Doctored Strawberry Cake Mix Recipe

Strawberry Cake is one of life’s many joys! But sometimes I don’t feel like whipping out all the extras. So my go-to doctored strawberry cake mix recipe is a great alternative. It’s tender and moist and pairs beautifully with strawberry cream cheese! 

Why You’ll Love These Strawberry Box Cake Hacks 

One Bowl Recipe. I love that I can just dump all the ingredients into one bowl. It makes this recipe a time saver.

Tender & Moist Cake Layers. These cake layers are made with buttermilk, resulting in the most soft and tender cake! 

How to Make Strawberry Box Cake Better 

These ingredients listed below are sure to make your box cake mix taste like the bakery!

Box Mix – It wouldn’t be a hack without it! You can use a strawberry cake mix or white cake mix if your local store happens to be out. 

Strawberry Jello – Dissolve the jello in some water first, this will help the cake come out less dense. The jello really enhances the flavor and gives a nice bright pink color without adding extra food dye!

Strawberry Puree – Of course, we need real fruit to get that iconic strawberry flavor. The strawberry puree will also give the cake the best texture. 

Strawberry Extract or Emulsion – Get your hands on some strawberry extract or emulsion, the more strawberry flavor to this cake the better!

Buttermilk – The acidity of buttermilk provides extra moisture and results in a tender cake. You can also use whole milk instead. JUST DON’T USE WATER!

Butter – We will need melted unsalted butter for this cake, which adds tenderness and a nice depth of flavor. 

Tools You’ll Need

Cake Tins – These Fat Daddios are my all time favorite.

Pink Food Coloring (optional)

How to Make This Doctored Strawberry Cake Mix

Add all the ingredients to a mixing bowl and mix until everything is just incorporated! Then continue mixing with a spatula, by hand, to scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl. 

NOTE: You don’t want to overmix. Overmixing will cause too much air to be incorporated which can result in sunken or tough cake layers.

Divide the batter into two prepared 8-inch baking pans. Then bake at 350F for 25-30mins or until a toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs. 

Super easy right? Your kitchen is going to smell like strawberries and the flavor is all the more delicious. 

What frosting pairs best with Strawberry Cake?

You have a few options here! I always suggest a strawberry cream cheese frosting, but if that’s a little too much strawberry for you, then you can go for a simple vanilla buttercream or a lemon buttercream. 

Expert Tips for the Best Doctored Strawberry Cake Mix Recipe

Freeze your cake. Freezing cakes is one of the best hacks for a moist cake. Let your cakes cool for about 5 minutes and while they are still warm, wrap in plastic wrap and freeze until you’re ready to stack and ice. 

Measure your flour. Although we don’t use much in this recipe, it is super important to not use too much. Scoop spoonfuls of flour into your measuring cup and then swipe away the excess or you can measure it out (1 cup of flour is between 120-125 grams). 

Room Temperature Ingredients. To avoid a curdled batter or gummy cake texture, it is best to let your eggs and milk come up to room temperature for at least 30 minutes.

Substitutions & Variations

Sour Cream: If you don’t have buttermilk you can use sour cream. The fat content in sour cream will make the cake moist, just like the buttermilk. 

Vegetable oil: You can use vegetable oil instead of butter. The butter gives the cake a richer flavor, but the oil will contribute to the moistness. Just make sure to get a neutral, flavorless oil.

Make Your Strawberry Cake Layers In Advance

If you are limited on time, you can make your cake layers in advance by baking and freezing them. Double wrap the strawberry cake layers in saran wrap and store them in the freezer for up to 3 months. 

You can even make your strawberry cream cheese ahead of time. Store the frosting in piping bags or an airtight container. It can be stored in the fridge for up to a month or in the freezer for 3 months. 

When ready to use bring it to room temperature and whip it to get it back to the right consistency.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use this recipe to make cupcakes?

While you can, I don’t suggest using this recipe for cupcakes. This recipe makes the cake a little denser, which is perfect for stacking and filling cakes. It’s not ideal for cupcakes, since we prefer cupcakes to be light and airy.

Can you add fresh fruit to box cake mix?

You can use fresh fruit in a box cake mix. I recommend using a fruit puree to avoid extra liquid in the cake. You can also use chopped strawberries in the batter, but again, it will add more liquid to the batter and may get soggy over time. 

Can you use milk instead of water in strawberry cake mix? 

Absolutely! The fat content of milk will make the cake richer and creamier. I prefer buttermilk because it amps up a cake recipe, making it tender, rich, and moist, and it even adds a subtle tangy/buttery flavor! 

What can I add to my box cake mix to make it moist?

To make a box cake moist, you can add sour cream, buttermilk, or an extra egg. Experiment with each and see what you prefer! 

If you try this Doctored Strawberry Cake Mix Recipe, please let me know what you think! Leave a comment below or tag me on Instagram @itsavemartin so I can see your creations!

xoxo, ave