawberries and whipped cream for an elegant and delicious celebration dessert.

Ingredients

Scale

Cake Ingredients

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 3/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1 package strawberry gelatin (85 g)
  • 1 1/2 cup milk

Buttercream Frosting Ingredients

  • 1.5 cup butter (room temperature)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1.5 pound powdered sugar
  • 1.5 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 6 tablespoons heavy cream or milk (or more for desired consistency)

Strawberry Crunch Topping

  • 24 Golden Oreos
  • 1 box strawberry Jell-O
  • 4 tbsp butter (melted)

Decoration

  • 8 fresh strawberries (for decorating top, optional)
  • Whipped cream (for decorating top, optional)

Instructions

  1. Prepare Cake Batter: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter, flour, and line three 8-inch cake pans with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. In a stand mixer bowl, beat oil, eggs, and vanilla extract on medium speed until smooth. Add sugar and strawberry gelatin and mix until combined. Alternate adding flour mixture (in 4 increments) and milk (in 3 increments), starting and ending with flour, mixing well after each addition.
  2. Bake the Cakes: Divide batter evenly among prepared pans (about 483 grams or roughly one third each). Bake in the center of the oven for about 30 minutes or until a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Begin testing at 20 minutes, but do not open oven before then to avoid falling. Cool cakes in pans for 10-15 minutes, then transfer to wire racks, running a knife around the edges to release. Let cool completely before frosting.
  3. Make Buttercream Frosting: In a stand mixer bowl, beat room temperature butter with salt until fluffy, scraping sides and bottom occasionally. Gradually add sifted powdered sugar in 3-4 portions, starting slow and increasing speed gradually. Add vanilla extract and gradually add heavy cream or milk until smooth and spreadable consistency is reached. Adjust cream as needed based on consistency tests on the cake layers.
  4. Prepare Strawberry Crunch: Preheat oven to 350°F. Crush Golden Oreos into small crumbles using a food processor or by pounding inside a sealed bag. In a medium bowl, mix crushed Oreos, strawberry Jell-O powder, and melted butter gently to combine. Spread mixture evenly onto a greased or parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for 8 minutes, then remove and let cool completely.
  5. Assemble Cake: If needed, level cake layers. Place first layer on serving plate or cake turntable. Spread generous layer of buttercream frosting evenly. Repeat with second layer and frosting. Place third cake layer and apply a thin crumb coat of buttercream frosting over entire cake to seal crumbs. Chill cake in refrigerator for 15-20 minutes to set crumb coat.
  6. Final Frosting and Decoration: Remove cake from fridge and apply a smooth final layer of frosting over top and sides. Press cooled strawberry crunch topping gently but evenly on sides and top of the cake to create a textured coating. Decorate top by arranging fresh strawberries atop whipped cream swirls around the cake perimeter for an elegant finish.

Notes

  • Use room temperature ingredients for better mixing and texture.
  • Do not open oven before 20 minutes baking to prevent cake collapse.
  • Sift powdered sugar to avoid lumpy frosting.
  • Adjust buttercream consistency with cream or milk for easier spreading.
  • Crush Oreos fine but not to powder for best crunch.
  • Chill cake after crumb coating to make final frosting easier.
  • Fresh strawberries and whipped cream are optional but add beautiful presentation and fresh flavor.

Keywords: Strawberry cake, strawberry crunch cake, buttercream frosting, Golden Oreo topping, layered cake, celebration cake, dessert