Strawberry Earthquake Cake (Printable version)

Soft strawberry cake swirled with creamy cheese filling, white chocolate chunks, and fresh berries. A beautifully messy dessert perfect for gatherings.

# List of ingredients:

→ For the Cake

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)

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish thoroughly.
02 - In a large bowl, combine strawberry cake mix, eggs, oil, and water. Mix until completely blended. Spread evenly in the prepared baking dish.
03 - In a separate bowl, beat softened cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add powdered sugar and vanilla extract; beat until creamy and fully incorporated.
04 - Drop spoonfuls of cream cheese mixture randomly over the cake batter.
05 - Use a knife or skewer to gently swirl the cream cheese mixture through the cake batter, creating a marbled effect. Do not overmix.
06 - Sprinkle white chocolate chips, chopped strawberries, coconut, and nuts evenly over the top of the batter.
07 - Bake for 40-45 minutes, until edges are golden brown and center is set. A toothpick inserted should have moist crumbs but not wet batter.
08 - Cool in the pan for at least 30 minutes before serving. Serve warm or at room temperature.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The contrast between the bright strawberry cake and tangy cream cheese filling is absolutely addictive
  • Its impossible to mess up the messy aesthetic cracks and crevices are part of the charm
  • This feeds a crowd with minimal effort but maximum wow factor
02 -
  • The center will still jiggle slightly when you remove it from the oven but it will continue cooking as it cools
  • Over swirling blends the layers too much and you lose the dramatic earthquake look
  • This cake tastes even better the next day as the flavors meld together
03 -
  • Use room temperature ingredients for both the cake batter and cream cheese mixture to prevent lumps
  • Do not be afraid of deep swirls the more dramatic the marbling, the better the earthquake effect
  • Let the cake cool completely before trying to slice or the cream cheese will smear everywhere

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