Strawberry Earthquake Cake (Printable View)

A luscious dessert featuring vanilla cake, cheesecake filling, and strawberry swirls creating a dramatic marbled treat perfect for gatherings.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Cake Base

01 - 1 box (15.25 oz) vanilla cake mix
02 - 3 large eggs
03 - 1/2 cup vegetable oil
04 - 1 cup whole milk

→ Cheesecake Filling

05 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
06 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
07 - 2 cups powdered sugar
08 - 1 tsp vanilla extract

→ Strawberry Layer

09 - 1 cup strawberry pie filling or preserves
10 - 1 cup fresh strawberries, sliced

→ Toppings

11 - 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
12 - 1/2 cup sliced almonds

# Cooking Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan and line with parchment paper for easy removal.
02 - Combine vanilla cake mix, eggs, vegetable oil, and whole milk in a large bowl. Beat until smooth, then pour into prepared pan.
03 - Beat softened cream cheese and butter until fluffy. Add powdered sugar and vanilla extract, mixing until smooth and creamy.
04 - Drop spoonfuls of cheesecake mixture evenly over cake batter. Gently swirl with a knife or spatula to create marbled effect.
05 - Distribute strawberry pie filling and sliced fresh strawberries over surface. Swirl gently again to incorporate strawberry ribbons.
06 - Sprinkle white chocolate chips and sliced almonds evenly across the top of the cake.
07 - Bake for 45-50 minutes until edges are golden brown and center is mostly set. Slight wobble in center is acceptable.
08 - Allow cake to cool in pan for at least 20 minutes before slicing and serving.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The combination of tart strawberries and rich cream cheese creates the most incredible sweet and tangy balance
  • This cake looks impressive but takes almost zero technique to pull off
  • That wobbly, earthquake style center means every bite is differently delicious
02 -
  • That jiggly center is not underbaked it is the signature texture that makes this cake so luscious
  • Do not over swirl or you will lose those beautiful distinct layers of strawberry and cream cheese
  • The cake needs to cool almost completely before you try to slice it cleanly
03 -
  • Room temperature ingredients blend together so much more smoothly preventing any lumps in your cheesecake layer
  • The white chocolate chips sink slightly while baking creating these rich creamy pockets throughout the cake

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