Strawberry Crunch Cake

This strawberry crunch cake puts a unique spin on a nostalgic summer treat! Whether you're celebrating a birthday, a summer holiday, or just craving strawberries, this cake is what you need to make. Made with juicy strawberries for a fresh & fruity base and paired with creamy mascarpone and Golden Oreos to add some sweet notes of vanilla, this cake is truly a showstopper fit for a crowd.

For more strawberry cake recipes, try Gluten Free Strawberry Shortcake Cake, White Cake with Strawberries and Mascarpone Frosting, and Roasted Strawberry Icebox Cake.

Why you'll love this strawberry crunch cake

• Pillowy Soft Cake: This strawberry cake is incredibly soft and fluffy, making it the perfect base for a fresh and fun summer dessert.
• Creamy Mascarpone Frosting: Mascarpone is light and creamy on its own, but whipped up with a bit of sugar and heavy cream creates an impossibly smooth frosting that's the perfect touch on top of this cake!
• Nostalgic Strawberry Crumble: The finishing touch on this cake is a super easy, homemade strawberry crumble that tastes just as yummy as those delicious Good Humor strawberry shortcake ice cream bars we all used to eat as kids (and still do).

Ingredient Notes

• Golden Oreos: I recommend using golden oreo thins for smaller filling to cookie ratio, but you can absolutely use regular golden oreo cookies if you'd like. 
• Freeze Dried Strawberries: These are incredibly potent and add that sweet strawberry flavor we're looking for!
• Mascarpone: Mascarpone cheese is similar to cream cheese in texture but lighter in flavor. Be sure to keep it cold before using for the frosting.
• Heavy Cream: Use cold, high-quality heavy cream.
• Unsalted Butter: Use high quality European-style butter for best overall flavor.
• Flour: Use high quality unbleached all-purpose flour best results.
• Oil: Use a neutral oil like canola or vegetable oil.
• Eggs: Bring your eggs to room temperature quickly by placing it in a bowl of warm water for 10 minutes.
• Vanilla: Add a high quality vanilla extract for optimal flavor.

See recipe card for full information on ingredients and individual quantities.

Step by Step Instructions

Here are step by step photos and instructions on how to make this strawberry crunch cake recipe! For the full ingredient list and method, see the recipe card at the end of this post.

STEP 1: Mix dry ingredients. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.

STEP 2: Add butter. Cut up the butter into small cubes and add to the dry ingredient mixture. Mix on low speed until it resembles wet sand.

STEP 3: Add wet ingredients. Add the oil, buttermilk, strawberry purée, eggs, and vanilla, and mix until just combined.

STEP 4: Pour and bake. Pour the cake batter into the prepared cake pan. Use an offset spatula to spread it into an even layer. Bake for about 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Immediately turn the cake out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

STEP 5: Make mascarpone frosting. In a large mixing bowl, add the mascarpone and sugar. Use an electric hand mixer to beat on low speed until smooth. Continue mixing on low speed while pouring in the heavy whipping cream in 2-3 additions. Turn the mixer up to medium speed and beat until stiff peaks form. 

STEP 6: Spread and chill. Once the cake is cool, spread the frosting on top and smooth out into an even layer. Place the cake in the fridge while you make the strawberry crunch topping.

STEP 7: Make crunch topping. Combine freeze-dried strawberries, Golden Oreo Thins, melted butter, vanilla, and salt in a food processor, and pulse until it turns into pea-sized crumbs.

STEP 8: Top and serve. Cover the cake with the strawberry crumble topping. When ready to serve, cut it into 24 squares and enjoy!

Expert Baking Tips

• To make the strawberry purée... Add fresh strawberries to a blender (or use an immersion blender) to blend them until smooth. 
• Store leftover cake in the fridge. This frosting needs to be stored in the fridge to last, but it also thickens up into a cheesecake-like consistency! 

All of the recipes on this blog are carefully developed with gram measurements so you can easily recreate them in your own kitchen with success. Volume measurements are extremely inaccurate and leave room for significant errors. Not all measuring cups are made equally, so your one cup of flour will be different from my one cup of flour. By providing precise measurements in grams (aside from minor ingredients, which are given in tsp/tbsp), you can make these recipes accurately and with less cleanup! All you need is this kitchen scale. 

If this still isn't enough to convince you, I have provided volume measurements in the recipe card. If you are interested in understanding the conversions, this is the best conversion chart.

But trust me, once you try baking in grams you'll never turn back!

Happy baking! x