Strawberry Earthquake Cake (Printable)

Rich strawberry cake swirled with cream cheese filling and topped with white chocolate chips and fresh strawberries

# What You’ll Need:

→ Cake Base

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

→ Cream Cheese Filling

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

→ Add-Ins & Topping

09 - 1 cup white chocolate chips
10 - 1 cup fresh strawberries, chopped
11 - 1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut (optional)
12 - 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Generously grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter.
02 - In a large bowl, combine strawberry cake mix, eggs, vegetable oil, and water. Beat with electric mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes until smooth. Pour batter into prepared baking dish and spread evenly.
03 - In a separate bowl, beat softened cream cheese and butter until creamy and smooth. Add powdered sugar and vanilla extract. Continue beating until fully combined and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
04 - Drop spoonfuls of cream cheese mixture randomly over the cake batter, leaving some spaces of batter visible.
05 - Run a knife or skewer through the batter and cream cheese mixture in gentle swirling motions. Do not overmix—aim for distinct marble patterns rather than full incorporation.
06 - Sprinkle white chocolate chips, chopped strawberries, coconut (if using), and nuts (if using) evenly over the surface of the batter.
07 - Bake for 40-45 minutes until edges are golden brown and center is set. A toothpick inserted should come out with moist crumbs but not wet batter. The cake will have a slightly jiggly center due to the cream cheese filling.
08 - Let cake cool in pan for at least 30 minutes before serving. The texture is best served warm or at room temperature. Store leftovers covered in refrigerator for up to 5 days.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The contrast between the bright strawberry cake and creamy swirls never gets old
  • It looks impressive but secretly starts with a box mix
02 -
  • The center may look slightly underdone but it will continue cooking as it cools
  • Swirling too much will muddy the distinct layers so keep it gentle
03 -
  • Use fresh strawberries that are firm so they hold their shape during baking
  • Toss the chocolate chips in a little flour to prevent them from sinking

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