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Strawberry Crunch Cake – Nostalgic Dessert Inspired by a Classic Popsicle

A fluffy strawberry layer cake filled with vanilla cream and topped with a strawberry–vanilla crunch crumble inspired by the classic strawberry shortcake popsicle.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 2 hours
Servings: 12 slices
Course: Cake, Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 420
Ingredients Equipment Method

Ingredients
  

Cake
  • 1 box strawberry cake mix or homemade option
  • 1.5 cups flour for homemade
  • 1 cup sugar for homemade
  • 1 box strawberry Jell-O 3 oz, for homemade
  • 0.5 cup unsalted butter melted, homemade only
  • 0.5 cup milk homemade only
  • 0.5 cup strawberry puree homemade only
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
Vanilla Cream Filling
  • 8 oz cream cheese softened
  • 0.5 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup heavy cream
Strawberry Crunch Topping
  • 1 cup vanilla cookies crushed
  • 1 cup freeze-dried strawberries crushed
  • 4 tbsp unsalted butter melted
Frosting
  • 1 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 4 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 tbsp heavy cream
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Equipment

  • Three 8-inch cake pans
  • Mixer
  • Mixing bowls
  • Food processor

Method
 

  1. Prepare strawberry cake layers and cool completely.
  2. Make vanilla cream filling by whipping cream cheese, sugar, vanilla, and folded whipped cream.
  3. Prepare strawberry crunch topping with cookies, freeze-dried strawberries, and melted butter.
  4. Make buttercream frosting by beating butter, powdered sugar, cream, and vanilla.
  5. Assemble cake with filling between layers and frost the outside.
  6. Press strawberry crunch topping onto the cake and decorate.