This Strawberry Snack Cake is the easiest one-pan dessert packed with real strawberry flavor in every single bite. It is made with freeze dried strawberries in both the cake and the frosting, so you get that bright, fresh strawberry taste no matter what time of year it is.
It comes together in just one bowl and bakes in a single 8×8 pan so there is no layering or stacking required. Top it with the creamy strawberry cream cheese frosting and it is honestly one of the prettiest and most delicious cakes you will ever make! For another summer strawberry dessert, try this strawberry pound cake.
Make Ahead
Easy
Quick Look: Strawberry Snack Cake
- ⏱️ Prep Time: 20 minutes
- 👩🍳 Cook Time: 40 minutes
- 🕖 Total Time: 1 hour
- 🍓 Servings: 12 servings
- ⚡️ Calories: 435 calories per serving (based on nutrition panel)
- 🔥 Cooking Method: Bake in oven at 350F
- 🛒 Main Ingredients: Strawberry yogurt, freeze dried strawberries, cream cheese
- ⭐️ Difficulty: Easy! This is a great summer dessert for beginners!
SUMMARIZE & SAVE THIS CONTENT ON
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Great make-ahead dessert – This strawberry snack cake is good in the fridge for up to four days, making it a perfect make-ahead dessert for your next summer gathering.
- Tastes like summer – This recipe just tastes like summer! It is fresh and bright but also light and refreshing. It tastes like summer as a kid!
- Freezer friendly – Make two at a time and enjoy one now and save the other for later in the summer. This cake is good in the freezer for two months.
For another strawberry dessert, try these strawberry cake mix cookies.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Here’s a quick look at the ingredients you need to make this strawberry snack cake. For a full list of ingredients, see the full recipe.
- Strawberry Yogurt – makes the cake moist while also giving it even more strawberry flavor
- Granulated Sugar and Powdered Sugar – both are used to make this cake and icing the right amount of sweet
- Flour – to make this gluten free, you can substitute your favorite one to one gluten free flour
- Freeze Dried Strawberries – This recipe uses freeze dried strawberries, not regular dried fruit. Freeze dried strawberries have had all the moisture removed so they blend into a fine powder and add intense strawberry flavor and a beautiful pink color without adding any extra liquid to the batter. Regular dried strawberries still have moisture and will not give the same results.
- Unsalted Butter and Cream Cheese– must be at room temp; set out for at least 30 minutes
- Milk – helps get the icing to the perfect texture
Want another strawberry sweet to make? Try these strawberry rice krispie treats.
How to make This strawberry snack cake with strawberry cream cheese icing
Step 1: Place yogurt, eggs, oil, sugar and vanilla in a mixing bowl. Whisk together until evenly combined.
Step 2: Pour flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt into the bowl and fold into wet ingredients. Pour freeze dried strawberries into the bowl and mix.
Step 3: Pour batter into prepared baking pan, smooth out and place in the oven. Bake at 350F for 40 minutes.
Step 4: Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely* before preparing the strawberry icing. Blend freeze dried strawberries into a powder and mix with butter, cream cheese, powdered sugar, and milk until icing is soft and whipped. Spread icing over the cake.
*The cake must be completely cool before the frosting goes on. If the cake is even slightly warm, the cream cheese frosting will melt and slide right off. Give it at least one hour at room temperature or speed it up by placing it in the fridge for 30 minutes.
Mad’s Expert Tips for the Best Strawberry Snack Cake 🍓
- Use freeze dried strawberries, not regular dried ones. Freeze dried strawberries blend into a fine powder and add intense flavor and a gorgeous pink color without adding moisture. Regular dried strawberries will not work the same way.
- Make sure the butter and cream cheese are at room temperature. Cold butter and cream cheese will not mix together smoothly and you will end up with a lumpy frosting. Set them out at least 30 minutes before making the frosting.
- Do not frost until the cake is completely cool. Even a slightly warm cake will cause the cream cheese frosting to melt. Wait at least one hour or chill the cake in the fridge to speed things up.
- Blend the strawberries into a fine powder for the frosting. The finer the powder, the smoother the frosting will be. Use a blender, food processor, or spice grinder and blend until there are no visible pieces left.
For another fruity summer dessert, try this mixed berry cobbler.
Recipe FAQs
Can I use fresh strawberries instead of freeze dried?
Fresh strawberries are not recommended for this recipe. They add too much moisture and will change the texture of the cake and frosting. Freeze dried strawberries are what gives this cake its intense strawberry flavor and pretty pink color.
How do I store strawberry snack cake?
Store covered in the fridge for up to 4 days. Because of the cream cheese frosting the cake needs to be refrigerated. Let slices come to room temperature for 15-20 minutes before serving for the best texture.
Can I freeze strawberry snack cake?
Yes! You can freeze the cake without the frosting for up to 2 months. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and then foil. Thaw in the fridge overnight and frost before serving.
Where do I find freeze dried strawberries?
Freeze dried strawberries are usually found in the snack aisle near the dried fruit at most large grocery stores. You can also find them at Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, and online.
Storage and freezing
Store covered in the fridge for up to 4 days. Because of the cream cheese frosting the cake needs to be refrigerated. Let slices come to room temperature for 15-20 minutes before serving for the best texture.
You can freeze the cake without the frosting for up to 2 months. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and then foil. Thaw in the fridge overnight and frost before serving.
Other summer desserts
You can find the full recipe below. If you make this recipe, please rate and review it in the comments, or share it with me on Instagram!
Email Recipe for Later
Recipe
Strawberry Snack Cake with Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
Cake Ingredients
- ½ cup strawberry yogurt
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 ½ cups all purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- ½ cup freeze dried strawberries
Icing Ingredients
- 1 cup freeze dried strawberries
- ½ stick unsalted butter – room temperature
- 4 oz cream cheese – room temperature
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp milk
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F and line an 8×8 baking pan with parchment paper.
- Place yogurt, eggs, oil, sugar and vanilla in a mixing bowl. Whisk together until evenly combined.
- Pour all purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt into the bowl and fold into wet ingredients with a flat spatula. Pour freeze dried strawberries into the bowl and mix in with the spatula.
- Pour batter into prepared baking pan, smooth out and place in the oven. Bake at 350F for 40 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely before preparing the strawberry icing. Blend 1 cup of freeze dried strawberries into a powder.
- Mix butter and cream cheese together with an electric mixer until evenly combined. Pour powdered sugar and strawberry powder into the bowl and mix again until evenly combine. Pour milk into the bowl and mix again until icing is soft and whipped. Spread icing over the cake, cut into 12 even pieces and serve.
Recipe Notes
- Use freeze dried strawberries, not regular dried ones. Freeze dried strawberries blend into a fine powder and add intense flavor and a gorgeous pink color without adding moisture. Regular dried strawberries will not work the same way.
- Make sure the butter and cream cheese are at room temperature. Cold butter and cream cheese will not mix together smoothly and you will end up with a lumpy frosting. Set them out at least 30 minutes before making the frosting.
- Do not frost until the cake is completely cool. Even a slightly warm cake will cause the cream cheese frosting to melt. Wait at least one hour or chill the cake in the fridge to speed things up.
- Blend the strawberries into a fine powder for the frosting. The finer the powder, the smoother the frosting will be. Use a blender, food processor, or spice grinder and blend until there are no visible pieces left.
Nutrition Information
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.
Leave a Reply