French Strawberry Cake is mixed in one bowl with fresh summer strawberries. It bakes up with a tender custardy middle and crunchy sugary topping.
If you like this cake, check out my Classic French Crepe Recipe next!
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French Strawberry Cake will be your new favorite sweet treat. Reminiscent of a classic French Apple Cake, it has a crumb that is tender, sweet and custardy. And a delightful sugar crunch topping. This cake is so easy to make. And it’s a great way to show off freshly picked summer strawberries. This cake is a fan favorite!
More favorite strawberry recipes
I have Southern Cast Iron magazine to thank for this original recipe. I picked up their Spring 2016 issue because the collection of recipes looked so irresistibly delicious. Their Strawberry Skillet Cake was the first I chose to make from that issue. But my cast iron skillet at the time was too large. So I decided to bake it in a traditional 9-inch round cake pan.
After being wowed by the look of it coming out of the oven, my kids and I were even more impressed with the flavor. This cake is moist and custardy in the middle. I looked up the ingredients for a classic French Apple Cake and other than the addition of sour cream this is basically the same cake but with strawberries instead of apples. So I have officially christened this cake to be known as a ‘French Strawberry Cake‘.
Ingredients for french strawberry cake
- Strawberries – Fresh strawberries are best for this cake. I’ve only ever baked it with fresh strawberries. But some readers have had success using frozen strawberries.
- Butter, Eggs, Sour Cream and Vanilla – I have only tested this recipe using full-fat sour cream. Some readers have had success replacing the sour cream with plain yogurt.
- Flour, Sugar, Baking Powder and Salt – I’ve only tested this recipe using all-purpose flour. The granulated sugar is divided, with one cup sugar mixed into the cake batter. And a quarter cup sprinkled on top. Most readers describe the cake as not overly sweet or just sweet enough.
Pro tips
- From the comments it is reinforced that oven temperatures vary wildly. My oven bakes this cake in about 40 minutes. For others they’ve left the cake in for much longer. The center of this cake when baked will still have a custard-like texture. Not raw but more moist than other cakes you might be used to.
- Be sure to dry your strawberries thoroughly before mixing them into the batter.
- Save a few strawberries (about 1/2 cup) to place on top of the cake before sprinkling it with sugar if you want the cake to look like my pictures.
- Read through the many reader comments below for more helpful information regarding this cake.
- I bake the cake and serve it straight from its 9-inch round cake pan.
- Some readers have had success baking it in a springform pan. And then transferring it to a platter before serving.
Kitchen tools
- My favorite inexpensive paring knife for slicing the strawberries
- Nine-inch round cake pan for baking the cake
- My favorite set of magnetic measuring spoons and measuring cups for baking
French Strawberry Cake
Ingredients
- 1 stick unsalted butter softened
- 1 1/4 cup granulated sugar divided
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 16 ounces fresh strawberries sliced
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9-inch round cake pan with cooking spray and set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, whip together the butter and 1 cup of the sugar until pale and fluffy.
- Add the eggs, one at a time and beat well after each addition. Beat in the vanilla.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture alternately with sour cream, beginning and ending with flour mixture, beating just until combined after each addition.
- Fold in strawberries using a rubber spatula. Spread the batter evenly in the prepared cake pan.
- Sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup of sugar evenly over the top of the cake batter.
- Bake until a wooden toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, about 40 minutes.
- Let the cake cool completely in the pan and slice and serve the cake from the pan.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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More versions of this cake
fraisier cake, sponge cake, moisture, preheated oven, large bowl, bite
Jennifer Brooks Esperanza says
How would you store this? Counter or Fridge
foodtasticmom says
I personally like the leftover cake cold. You can store it on the counter, be sure and keep it sealed with plastic wrap for up to two days. But I like to store it in the refrigerator too, also covered well. Both work.
Kristen says
This is my absolute favorite cake now! So grateful I found this recipe. I often have to make two so we can have leftovers. How do you recommend storing it?
foodtasticmom says
So happy to hear this! I keep it covered on the counter (in the pan, cover with plastic wrap) for a couple of days. Longer than that (up to five days), refrigerate it. I personally like the leftover cake cold!
Jan says
I love this recipe so much! I’ve made it four times in the last month and a half! How long is the cake good for? I baked it on Thursday afternoon for an event that got cancelled. I can take it to a friend’s house on Saturday. Will it be ok to wait two days? If so, should I store it in the fridge or freezer? Can it be frozen?
foodtasticmom says
I would store it in the fridge. I think it’s good cold. But you can leave it out before serving to bring it to room temperature. For just two days I wouldn’t mess with freezing it. Probably any longer than 4 days, then you should freeze it. Wrap it in plastic wrap first before putting it in the freezer.
Although to be honest, I’d rather bake another cake than freezing the leftovers. So happy you love it!
Jen says
6 year old decided he doesn’t like strawberries anymore so had a container. No ingredients for the usual strawberry desserts so tried this. It came out looking like a magazine cover and it tastes amazing. My husband has proclaimed it his favorite cake.
foodtasticmom says
Isn’t that just like a six year old?? lol So happy you had a reason to try my cake. Thanks for such a great review!
Jay says
So good! Recipe is easy to follow, didn’t take too long to make, and the cake turned out so delicious. Really liked the slight crunch from the sugar on top and the toned down sweetness. I made a lemon curd to pair the cake with.
foodtasticmom says
Great idea to pair it with lemon curd. Thank you for taking the time to leave a positive comment and rating. I appreciate it!
Elaine says
Oh my!! This was absolutely delicious. It was light with the perfect touch of sweetness. I’ve made the French Apple one a few times before which I really love, but something about the softness of the strawberries gives this a nice touch. I did make a couple of modifications; I put 2 Tbsp of dark rum, and made a crumble topping to give it a little crunch. I topped it off with a little bit of homemade whipped cream. This one’s a keeper! Thank you
foodtasticmom says
Oh I’m liking the addition of rum and a crumble topping. That sounds fabulous! So happy you appreciate this cake recipe! 🙂
Hope says
Have you ever doubled it and baked in a 9×12?
foodtasticmom says
I haven’t, but I think some of my readers have. You can definitely fit a doubled recipe into a 9×13 pan. It might take a few minutes longer to bake.
kelli WEISS says
HI,
HAVE MADE a very similar cake several times in the past, using sour cream, yogurt, and there always lovely but as i give everything to the 1st responders i my life, haven’t always tasted them, but everyone seems very happy after getting one! i normally use a 9in s’form pan, but used the pan you suggested and it almost overflowed while baking, but as it cools has fallen a bit! i love baking with sour cream and ricotta, but used Greek yogurt this time! think 16oz of berries is a bit much for this size, and not a fan of adding more sugar on top, but followed your recipe exactly, adding more berries on top! getting the cake out seems like a challenge, but will share this with friends, neighbors, so wont be a catastrophe. theres another French s/berry cake i’ve made and its quite delish! thx for sharing:) kelli
Daisy says
Lovely cake.
Chelse says
I’ve made this with blackberries and twice with cranberries. I have gotten great results each time. It is delicious. I will try this with strawberries this summer I think. But I might try peaches first. Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Megan H says
One of my favorite cakes to make for guests! I sometimes offer whipped cream on top. I want to try with some other fruits!
Wendy Wilson says
This is my favorite cake recipe!
I’ve made it with fresh blueberries also…right now it’s in the oven with fresh peaches 🤞🏻
Thank you for posting 😋
Missy says
It’s an instantaneous hit at my house!! Delicious and easy to make. Great with homemade whipped cream! I’ll be making this for church functions.
A says
Can I substitute apples for the strawberries?
foodtasticmom says
Yes
Anne M Jenkins says
I was able to make this vegan by using Just Egg liquid egg replacer and some vegan yogurt instead of sour cream. I also added about a tablespoon of corn starch which I always do with my baked goods, especially vegan baked goods. I think it improves the moisture and texture of vegan baking. Anyway…WOW!!! The entire family absolutely loved this cake. We served it with a squirt of almond whipped cream. Just fabulous!!
Megan says
My favorite cake! Do you think it would hold up in a bundt pan?
foodtasticmom says
I’ve not tried this recipe in a bundt pan. The main issue is the amount of batter a bundt pan holds, which is 10 – 12 cups, depending on size. A 9-inch round cake pan only holds 6 – 8 cups. So you could try doubling this recipe for a bundt pan. But I cannot promise what the results will be.
Carma K Hansel says
I make this with fresh blueberries and add lemon paste. Always a hit! And soo EASY!
Cindy says
This is my husband’s favorite cake recipe! I have tweaked it a little by using coconut sugar and Greek yogurt instead. I also have used blueberries, and add chocolate chips on top. I’m making it today and trying raspberries for the first time! We love the different variations we have tried! This cake never lasts long in our fridge. Job well done!! Thanks for sharing it!!
buffalo wild wings menu says
This French Strawberry Cake looks incredible! Can’t wait to try it for a special summer dessert.
Francis says
Thank you! I haven’t made this in years and didn’t save the recipe. My Internet search of recipe you were the first to pop up and this is the recipe I was looking for!