Vanilla Cake with Strawberry Filling

This vanilla cake with strawberry filling is soft, fluffy, and packed with fresh strawberry flavor in every bite. With layers of tender vanilla cake, homemade strawberry filling, and silky strawberry buttercream, it’s the perfect cake for birthdays, spring celebrations, or anytime you want a bakery-style dessert at home. Plus, there’s an easy gluten-free and dairy-free option included, too.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting CAKED by Katie.

The Best Vanilla Cake with Strawberry Filling

This cake is equal parts classic and fresh with a beautiful balance of sweet vanilla and bright strawberries. Here’s why it deserves a spot on your baking list:

• Soft Vanilla Cake: The cake layers bake up fluffy, moist, and rich with vanilla flavor.
• Fresh Strawberry Filling: Made with real strawberries for the best natural flavor and texture.
• Beautiful Layer Cake: A stunning dessert that looks impressive but is surprisingly approachable.
• Perfect For Celebrations: Great for birthdays, bridal showers, spring gatherings, or summer parties.
• Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free Friendly: Easy ingredient swaps make this recipe adaptable without sacrificing taste.

Vanilla Cake with Strawberry Filling Ingredients

This recipe uses simple baking staples combined with fresh strawberries for a homemade bakery-style cake.

Vanilla Cake

• Butter: Adds richness and classic buttery flavor. Dairy-free butter works well, too. I love baking with Becel plant-based bricks.
• Vegetable Oil: Keeps the cake extra moist and soft for days. Any neutral-tasting oil will work.
• Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the cake and helps create a fluffy texture. Organic cane sugar is a wonderful substitution.
• Eggs: Provide structure and richness. A liquid egg replacer such as Just Egg will work, but note that the texture will be denser.
• Vanilla Extract: Gives the cake its warm vanilla flavor. Can replace with vanilla bean paste.
• Flour: Use all-purpose flour or a gluten-free 1:1 baking blend containing xanthan gum.
• Baking Powder: Helps the cake rise beautifully.
• Fine Sea Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances flavor.
• Buttermilk: Adds moisture and tenderness. Homemade dairy-free buttermilk works perfectly, too.

Strawberry Filling

• Fresh Strawberries: The star of the filling with bright, fresh flavor. Can substitute frozen strawberries.
• Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the strawberries and helps create a jam-like consistency. Organic cane sugar can be used instead.
• Lemon Juice: Brightens the flavor and balances the sweetness. Fresh is always best.
• Water: Helps create the cornstarch slurry.
• Cornstarch: Thickens the filling so it holds up between cake layers. Tapioca starch will work as well.

Strawberry Buttercream

• Salted Butter: Creates a rich and fluffy frosting base. Dairy-free butter can be substituted; just make sure it’s in brick form.
• Powdered Sugar: Sweetens and stabilizes the buttercream.
• Fine Sea Salt: Keeps the frosting balanced and not overly sweet.
• Strawberry Filling: Adds natural strawberry flavor and a beautiful pink color.

Vanilla Cake with Strawberry Filling Step-by-Step Instructions

This cake comes together in a few simple stages and is well worth the effort. Preheat the oven, grab a spatula, and let’s start baking!

Vanilla Cake

1. Prep the pans: Preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare two 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper and non-stick spray.
2. Cream the butter and sugar: Beat together the butter, oil, and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2–3 minutes.
3. Add the eggs: Mix in the eggs one at a time until fully incorporated.
4. Add vanilla: Stir in the vanilla extract.
5. Mix dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
6. Combine wet and dry: Alternate adding the dry ingredients and buttermilk, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix gently until just combined.
7. Bake: Divide the batter between the prepared pans and bake for 30–35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs.
8. Cool: Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Strawberry Filling

1. Cook the strawberries: Add the strawberries, sugar, and lemon juice to a large pot and cook over medium heat until bubbling.
2. Reduce the mixture: Lower the heat and let the strawberries soften and release their juices for about 8 minutes.
3. Make the slurry: Stir together the water and cornstarch in a small bowl.
4. Thicken the filling: Pour the slurry into the strawberry mixture and cook for another 2–3 minutes until thickened.
5. Cool completely: Transfer the filling to a shallow container, press plastic wrap directly onto the surface, and refrigerate until fully chilled.

Strawberry Buttercream

1. Whip the butter: Beat the butter on high speed for 5–10 minutes until pale and fluffy.
2. Add sugar and salt: Mix in the powdered sugar and salt on low speed until combined.
3. Add strawberry filling: Mix in the strawberry filling until smooth.
4. Whip again: Beat on high speed for 5 more minutes until light and fluffy.

Assemble the Cake

1. Level and layer: Slice each cake layer in half if desired for extra layers.
2. Fill the cake: Spread buttercream on each layer, pipe a frosting border, and spoon strawberry filling into the center.
3. Crumb coat: Apply a thin layer of frosting around the cake and chill for 10–20 minutes.
4. Final frosting: Cover the cake with the remaining buttercream and smooth the sides.
5. Decorate: Garnish with fresh strawberries if desired.

Strawberry Vanilla Cake Helpful Hints

These simple tips will help ensure your cake turns out beautifully every time.

• Use Room Temperature Ingredients: This helps everything mix smoothly for an even batter.
• Don’t Overmix: Overmixing can create a dense cake instead of a soft, fluffy texture. Mix the dry and wet ingredients by hand.
• Cool The Filling Completely: Warm filling can melt the buttercream and make the cake unstable.
• Chill Between Layers: If the cake starts feeling soft or unstable, pop it into the fridge before continuing.
• Use A Cake Turntable: This makes frosting and smoothing the cake much easier.

Vanilla Cake with Strawberry Filling Fun Flavor Twists

This vanilla cake with strawberry filling is delicious as written, but there are lots of easy ways to customize it depending on the season or occasion. Try one of these fun variations for a new flavor combination.

• Lemon Strawberry Cake: Add fresh lemon zest and lemon extract to the cake batter for a bright citrus flavor.
• Chocolate Covered Strawberry: Add a thin layer of chocolate ganache between the cake layers.
• Berry Mix Filling: Swap some of the strawberries for raspberries or blueberries.
• Coconut Strawberry Cake: Add shredded coconut to the filling or frosting for a tropical twist.

How To Store A Vanilla Cake With Strawberry Frosting

This cake stores surprisingly well and stays soft for days.

• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
• Freeze individual slices or the fully assembled cake for up to 3 months.
• Let the chilled cake sit at room temperature for about 20–30 minutes before serving for the best texture.

The Best Vanilla Cake With Strawberry Filling Recipe

This vanilla cake with strawberry filling is soft, fluffy, and bursting with fresh berry flavor. The combination of tender vanilla cake, homemade strawberry filling, and creamy strawberry buttercream makes it feel extra special while still being simple enough to make at home.

If you make this recipe, I’d love for you to leave a 5-star rating and review below. Don’t forget to tag me on social media @cakedbykatie so I can see your beautiful cakes!

More Scrumptious Strawberry Recipes

Raise your hand if you’re a strawberry lover like me. Here are a few of my favorite strawberry-inspired recipes that I think you’ll swoon for:

• Vegan Strawberry Cookies (Gluten-Free)
• Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes (Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free)
• Gluten-Free Strawberry Cake (Dairy-Free)

Print